What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Powder Medicine?

Advantages of powders:

i) Powder form is the most versatile and convenient to prescribe, compound and administer.

ii) A physician has the option to deviate from the conventional dose of a medicament according to the requirement of the patient.

iii) Powders are stable and do not enter into reaction in solid state, lesser difficulties are experienced in compounding them together,

iv) It is possible to reduce them in the desired particle size range and thus facilitate rapid absorption.

v) Less incompatibility as compared to liquid dosage form.

vi) Powders are in the form of small particles; they offer a large surface area and are rapidly dissolved n the gastrointestinal (GI) tract minimizing the problems of local irritation. Drugs that have to be given in bulk can be best administered in powder form by mixing them with foods or drinks.

vii) Whenever effervescence is desired, accurate quantities of the two reacting powders are mixed with water.

viii) It is difficult for children and infants to swallow tablets and capsules and under such circumstances drugs may be administered in powder form making them palatable by mixing with milk, fruit juice or honey.

ix) Manufacturing of powder is economic hence product cost is quite economic as compare to other dosage form.

Disadvantages of Powder

i) As compared to other dosage forms, powders are time consuming to compound.

ii) Volatile, hygroscopic, oxidizing and deliquescent drugs create obvious difficulties when dispensed as powders.

iii) Dose inaccuracy.