12 Pharmaceutical Technology
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BioPharm International
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Trends in Manufacturing May 2025 PharmTech.com
D
rug calculations for the formulation of dosage
forms and associated preparations are key
activities in pharmaceutical compounding.
Calculations determine the amount of drug
identified in the request for compounding. Correct drug
calculations for compounded preparations are essential;
if drug calculations are incorrect, resulting preparations
will be incorrect—potentially with significant therapeu-
tic and technical consequences.
This paper is the first in a series of discussions
that address drug calculations and related topics for
small-molecule compounding. Discussions are appli-
cable to essentially all compounding in 503A phar-
macies, 503B outsourcing facilities, pharma industry
R&D including clinical drugs, non-product laboratory
preparations, and other applications. Series discussions
will reflect academic teaching and compounding prac-
tice experiences. Textbooks traditionally provide the
foundation for calculations (1–3); content in this paper
addresses workplace applications and potential hazards
(i.e., what might go wrong?) (4). Concepts that are often
omitted, confused, or otherwise misunderstood that
Pharmaceutical
Compounding Calculations,
Part One: Non-Salts, Salts,
and Policy-Exception Salts
Paul L. Pluta, RPh, PhD,
is a pharmaceutical
scientist.
Nishant B. Thakar
is associate professor
of Clinical Sciences,
Roosevelt University
College of Science, Health,
and Pharmacy.
Varanya Chaiyaperm,
is clinical assistant
professor, University of
Illinois at Chicago Retzky
College of Pharmacy.
Calculating the amount of drug needed for compounding
requires different considerations for respective drug types and forms.
NADIA
–
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