Tinctures.

Tinctures have been defined as alcoholic or hydro-alcoholic solutions prepared from animal or vegetable drugs or from chemical substances.

Tinctures are made by percolation, maceration, solution (or dilution). Menstrua¹ which are employed in official tinctures are alcoholic: dilute alcohols of various strength, aromatic ammonia spirit (ароматизований нашатирний спирт), ammonia water, or mixtures of alcohol, water and glycerin. Wines, such as Sherry, have also been used as menstrua and the resulting preparations are referred to as Vini, or Wines.

The use of alcohol as a solvent has been practised for years, but a long time and much effort have been required to determine the proper proportion of water to be added².

The proportion of drug in different tinctures is not the same, but varies according to the established standards. Tinctures of potent drugs essentially represent the activity of 10 gm of the drug in each 100 ml of tincture. Most other tinctures represent 20 gm of the drug in each 100 ml of tincture as to compound tinctures, they have always been made according to long established formulas.

There are three different methods of making tinctures: percolation, maceration and solution or dilution.

Percolation is the best method for making tinctures, if the drugs can be extracted readily. Maceration is used for making tinctures in the case of resins, balsams [‘bo:lsəmz], gums, soap, etc.

Solution or dilution: a few tinctures are made by this method, such as iodine tincture or ferric chloride tincture.

Tinctures should be stored in tight, light-resistant containers protected from exposure to direct sunlight and excessive heat.

Notes

1. menstrua [‘menstruə] pl. від menstruum (хім.) – розчиник

2. water to be added – вода, що повинна додаватись.

Unit 10: Grammar: Model Verbs and

Their Equivalents.

Translate the following words and remember them:

1. tablet [‘tæblit]

2. administering [әd’ministәriŋ]

3. flat [flæt]

4. convex [‘konvəks]

5. circular [‘sə:kjulə]

6. rectangular [rek’tæŋgjulə]

7. triangular [trai’æŋgjulə]

8. preliminary [prə’liminəri]

9. consideration [kən, sidə’rei∫n]

10. ethical [‘eθikəl]

11. dimension [di’men∫n]

12. diameter [dai’æmitə]

13. lasting [‘la:stiŋ]

14. compression [kəm’pre∫n]

15. density [‘densiti]

16. auxiliary[o:g’ziljəri]

17. binding [‘baindiŋ]

18. sticking [‘stikiŋ]

19. lubricant [‘lΛbrikənt]

20. glidant [‘glaidənt]

Tablets and Tablet Making

The tablet is the most common form of medication¹ for the administering of a drug in a dry state.

A great variety of shapes and sizes is available among medicinal tablets. The most common shape is a circular body with flat or slightly convex sides. There can also be rectangular, triangular and other shapes in the case of specialty tablets².

The preliminary consideration in selection of particular shapes and sizes is essentially ethical. The dimensions should be chosen so that tablets prepared would have a pleasing appearance. Similarly, the use of a tablet is also an important consideration. A tablet meant for making solutions must dissolve as quickly as possible and so it should be as thin as possible. This will require a larger diameter than average tablets of the same weight. Tablets, which are to be dissolved slowly in the mouth, should be flat for convenience of the user and thick enough to have a lasting effect on which the efficiency of the tablet will depend. Tablets which are to be coated after compression, must have a deep convex shape³ and be harder than other tablets.

In addition to the above considerations, there can also be important technical reasons, which may influence the selection of particular dimensions. The density and compression ratio (the extent to which a powder can be compressed) are important factors.

From a purely physical point of view, the technique of tablet making (tabletting) may he defined as a process whereby a known volume of a drug in a finely divided state is subjected to pressure in a die between two punches.

Tablets can be easily made from such drugs as sodium chloride and other alkali halides⁴, even without any auxiliary substances. For some other drugs, like lactose, the addition of auxiliary substances may be necessary to prevent binding or sticking in the tablet machine.

The extent of pressure plays a very important part during tabletting. Tablets, which are to dissolve in the mouth, must be more strongly compressed than other tablets for internal administration. At the same time higher pressure causes an increase in friction, which necessitates the use of greater amounts of lubricants and glidants⁵. Glidants (e.g. natural starch) are added to the tablet material to improve its flow properties. Lubricants are substances, which facilitate smooth ejection of tablets after compression.

Notes

1. the most common form of medication – найбільш поширена форма лікарських препаратів.

2. specialty tablets – таблетки спеціального призначення

3. deep convex shape – дуже випукла форма

4. alkali halides – лужні галоїдні сполуки або галогеніди

5. lubricants and glidants – змащувальні речовини і речовини, що надають ковзких властивостей.