Ointments, types of ointments, ointment base, classification of ointment bases, Advantages and Disadvantages

ointments are semi- solid, greasy substances used topically for various purposes, such as soothing skin irritations, promoting wound healing, or delivering medications. composed of a base and active ingredients, ointments provide a barrier on the skin, aiding in drug absorption and moisturizing effects. They are thicker than creams and typically stay on the skin longer. common bases include petroleum jelly or lanolin.

1. OINTMENTS
PRESENTED BY
V.LEELALAKSHMI
M.PHARM( PH.D)
DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICS
P. KRISHNAKEERTHI
PHARM D

2. INTRODUCTION
Ointments are semi – solid multiple dosage form meant for external
application i.e. on skin and mucus membrane. One / more medicaments are
either dissolved or dispensed or emulsified in ointment base.

3. CLASSIFICATION OF OINTMENTS
Ointments
Unmedicated
ointments
Medicated ointments

4. UNMEDICATED OINTMENTS
❖These ointments do not contain any drugs.

❖They are useful as emollients, protectants.
❖Example: Petroleum jelly.

5. MEDICATED OINTMENTS
These ointments contain drugs which show local or systemic effects.
Medicated
ointments
Dermatologic
ointments
Ophthalmic
ointments
Rectal
ointments
Vaginal
ointments
Nasal
ointments

6. DERMATOLOGICAL OINTMENTS
These ointments are applied topically on the external skin.
Dermatological
ointments
Epidermic
ointments
Endodermic
ointments
Diadermic
ointments

7. ❖Epidermic ointments – The drugs present in these type of ointments exert their action
on the epidermis of the skin.
❖Examples: Ketoconazole ointments.
❖Endodermic ointments – The drugs present in the these types of ointments exert their
action on the deeper layers of cutaneous tissue.
❖Examples: Demodex ointment.
❖Diadermic ointments – The drugs present in these types of ointments enter into the
deeper layers of skin and finally in the systemic circulation and exert systemic effects.
❖Examples: Nitroglycerine ointments

8. OPHTHALMIC OINTMENTS
❖These are sterile preparations which are applied inside the lower eye lid.
❖Only anhydrous bases are used in their preparation.
❖The ointment is applied as a narrow band of approximately 0.25 – 0.5 inch.
❖Example: Sulfacetamide sodium ointment.

9. RECTAL OINTMENTS
❖These are the ointments to be applied to the perianal or within the anal
canal.
❖The bases used are combinations of PEG 300 and PEG 3350, Cetyl alcohol
and Cetyl esters, wax, liquid paraffin and white paraffin.
❖Examples: Benzocaine ointments.

10. VAGINAL OINTMENTS
❖These ointments are applied to the vulvo-vaginal area or inside the
vagina.
❖As vagina is more susceptible to infections, the ointment should be free
from micro-organisms, moulds and yeasts.
❖Example: Candicidin ointment.

11. NASAL OINTMENTS
❖These are used in the topical treatment of nasal mucosa.
❖Drugs get absorbed into the general circulation through the rich blood
supply of the nasal lining.
❖Examples: Ipratropium bromide ointment.

12. IDEAL PROPERTIES
❖It should be physically and chemically stable.
❖It should be compatible with wide range of medicaments.
❖It should be compatible with skin( bio compatible).
❖It should not retard the wound healing.
❖It should be in such that the ointment spreads evenly consistency and
soften which is applied on skin with stress.

13. ❖It should be non-sticky in nature.
❖It should be non-greasy in nature.
❖It should be non-irritant.
❖It should be non-toxic.
❖It should be enhance the absorption of medicaments.

14. Ointment base:
These are the base or carrier or vehicle in which the medicaments are
incorporated.

15. CLASSIFICATION OF OINTMENT BASES
Ointment
bases
Oleoginous
bases
Absorption
bases
Emulsion
bases
Water
soluble
bases

16. OLEAGINOUS BASE
❖These bases are fats, fixed oil, hydrocarbon or silicones.
❖They are anhydrous, greasy, non-washable does not absorb water and occlusive(
form a film on skin so it increases the skin hydration by reducing the rate of loss of
surface water.
❖They should not be applied to infected skin.
❖They are used as protectants, emollients, vehicles for hydrolysable drugs.
❖Examples: White petrolatum
White ointment

17. ABSORPTION BASE
❖Anhydrous but hydrophilic ointment bases, they can absorb several times their weight of
water to form water-in-oil emulsions.
❖They are non-washable, not water soluble.
❖They used as protectants, emollients, vehicles for aqueous solutions, solids, and non-
hydrolysable drugs.
❖Examples: Hydrophilic petrolatum
Anhydrous lanolin
Aquabase

18. EMULSION BASE
Emulsion
base
w/o emulsion
base
o/w emulsion
base

19. W/O EMULSION BASE
❖These are anhydrous, hydrophilic, absorbs water and non-water removable, with low
thermal conductivity and occlusive.
❖They have the same properties as the absorption bases.
❖They are used as emollients, cleansing creams, vehicles for solid, liquid or non-
hydrolysable drugs.
❖Examples: ointment and Hydro-cream

20. O/W EMULSION BASE
❖These bases are anhydrous, water soluble, absorb water and water washable.
❖They are either carbowaxes Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs) or hydrated gums (bentonite,
gelatin, cellulose derivatives).
❖They are used as drug vehicles.
❖Examples: PEG Ointment and Poly base

21. WATER SOLUBLE BASES
❖These bases are anhydrous, water soluble, absorb water and water
washable.
❖They are either carbowaxes polyethylene glycols (PEGs) or hydrated
gums ( bentonite, gelatin, cellulose derivatives).
❖They are used as drug vehicles.
❖Examples : PEG ointment
polybase

22. ADVANTAGES OF OINTMENTS
❖Handling is comparatively easier than bulky liquid dosage forms.
❖Chemical stability is more than liquid dosage forms.
❖They promote direct application to the affected body part and avoids unnecessary
exposure of other parts to the medication.
❖They are suitable for patients sensitive to parenteral and oral routes.
❖They prolong the contact time between the medicament & affected region.
❖Drugs with extensive first-pass metabolism by oral route can be formulated as topical
dosage form.

23. DISADVANTAGES OF OINTMENTS
❖They have less stability than solid dosage forms.
❖They are bulkier compared to solid dosage forms.

24. THANK YOU