Ointment
2062597
226040640
2008-07-16T15:46:10Z
Turzh
6649499
{{Wiktionary|ointment}}
An '''ointment''' is a viscous semisolid preparation used topically on a variety of body surfaces. These include the [[skin]] and the [[mucus membrane]]s of the [[eye]] (an ''eye ointment''), [[vagina]], [[anus]], and [[nose]]. An ointment may or may not be medicated.
==Description==
The vehicle of an ointment is known as ointment base. The choice of a base depends upon the clinical indication for the ointment, and the different types of ointment bases are:
#Hydrocarbon bases. e.g. hard paraffin, soft paraffin.
#Absorption bases. e.g. wool fat, beewax.
#Water soluble bases. e.g. macrogols 200,300,400.
Properties which affect choice of an ointment base are:
#Stability
#Penetrability
#Solvent property
#Irritant effects
#Ease of application and removal
==Methods of preparation of ointments==
'''Trituration''': In this finely subdivided insoluble medicaments are evenly distributed by grinding with a small amount of the base followed by dilution with gradually increasing amounts of the base.
'''Fusion''': In this method the ingredients are melted together in descending order of their melting points and stirred to ensure homogenity
==See also==
* [[Cream (pharmaceutical)]]
* [[Lotion]]
* [[Liniment]]
* [[Gel]]
==External links==
*[http://www.rpsgb.org.uk/pdfs/mussheet06.pdf History of ointments]
{{Template:Dosage forms}}
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[[Category:Pharmacy]]
[[Category:Ointments]]
[[Category:Dosage forms]]
[[ar:مرهم]]
[[de:Salbe]]
[[fr:Pommade]]
[[la:Unguentum]]
[[li:Zalf]]
[[nl:Zalf]]
[[ja:軟膏剤]]
[[no:Salver]]
[[pl:Maść (medycyna)]]
[[pt:pomada]]
[[ru:Мазь]]
[[uk:Мазь]]