Solids to Liquids: Taking Advantage of a Physical Phenomenon

1. Menthol (mp=42�) and Phenol (mp=42�)

2. Lidocaine (mp=68�) and Prilocaine (mp=38�)

What do the two combinations of ingredients have in common? When the dry solids are mixed together, they form eutectic mixtures and turn into a liquid. A eutectic mixture consists of two often similar materials whose melting point is below that of either individual component and is generally close to room temperature. In this case, the mixture of lidocaine and prilocaine form a eutectic mixture with a melting point reduction to 16�C. The resulting "oil" is then used as the internal or dispersed phase of an oil-in-water emulsion, forming Eutectic Mixture of Local Anesthetics (EMLA). A 5% EMLA cream consists of 2.5% lidocaine and 2.5% prilocaine.

For science fairs, it is interesting to the students to take something like menthol and camphor or other eutectic-forming substances and simply pour the crystals onto a glass plate on top of each other and they will tend to liquefy with or without slight stirring with a glass rod.

Loyd V. Allen, Jr., PhD, RPh
Editor-in-Chief
International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding
Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy Twenty-second edition

Coming in Sep/Oct IJPC

News

Medistat Recalls Sterile Drug Products
The FDA has alerted healthcare professionals and patients of a voluntary recall of all non-expired drug products produced for sterile use and distributed nationwide by Medistat RX, LLC, in Foley, Alabama, due to possible contamination. Investigators and inspectors observed significant deficiencies that raise concerns about Medistat's ability to assure the sterility of drug products that it produced. The recalled products were distributed between November 1, 2014, and September 3, 2015. Medistat voluntarily ceased sterile compounding operations on September 1, 2015.
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlerts
forHumanMedicalProducts/ucm461850.htm

GSK Recalls More than 425,000 Tubes of Bactroban Products
According to an FDA Enforcement Report, the U.K. drugmaker is recalling 427,513 tubes of its Bactroban (mupirocin calcium) cream and Bactroban Nasal Ointment in different sizes. GSK says it voluntarily initiated the recall of the 22 lots after it was discovered that the product "was contaminated with penicillin and foreign substances during manufacturing process." The following links describe the affected lots.
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/enforcement/enforce_rpt-Product-Tabs.cfm?action=select&recall_number=D-1362-2015&w=09022015⟨=eng

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/enforcement/enforce_rpt-Product-Tabs.cfm?action=select&recall_number=D-1361-2015&w=09022015⟨=eng

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/enforcement/enforce_rpt-Product-Tabs.cfm?action=select&recall_number=D-1360-2015&w=09022015⟨=eng

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/enforcement/enforce_rpt-Product-Tabs.cfm?action=select&recall_number=D-1359-2015&w=09022015⟨=eng

In the News: Check Out the Member Spotlight (Lisa Ashworth) Highlighted in the Current Issue of Texas Pharmacy Today!

http://www.texaspharmacy.org/page/TexasPharmacyToday

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Did You Know ...

�that today is 9-11? We pause to remember the tragic events on that terrible day. As one looks at our world today in the U.S., the middle-east terrorists have already infiltrated to the point that we no longer live the same way we did prior to that event. Think about the intrusions in our daily lives (airport checks, security at federal buildings, movie theaters, marathons, sports events, driving down the highway, etc.) that have resulted from the lack of action on the part of our country's leadership. Think about the lives we have had the privilege to experience the past 50 to 60 years but that your children and grandchildren will NOT be able to experience because of our leadership's lack of standing up for freedom in the U.S. and in the world!

Tip of the Week

We all must be active in maintaining our freedom. Otherwise, we may see more 9-11 events in our future.

Looking Back

He asked his kitten,
To pet and purr,
She eyed his face,
And screamed "What fur!"
     Burma Shave

Classifieds

Agents Wanted
503B and Sterile drug manufacturing facility CGMP compliant seeks "sales and service" contract agents for drug sales into the Compounding Drug Market. Unique opportunity
Contact: Gary Hanley, CEO Asept Pak/SterRx, 518 353 3210