What are the two methods of ointment preparation?

What are the two methods of ointment preparation?

• A. Incorporation and fusion
• B. Emulsification and distillation
• C. Maceration and filtration
• D. Dissolution and precipitation

Answer: (A)

Ointment preparation relies on two classic methods: incorporation and fusion. Incorporation means blending the drug into the ointment base by spatulation or grinding until the mixture is uniform, typically at room temperature or with gentle warming, which is ideal for heat-sensitive drugs. Fusion involves melting the ointment base (and any waxy components), incorporating the drug while melted, and then cooling the mixture with continuous stirring to achieve a homogeneous prep; this is used when the base or components are better combined in the melted state. The other terms describe different processes (emulsification forms emulsions, distillation separates components, maceration and filtration are extraction steps, and dissolution/precipitation relate to solubility changes) and aren’t the standard methods for making simple ointments.

Ointment preparation relies on two classic methods: incorporation and fusion. Incorporation means blending the drug into the ointment base by spatulation or grinding until the mixture is uniform, typically at room temperature or with gentle warming, which is ideal for heat-sensitive drugs. Fusion involves melting the ointment base (and any waxy components), incorporating the drug while melted, and then cooling the mixture with continuous stirring to achieve a homogeneous prep; this is used when the base or components are better combined in the melted state. The other terms describe different processes (emulsification forms emulsions, distillation separates components, maceration and filtration are extraction steps, and dissolution/precipitation relate to solubility changes) and aren’t the standard methods for making simple ointments.