The following procedures should be adopted by the pharmacist while handling the prescription for compounding and dispensing:
(i) Receiving
(ii) Reading and checking
(iii) Collecting and weighing the materials
(iv) Compounding, labeling and packaging
1. Receiving
• The prescription should be received by the pharmacist himself / herself.
• While receiving a prescription from a patient, a pharmacist should not change his/her facial expression, which gives an impression to the patient that he/she is confused or surprised after seeing the prescription.
2. Reading and checking
• After receiving the prescription, it should be screened behind the counter.
• The prescription is a hospital slip or from a nursing home or a private practitioner, and their authenticity should be checked. The signature of the prescriber and the date of the prescription is checked.
• The pharmacist should read all the lines and words of the prescription. They must not guess any word. If there is any doubt, the pharmacist should consult with the other pharmacist or the prescriber over the telephone.
3. Collecting and weighing the material
Before compounding a prescription, all the materials required for it should be collected from the shelves or drawers and kept on the left-hand side of the balance. After measuring, each material should be kept on the right-hand side of the balance. After compounding the prescription, the materials are replaced with the shelves/drawers where they were collected.
While compounding, the label of every container of material should be checked thrice in the following manner:
(i) When collected from the shelves/drawers.
(ii) When the materials are measured.
(iii) When the containers are replaced with the shelves/drawers.
4. Compounding, labeling and packaging
Only one prescription should be compounded at a time.
Compounding should be done on a clean table
All equipment required should be cleaned and dried.
The preparation should be prepared according to the prescriber’s direction or as per methods given in pharmacopeia or formulary according to the established pharmaceutical art of compounding.
The compounded preparations should be filled in suitable containers.
| Round vials | For tablets and capsules |
| Oval prescription bottles Narrow-mouthed | For liquids of low viscosity, e.g., mixtures, oral emulsions, etc. |
| Wide-mouthed bottles | For filling liquids of high viscosity, large quantities of tablets or capsules and bulk powders |
| Colored fluted bottles | For external preparations e.g. liniment and lotions |
| Ointment jars and collapsible tubes | For ointments, creams, or any other semisolid dosage forms. |
| Paper wrappers and envelops Paper wrappers and envelops Paper wrappers and envelops | For oral powders in divided doses |
| Dropper bottles | For eye drops and ear drops. |
| Sifter top containers | For dusting powders. |
The containers are labeled as per the prescriber. If required, some additional instructions may also be given.
The following information should be written on the label:
| Type of preparation: | The Emulsion, The Mixture, The Powder, etc. Its quantity should also be mentioned. |
| For: | Name, Age, and Sex of the patient. |
| Date of dispensing: | Expiry date, if any: e.g., ‘Must be taken within seven days of dispensing.’ |
| Expiry date, if any: | e.g., ‘Must be taken within seven days of dispensing.’ |
| Directions for use: | e.g., ‘One teaspoonful thrice daily.’ |
| Storage condition: | e.g., ‘Keep in a cool place.’ |
| Secondary labeling: | e.g. ‘SHAKE THE BOTTLE BEFORE USE’ ‘FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY’ etc. |
| Name and signature | of the pharmacist who dispensed |
| Name and Address | of the Pharmacy |
The container should be polished to remove any fingerprints. • While delivering the preparation to the patient, the pharmacist should explain the mode of administration, direction for use, and storage.