Page 8 - A Guide to Dosage Form 1

At the end of this course (Dosage Form 1), you should achieve several important skills:

- interpret and understand prescriptions written in Latin abbreviation, English or Bahasa
Malaysia,
- calculate and discuss the method of preparation for various non-sterile pharmaceutical dosage
forms,
- prepare, label and package commonly dispensed preparations in pharmacies and hospitals,
- use the computer software program to do recording of patient information, labelling of
prescription and keeping drug profile, and
- identify the usage and importance of flavoring and coloring agents, preservation and
preservatives, antioxidants, buffers and pH adjusting agents.

Throughout this course, you will be exposed to common non-sterile pharmaceutical preparations
and how to prepare them extemporaneously. This course will discuss the ingredients, advantages and
disadvantages of the different dosage forms and you will also have the opportunity to prepare the
products during practical classes in a small scale. Note that in current pharmaceutical practice, most
pharmaceutical products are commercially prepared in pharmaceutical industry under controlled
environment in a big scale.

Although the products are prepared in small scale, careful attention to details is always important
to be observed as would be found in a manufacturing unit. Certain measures should be taken into
consideration when preparing products extemporaneously:

- Personal hygiene. You are preparing products for patients.
- Personal protective equipment. Clean lab coat is important to prevent contamination. Face
mask, gloves and goggle should be worn whenever necessary. Long hair should be tied back
and hands are washed and ensure any open cut is properly covered.
- Work area. Clean and safe.
- Label preparation. The label should be prepared before compounding.
- Weighing and measuring. Avoid any accidental switching of weighed ingredients. Ensure all
weighed ingredients are properly label, or immediately incorporate a weighed ingredient into a
product.

Several things that you should know and aware:
- You are going to be a pharmacist. This course is an introduction to a wealth of knowledge that
only pharmacists have
- You are going to become a professional. Cleanliness and good housekeeping is important.
Always wear a lab coat and proper shoes during practical sessions. Always bring your own
cleaning towel, goggle, glue and scissors. Always bring your reference book and empty
worksheet for practical session. Always be ready for the practical session.