Powder According to the syllabus based on “PHARMACY COUNCIL OF INDIA” “I Dedicate this work to all the Students , Pharmacy Faculty & Family Members .” MY TOPIC IS powder - A Pharmaceutical powder is a mixture of finely divided drugs or chemicals in a dry form meant for internal or external use. Powders are preparation consisting of solid, loose, dry particle of various forms that contain one or more active ingredients meant for either internal or external use. It is the preparation in which drugs is blended with other powdered substances and used for internal or external purpose. Powder is a dosage form permits drugs to be reduced to a very fine state of division, which often enhances their therapeutic activity or efficacy by an increase of dissolution rate and or absorption. [ It is possible to include a spoon in a packet of powder drug. This may result in inaccurate amount of drug delivered]. https://www.linkedin.com/in/drx-shubhanshu-r-s-jaiswal-b16bb41aa/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_feed%3Bq0wXFRAYRx%2BHNqb7clj41g%3D%3D

1. Drx. Shubhanshu R.s. Jaiswal
D.Pharm [2019-20]
9511082401.

2. According to the syllabus based on
“PHARMACY COUNCIL OF INDIA”

3. CONTENTS :
 Definition
 Advantages & Disadvantage
of Powder
 Classification of Powders
 Preparation of Different Types of
Powder

4. Powders
Definitions _
A Pharmaceutical powder is a mixture of
finely divided drugs or chemicals in a dry
form meant for internal or external use.
Powders are preparation consisting of solid,
loose, dry particle of various forms that
contain one or more active ingredients
meant for either internal or external use.
It is the preparation in which drugs is
blended with other powdered substances and
used for internal or external purpose.
Powder is a dosage form permits drugs to be
reduced to a very fine state of division,
which often enhances their therapeutic
activity or efficacy by an increase of
dissolution rate and or absorption.

5. They are available in crystalline or
amorphous form.
It is also important for preparing powder
formulation to understand hoppers and
powder transfer method, mechanisms of
particle size reduction and various types of
mills used.
Powders are subdivided solids which are
classified in the BP according to the size to
their constituent particles ranged from
1.25mm to 1.7 mm in diameter.
A good powder formulation has a uniform
particle size distribution. If the particle size
distribution is not uniform, the powder can
segregate as per to particle size which may
result in inaccurate dosing or inconsistent
performance.

6. The process of reducing the particle size is
called Comminution.
Reduction in particle size of a powder
results in a uniform distribution of particle
size.
 Powder are the mixture of finely divided
drug or chemicals in dry form.
There is a relationship between particle
size of powder & dissolution, absorption &
therapeutic effect of drug.
Powder was originally designed as a
convenient mode of administering hard
vegetable drugs such as roots, barks &
woods. Powder were also found to be
convenient for dispensing insoluble
chemicals such as calomel, bismuth salts,
mercury and chalk.

7. Although the use of medicated
powders in therapeutics is limited,
the use of powdered substances in
the preparation of other dosage forms
is extensive.
Powder are simplest dosage forms
and the basis of many other solid
dosage forms such as: Tablet,
Capsule etc.
 Divided powders are also found to
be convenient for administering
drugs that are excessively bitter,
nauseous, or otherwise offensive to
the taste.

8. Advantages of Powders
 More stable than liquid.
 More convenient to swallow than tablet
or capsules.
 Used in blending with medicated
application as ointments, suppositories
and pastes.
 Can be prepared into granules for use in
preparing tablets & or reconstituted to
liquid form.
 Rapid therapeutic effect due to large
surface area.
 Useful for bulky drugs with large dose.
 Economical.

9. Flexibility of compounding easy to
prepare.
Rapid dissolution due to smaller
particle size.
Fast action and better bioavailability.
The availability of new filler
excipients that can act as ideal drug
carriers.
Can be consumed easily by patients
with swallowing difficulties.
The chance of incompatibility are
less as compared to liquid dosage
form.

10.  Use both internally & externally.
 Good chemical stability compared with
fluids.
 It is suitable for small children & elderly
patients.
Powder are more easy to carry than the
liquid dosage form.
They have good content uniformity.
It increases drug bioavailability and
decreases gastric irritation compared with
tablets.
 Use both internally & externally.
 Good chemical stability compared with
fluids.
 It is suitable for small children & elderly
patients.
Powder are more easy to carry than the
liquid dosage form.
They have good content uniformity.
It increases drug bioavailability and
decreases gastric irritation compared with
tablets.

11. Disadvantages of Powders
Time consuming.
Inaccuracy of dosage in case of bulk
powder.
Unsuitable for many due to unpleasant
taste, volatile, oxidizing, hygroscopic &
deliquescent drugs.
Time and expenses require in the
preparation of uniform powders are
great.
Not suitable for drugs unstable in
atmospheric conditions.
Inconvenient to carry.

12. Quantity less than 100 mg or so, can’t be
weighed convenient on dispensing balance.
Correct measurement of dose is difficult
specially in case of bulk powder.
They are not stable and break damage easily
Difficult to protect from atmospheric
moisture or oxygen.
Powder must be a homogeneous blend of all
of the components and must be of the most
advantageous particle size. The particle size
of a drug influences the rate of solubility in
water. It may also influence the biological
activity of a drug.

13. Patient may misunderstand the
correct method of use. Without clear
instruction, patients may inhale
through the nose a drug intended for
oral administration.
Powders are carrier for
microorganisms and chemicals such
as bacteria and toxin.
Uniform, individually wrapped doses
of powders (sachets) are required and
this may increase the manufacturing
expense.
[ It is possible to include a spoon in
a packet of powder drug. This may
result in inaccurate amount of drug
delivered].

14. Classification of Powders :
Powder
Based on
Use
Based on
Particle Size
Based on
Dispensing

15. Based on
Use
Internal
External
Based on
Particle size
Very
Coarse
Coarse
Moderately
Coarse
Fine
Very Fine
Based on
Dispensin
g
Bulk
Powders
Divided
Powders

16. Classification of Powder :
1.Powders for Internal Use _
o Divided Powders
• Simple Powders
• Compound Powders
• Powders enclosed in cachet
• Tablet Triturates
o Bulk Powders
• Antacids
• Laxatives

17. 2. Powders for External
Use
oDusting Powders
• Medicated Dusting Powders
• Surgical Dusting Powders
o Insufflations
o Douche Powder
o Dentifrices
3. Special Powders
o Eutectic Mixtures
o Effervescent Powders

18. Preparation of Different
Types of Powder
 Spatulation
 Trituration
 Pulverisation
 Levigation

19.  Spatulation
• In this process the powders are
mixed on a paper & then mixed
with Spatula by moving a over
the powder.
• This procedure is generally used
for mixing.
1. Small quantity of Powders.
2. Solid substances, which on
close contact with each other
forms eutectic mixtures due to
very little compaction.

20.  Trituration
• This method is used for reducing
Particle size as well as mixing
powders.
• In trituration porcelain motor is
used instead of glass motor.
• The trituration pastel is move in
circular motion by applying
pressure . The movement should
be started from the centre to the
peripherally & then back to the
centre.

21.  Pulverisation
• It is used to powder the soft &
gummy substances in motor-pastle.
• These substances are powder
through the addition of inert
material which helps powdering
and are remove later.
• E.g. - Camphor is powder by
moisting with alcohol.

22.  Levigation
• In this method solvent is
mixed with a dry powder to
form is Paste. Then the
solvent added is the
Levigated agent.
• Then the powder solvent
paste is Triturated in motor-
pastle. This is known as
Levigation.