Ointments are made through three methods:
- Used to combine components of different consistencies, some are hard and some are soft, all the components are fatty compounds.
- Some or all of the ointment components are combined together by melting, mixing, then continuously stirring them until congealing.
- If the medicament is a soluble solid, it is added to the warm base after melting and then is stirred till a homogenous solution is obtained. If it is insoluble, it is stirred with a sufficient amount of a levigating agent of similar nature to the base, then added to the mixture and stirring till obtaining a homogenous solution.
- Used to combine components of similar consistencies, all the base components are soft and fatty.
- All the ointment components are mixed on cold till a uniform mixture is obtained.
- If the medicament is insoluble in the base, then it is added in the same way it is added in the fusion method of ointment preparation
- Used when some of the ointment components are of aqueous nature and others are of fatty nature, sometimes the medicament as well is soluble in water.
- All the fatty compounds are added and melted together, stirred till a uniform mixture is obtained.
- All the water soluble compounds are dissolved in water (sometimes including the drug itself), then the solution is heated roughly to the same temperature as the hot fatty mixture or higher.
- Then the two portions are mixed and stirred vigorously till the product sets.
N.B: If the aqueous liquid is added while its cold, it will cause rapid congealing before emulsification takes places and the product formed will be lumpy.
