Ointments, creams, gels, pastes, plasters, and glycerogelatins are different topical semisolid dosage forms. Ointments are semisolids for application to the skin or mucous membranes and can be medicated or unmedicated. Creams are emulsions that can be water-in-oil or oil-in-water. Gels are dispersions of molecules in an aqueous liquid made jelly-like with a gelling agent. Pastes are stiffer than ointments and contain more solids. Plasters are adhesive solid or semisolid masses spread on a backing. Glycerogelatins contain gelatin, glycerin, water,

1. Presented By:
Reyes, Cristina Joy F.

2. - are semisolid dosage forms intended for
topical application. They may be applied to the
skin, placed on the surface of the eye, or used
nasally, vaginally, or rectally.

3. Ointment
- are semisolid preparations intended for
external application to the skin or mucous
membranes.

4. 1. UNMEDICATED OINTMENTS
These ointments do not contain any drugs. They are
useful as emollients, protectants or lubricants.
Example: Petroleum jelly.
2. MEDICATED OINTMENTS
These ointments contain drugs which show local or
systemic effects.
a) Dermatologic ointments
b) Ophthalmic ointments
c) Rectal ointments
d) Vaginal ointments
e) Nasal ointments

5. - used for their physical effects or as vehicles for
medicated ointments.
Four groups:
1. Oleaginous bases
2. Absorption bases
3. Water-removable bases
4. Water-soluble bases
Ointment Bases

6. Oleaginous Bases (Hydrocarbon Bases)
• have an emollient effect
• protect against the escape of moisture
• are effective as occlusive dressings
• can remain on the skin for long periods
without drying out
• difficult to wash off
Examples: Petrolatum, white petrolatum, white
ointment, and yellow ointment

7. Absorption Bases
• used as emollients
• not easily removed from the skin with water
washing
• incorporation of aqueous solution.
Examples:
Hydrophilic Petrolatum
Lanolin

8. Water-Removable Bases
- are oil-in-water emulsions commonly called
creams
• external phase of the emulsion is aqueous
• easily washed from skin
• diluted with water or aqueous solutions.
• can absorb serous discharges
Example: Hydrophilic Ointment

9. Water-Soluble Bases
• do not contain oleaginous components.
• are completely water washable and often
referred to as greaseless.
• they soften greatly with the addition of water
• incorporation of aqueous solutions are not
effectively
• used for incorporation of solid substances.
Example:
Polyethylene Glycol Ointment

10. CLASSIFICATION OF OINTMENT BASES

11. Preparation of Ointment
1. INCORPORATION METHOD – involves the blending of
an ingredient into the vehicle. This is done using a
glass slab and a pair of spatulas for small volumes or
using a mortar and pestle for larger volumes.
2. FUSION METHOD - used to incorporate ingredients
with solid, hard properties such as waxes. All or some
of the components of an ointment are combined by
being melted together and cooled with constant
stirring until congealed.

12. - are semisolid preparations containing one or
more medicinal agents dissolved or dispersed in
either a water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion or an oil-in
water (O/W) emulsion or in another type of
water-washable base.
Example of a W/O cream: Cold cream
Example of an O/W cream: Vanishing cream
Creams

13. Preparation of cream involves separating the
formula components into two portions:
Lipid and Aqueous.
1. Lipid portion contains all water-insoluble
components.
2. Aqueous portion contains all the water-
soluble components.
Preparation of Creams

14. - are semisolid systems consisting of dispersions
of small or large molecules in an aqueous liquid
vehicle rendered jellylike by the addition of a
gelling agent.
Gelling agents are used synthetic
macromolecules
Gels (Jellies)

15. -
1. SINGLE – PHASE GELS are gels in which the
macromolecules are uniformly distributed
throughout a liquid with no apparent boundaries
between the dispersed macromolecules and the
liquid.
2. TW0 – PHASE GELS (magma “Milk magnesia”)
consisting of floccules of small distinct particles
Classification Of Gels

16. • formed by dispersing the molecule in the
continuous phase (e.g., by heating starch)
• by cross-linking the dispersed molecules
• by changing the pH (as for carbomers)
• by reducing the continuous phase (as for jellies
formed with sucrose).
Preparation of Gels

17. Definition
• Cream – Emulsion of oil and water in
approximately equal proportions.
• Ointment – Combines oil (80%) and
water (20%).
• Gel – Liquefies upon contact with the
skin.

19. - semisolid preparations intended for application
to the skin. They generally contain a larger
proportion of solid material (such as 25%) than
ointments and therefore are stiffer.
Example: Zinc oxide paste (Lassar's Plain Zinc
Paste)
Pastes

20. Pastes
- are solid or semisolid adhesive masses spread
on a backing of paper, fabric, moleskin, or
plastic.
Example: Salicylic Acid Plaster
Plasters

21. - are plastic masses containing gelatin (15%),
glycerin (40%), water (35%), and an added
medicinal substance (10%), such as zinc oxide.
Glycerogelatins

22. Thank You
For Listening

Any
Questions?
Or any
Clarification?

23. ALLEN, L. V., POPOVICH, N. G., ANSEL, H. C., & ANSEL,
H. C. (2005). Ansel's pharmaceutical dosage forms and
drug delivery systems. Philadelphia, Lippincott Williams
& Wilkins.
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