OINTMENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
• What is Ointments?
• Types of Ointment
• Advantages & Disadvantages
• Ointment Bases
• Preparation
• Packaging , Storage and Labelling
• Medicinal Applications
What is Ointments? The word ointment comes from the Latin ungere meaning
anoint with oil.

Any greasy or oily semi-solid preparation, usually

medicated, that can be applied externally to the skin in
order to heal, soothe or protect it.

It is a viscous semisolid preparation used topically on a

variety of body surfaces
Drug ingredients can be dissolved, emulsified or
suspended in the ointment base.
Types of ointments
The various types of ointments are:
•Non-Medicated Ointments
•Medicated Ointments

Non-Medicated Ointments MEDICATED OINTMENTS

These ointments do not contain These ointments contain drugs which

any drugs. They are useful as show local or systemic effects.
emollients, protectants .
Example: Petroleum jelly.
 Medicated Ointments
These are of several sub—types:
• Dermatologic ointments
• Opthalmic ointments
• Rectal ointments
• Vaginal ointments
• Nasal ointments

DERMATOLOGIC OINTMENTS
These ointments are applied topically on the external skin. The ointment is applied to the
affected area as a thin layer and spread evenly using gentle pressure with the fingertips.
These are of three types:
(1) Epidermic Ointments: The drugs presentin these type of ointments exert their action on
the epidermis of the skin. Example: Ketoconazole ointment.

(2) Endodermic ointments: The drugs present in these types of ointments exert their action
on the deeper layers of cutaneous tissue.
Example: Demodex ointment.
(3) Diadermic ointments: The drugs present in these types of ointments enter into the
deeper layers of skin and finally in the systemic circulation and exert systemic effects.
Example: Nitroglycerine ointment.
OPTHALMIC OINTMENTS
These are sterile preparations which are applied inside the lower eye lid. Only anhydrous
bases are used in their preparation. The ointment is applied as a narrow band of
approximately 0.25 - 0.5 inch. Example: Sulfacetamide sodium ointment.

RECTAL OINTMENTS
These are the ointments to be applied to the peri- anal or within the anal canal. The bases
used are combinations of PEG 300 and PEG 3350, cetyl alcohol and cetyl esters, wax,
liquid paraffin and white paraffin. Example: Benzocaine ointment.
VAGINAL OINTMENTS
These ointments are applied to the vulvo-vaginal area or inside the vagina. As vagina is
more susceptible to infections, the ointment should be free from micro-organisms,
moulds and yeasts.
Example: Candicidin ointment.

NASAL OINTMENTS
These are used in the topical treatment of nasal mucosa. Drugs get absorbed into the general
circulation through the rich blood supply of the nasal lining.
Example: Ipratropium bromide ointment
ADVANTAGES
• Handling of ointments is easier than bulky liquid dosage forms.
• They are chemically more stable than liquid dosage forms.
• They facilitate application of the directly to the effected body part and avoid exposure
of other parts to the drug.
• They are suitable for patients who find it difficult to take the drugs by parenteral and
oral routes.
• They prolong the contact time between the drug and effected area.
• The bioavailability of drugs administered as ointments is more since it prevents
passage through liver.
DISADVANTAGES
• They are bulkier than solid dosage forms.
• When applications of an exact quantity of ointment to the affected area is required, it
is difficult to ascertain the same.
• They are less stable than solid dosage forms
OINTMENT BASES
There are five (5) classes or types of ointment bases which are differentiated on the basis
of their physical composition. These are:
1. Oleaginous bases.
2. Absorption bases.
3. Water in oil emulsion bases.
4. Oil in water emulsion bases.
5. Water soluble or water miscible bases.
1.Oleaginous Ointment Bases
• These bases are fats, fixed oils, hydrocarbon or silicones.
• They are anhydrous, greasy, non-washable does not absorb water and occlusive (form
a film on skin so it increases the skin hydration by reducing the rate of loss of surface
water.
• They should not be applied to infected skin.
• They are used as protectants, emollients , vehicles for
hydrolysable drugs.
• Example: White Petrolatum, White Ointment.
2. Absorption Ointment Bases
• Oleaginous base + w/o surfactant.
• Anhydrous but hydrophilic ointment bases, they can absorb several times their weight
of water to form water-in-oil emulsion.
• They are non-washable, not water soluble
• They used as protectants, emollients (+/-), vehicles for aqueous solutions, solids, and
non-hydrolyzable drugs.
• Example: Hydrophilic Petrolatum, Anhydrous Lanolin, Aquabase™, Aquaphor®,
Polysorb® Absorption O.B.
3. W/O Emulsion O.B.
• These are anhydrous, hydrophilic, absorbs water and non
water removable, with low thermal conductivity and
occlusive.
• They have the same properties as the absorption bases.
• They are used as emollients, cleansing creams, vehicles for
solid, liquid, or non-hydrolysable drugs .
• Examples: Cold Cream type, Hydrous Lanolin, Rose Water
Ointment, Hydrocream™, Eucerin®, Nivea® .
4. O/W Emulsion O.B.
• These bases are anhydrous, water soluble, absorb water and water washable.
• They are either carbowaxes Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs) or hydrated gums (bentonite,
gelatin, cellulose derivatives).
• They are used as drug vehicles.
• Examples: PEG Ointment, Polybase™ .
5. Water-Soluble Bases:
• Water-soluble bases do not contain oleaginous components.
• They are completely water-washable and often referred to as ‘greaseless’.
• Because they soften greatly with the addition of water, large amounts of aqueous
solutions are not effectively incorporated into these bases.
• They mostly are used for the incorporation of solid substances. E.g. Polyethylene
glycol ointment
Selection of Appropriate Base:
Selection of the Appropriate Base Based on:
• Desired release rate.
• Desirability for enhancement of per-cutaneous absorption.
• Advisability of occlusion.
• Short-term or long-term stability.
• Influence of drug on consistency or other features of ointment base.
• Patient factor - dry or weeping (oozing) skin.
Preparation of Ointments:
Ointments are prepared by two general methods: -
• Incorporation
• Fusion
Incorporation:
By the incorporation method, the components are mixed until a uniform preparation is
attained.

Incorporation of Solids:
The ointment base is placed on one side of the working surface and the powdered
components, previously reduced to fine powders and thoroughly blended in a mortar, on
the other side.
Incorporation of Solids:

• The drug (the pink powder) is

usually the smaller quantity of
the two ingredients.

• Add an amount of the ointment

that is approximately equal in size
to the drug.
Incorporation of Solids:

• Spatulate the mixture

• Continue adding until all of the

ointment is used. Spatulate after
each addition.
Incorporation of Liquids:
• Liquid substances are added to an ointment after consideration of an ointment bases
capacity to accept the volume required.
• Small amount of an aqueous solution may be incorporated into an oleaginous
ointment
• Hydrophilic ointment bases readily accept aqueous solution. Addition of aqueous
preparation to a hydrophobic base
• First the aqueous solution incorporated into a small amount of a hydrophilic base.
• Second that mixture then added to the hydrophobic abase.
FUSION METHOD
• Fusion is the act or procedure of liquefying or melting by the application of heat.
• By the fusion method, all or some of the components of an ointment are combined by
melted together and cooled with constant stirring until congealed.
• Heat labile substances added last, when the temperature of the mixture is low enough
not to cause decomposition of the ingredients.
• In a small scale, the fusion process conducted in a porcelain dish or glass beaker.
• In large scale, it is carried out in large steam-jacketed kettles. After congealing the
ointment may be passed through an ointment mill (in large scale), in small scale
rubbed with spatula or in a mortar to ensure uniform texture.
Packaging ( Jars & Tubes)
• Prepare the ointment. Select an ointment jar that will just hold all of the formulation.
• Begin by taking some ointment and fill the bottom of the ointment jar.
• Use the spatula to put ointment into the crevices.
• Continue adding ointment to the jar again using the spatula to put the ointment along
the sides of the jar.
• As you fill the jar, stab the spatula into the ointment a couple of times. This will reveal
air pockets that may have formed.
• Put the spatula halfway across the filled jar, and tilt in slightly . Rotate the jar and this
is make a professional looking finish on the top of the ointment.
• Wipe off ointment from the threads of the jar.
• Cap the ointment jar.
Storage and Dispensing
• Ointments should be stored in tightly closed and completely filled containers.
• Changes in temperature can lead to the crystallization of the drug and to changes in
the ointment base.
• They are usually dispensed in jars of glass or plastic material or in collapsible tubes.
• Sterile ointments must be dispensed in tubes or single dose units in order to protect
the product against contamination during use.
• With tin tubes, there is a risk of corrosion with hydrophilic ointments.
MEDICINAL APPLICATIONS
• Ointments are used topically for several purposes, e.g., as protectants, antiseptics,
emollients, antipruritics, kerotolytics, and astringents.
• In the case of a protective ointment, it serves to protect the skin against moisture, air,
sun rays and other external factors.
• It is necessary that the ointment neither penetrates the human skin barriers nor
facilitates the absorption of substances through this barrier.
• An antiseptic ointment is used to destroy or inhibit the growth of bacteria. Frequently
bacterial infections are deeply seated; a base which has the capacity to either
penetrate or dissolve and release the medication effectively is therefore desired.
• Ointments used for their emollient effect should be easy to apply, be non-greasy and
effectively penetrate the skin.
ANY QUESTION