Pharmacy Diploma (D Pharm) 

Perfect for everything students and instructors need to know.

1. Course Overview

Pharmaceutics & Dispensing Technology is a core first‑year subject in the Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm) program. It bridges theoretical pharmaceutics with hands‑on skills in prescription interpretation, compounding, packaging, and patient counseling. Mastery of this subject ensures safe, accurate, and professional medication preparation and dispensing in both community and hospital settings.

1.1 Course Objectives

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

1. Explain foundational pharmaceutic principles, including drug–excipient interactions and dosage form design.

2. Perform accurate pharmaceutical calculations for compounding powders, solutions, suspensions, and dose adjustments.

3. Demonstrate correct techniques for manufacturing common dosage forms—powders, tablets, capsules, ointments, suppositories, and ophthalmic preparations.

4. Interpret prescriptions in compliance with legal requirements and best dispensing practices.

5. Apply Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) and relevant sections of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act to real‑world scenarios.

6. Counsel patients effectively on dosage regimens, storage, contraindications, and adverse‑effect management.

7. Maintain precise records, perform inventory controls, and understand quality‑assurance processes.

2.  Detailed Theory Syllabus

Unit I: Fundamentals of Pharmaceutics

1. Scope & History

   • Evolution of pharmaceutics: from ancient herbal preparations to modern drug delivery systems

   • Role of the pharmacist in drug formulation and patient safety

2. Pharmaceutical Materials

   • Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs): classification by solubility, stability, and polymorphism

   • Excipients: diluents, binders, disintegrants, lubricants, glidants, preservatives, solvents, plasticizers—mechanisms and selection criteria

3. Pre‑formulation Studies

   • Solubility profiling, partition coefficient, pKa determination, compatibility studies

   • Impact on dosage form choice and design

Unit II: Dosage Form Design & Classification

1. Solid Dosage Forms

   • Powders & Granules: particle size reduction, blending, granulation (wet vs. dry), flow property evaluations

   • Tablets: direct compression, wet/dry granulation, punching, coating techniques (sugar, film, enteric)

   • Capsules: hard gelatin vs. HPMC shells, filling methods, capsule size selection

2. Liquid Dosage Forms

   • Solutions & Syrups: solubilization techniques, sweetening and flavoring agents, preservatives

   • Suspensions & Emulsions: wetting agents, suspending agents, emulsion types (O/W, W/O), homogenization

3. Semisolid Dosage Forms

   • Ointments, Creams & Gels: bases (oleaginous, absorption, water‑removable), penetration enhancers, rheological assessment

4. Specialty Forms

   • Suppositories & Ophthalmics: bases, aseptic handling, packaging

   • Transdermal Patches, Inhalers: matrix vs. reservoir systems, propellants, particle engineering

Unit III: Pharmaceutical Calculations

1. Measurement Systems

   • Metric vs. avoirdupois: conversions, significant figures, error minimization

2. Strength Expressions

   • % w/v, % w/w, % v/v, ratio strength, molarity, normality, ppm/ppb

3. Dilutions & Alligation

   • C₁V₁ = C₂V₂ applications, step‑by‑step dilution procedures

   • Alligation medial and alternate for mixing strengths

4. Dose Calculations

   • Pediatric and geriatric dosing (mg/kg, BSA); dose adjustments in renal/hepatic impairment

   • Intravenous infusion rates: mL/hr, drops/min, pump programming

Unit IV: Dispensing Technology & Prescription Handling

1. Prescription Fundamentals

   • Parts of a prescription, Latin abbreviations, legal validity, generic vs. brand considerations

2. Compounding Techniques

   • Geometric dilution, levigation, trituration, fusion methods—stepwise protocols

3. Reconstitution & Extemporaneous Preparations

   • Aqueous injections, lyophilized powders, syrups from dry powders, ophthalmic solutions

4. Packaging, Labeling & Storage

   • Container–closure systems, secondary packaging, child‑resistant closures, temperature/humidity labeling

5. Patient Counseling & Compliance

   • Technique for explaining dose, timing, route, special instructions; use of pictograms; handling non‑adherence

Unit V: Good Pharmacy Practice & Legal‑Ethical Aspects

1. Professional Ethics

   • Confidentiality, informed consent, code of conduct

2. Pharmacy Legislation

   • Drugs & Cosmetics Act (key chapters), Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Act, Pharmacy Act

3. Quality Assurance

   • Standard operating procedures (SOPs), deviation management, recall procedures

4. Record‑Keeping & Inventory Control

   • Batch records, stock ledgers, expiry tracking, first‑expiring-first‑out (FEFO)

3. Practical Laboratory Syllabus

4. Assessment & Grading Scheme

• Theory Examinations

  • Mid‑Term Test: 20% (short answers, calculations, case‑based questions)

  • End‑Semester Exam: 50% (essay questions, long problems, legislation scenarios)

• Practical Examinations

  • Laboratory Performance & Journal: 20%

  • Viva‑Voce & OSPE Stations: 10%

5. Recommended Texts & E‑Resources

1. Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy by Gennaro AR

2. Aulton’s Pharmaceutics: The Design and Manufacture of Medicines by Michael E. Aulton

3. Wilson & Gisvold’s Textbook of Organic Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry

4. Practical Pharmaceutical Chemistry by Beckett & Stenlake

5. Online Platforms:

   • Khan Academy (pharmacology fundamentals)

   • Pharmacopeia websites (USP, BP online monographs)

   • YouTube channels for compounding demonstrations

6. Tips for Success

• Active Note‑Taking: Create flowcharts for processes (tablet manufacture, prescription workflow).

• Group Study & Role‑Play: Practice compounding and counseling in pairs.

• Flashcards for Excipients: Drill functions and examples of each excipient class.

• Regular Self‑Testing: Timed calculations and mock OSPE stations.

• Stay Current: Follow updates in legislation and pharmacopeial revisions.

7. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Why learn compounding if most meds are pre‑manufactured?
A: Personalized dosage forms—for pediatric, geriatric, or niche therapies—still require extemporaneous compounding skills.

Q2: How do I ensure accuracy in pharmaceutical calculations?
A: Always use consistent units, double‑check conversions, and practice a variety of calculation problems.

Q3: What legal pitfalls should I watch for in dispensing?
A: Incomplete prescriptions, wrong DEA or registration numbers, dispensing controlled substances without valid authority.

8. Career Outcomes

Successful completion of this course prepares graduates for roles such as:

• Community Pharmacist

• Hospital Dispenser/Pharmacy Technician

• Quality Control Analyst in Pharma Industry

• Regulatory Affairs Assistant

• Clinical Trial Support Personnel