Containers for dispensing

Containers for Dispensing Capsules and Tablets. In USP 27/NF 22. Rockville, MD United States Pharmacopoeial Convention, Inc., 2004 2741-2746. 

General provisions contain recommendations that are considered the minimum current good compounding practices for the preparation of drug products by state-licensed pharmacies for dispensing or administration to humans or animals. The document contains definitions of compounding and manufacturing. 

Tableware, drinking tumblers, cutlery, jars and beakers, storage containers for foods... Bathroom fittings, electric toothbrushes, toothbrush handles, sanitary ware, soap dispensers, shower cubicle, shelves...

Containers used for dispensing should always be labelled accordingly, preferably also with cautionary labels. Child-resistant containers may be difficult to use by elderly patients. Not all containers should be cleaned with alcohol before use as the medicine may interact with the alcohol. 

Ammonium nitrate prills are often mixed with fuel oil (liquid hydrocarbons) to produce a commercial explosive mixture known as ANFO which is used in quarrying. ANFO can be prepared in a factory by mixing both ingredients in a rotating container and dispensing the product into polyethylene or cardboard tubes. The tubes are then sealed and transported to the place of use. ANFO can also be prepared at the site where the explosive composition is to be used. Fuel oil is poured into a polyethylene bag containing ammonium nitrate and left for some time to allow the oil to soak into the ammonium nitrate. The ANFO mixture is then poured from the polyethylene bag into the hole (i.e. shot-hole) where the explosive mixture is detonated. 

Unlike dispensing hoses, nozzles made for gasoline may be compatible with ethanol fuel. The metals contained in dispensing nozzles should all be compatible with ethanol, but it is not guaranteed that all the elastomers will be. Consult the nozzle manufacturer to obtain their recommendation. 

The requirement for calibrated laboratory-ware for containing and dispensing solutions extends to all facets of the analytical procedure. It rests with the analyst to ascertain accuracy suitable to the application, of all devices used, including micropipets used in conjunction with electrothermal atomizers. The temptation to use other than appropriately calibrated containers, and chemical reagents of suitably high purity, and not to follow good analytical procedures as practised by those with only peripheral contact with analytical chemistry, should be avoided. 

Instruction for the patient, to be written on container by the pharmacist. Here brevity, clarify and accuracy are especially important. It is dangerous to rely on the patient remembering oral instructions. The BNF provides a list of recommended cautionary and advisory labels for dispensed medicines representing a balance between the unintelligibly short and the inconveniently long, e.g. Do not stop taking this medicine except on your doctor s advice. ... 

Fig. 9 Containment unit built for dispensing small quantities of highly active compounds.

This section contains examples of NHS prescription forms for dispensing within a community pharmacy. Although a number of different examples are used in this section, from a variety of different prescribers, all prescription forms can be addressed by using a standard systematic approach (see Section 3.3 for NHS prescription forms, and Section 5.4 for non-NHS (private) prescription forms). 

This section contains examples of hospital medication orders (an in-patient order, a TTO and an out-patient prescription) for dispensing in a hospital pharmacy. 

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