PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technician (PTCE)MedicationsMedium
A technician is asked to prepare a suspension. Which of the following is an essential characteristic of a well-prepared suspension?
- AThe mixture must be sterile for oral administration.
- BThe suspended particles should settle rapidly and compactly.
- CThe particles should remain uniformly dispersed for a reasonable period after shaking.
- DThe drug particles must be completely dissolved in the liquid.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. The particles should remain uniformly dispersed for a reasonable period after shaking.
A suspension is a two-phase system where solid drug particles are dispersed in a liquid vehicle. A key characteristic of a good suspension is that the particles should settle slowly and be easily redispersed upon shaking, remaining uniformly dispersed long enough for an accurate dose to be measured and administered.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Incorrect. Oral suspensions are typically non-sterile; sterility is crucial for parenteral preparations.
- B. Incorrect. Rapid and compact settling makes redispersion difficult and leads to dosing inaccuracies.
- D. Incorrect. If particles were dissolved, it would be a solution, not a suspension.
Pharmaceutical Suspension
A coarse dispersion in which insoluble solid particles are dispersed in a liquid medium, requiring shaking before use to ensure uniform dosing.
- Used for insoluble drugs or to mask taste.
- Requires a suspending agent to slow settling.
- Must be easily redispersible upon shaking.
Memory trick: Shake It, Don't Break It, for a Dose You Can Take It!