How To Reconstitute Granules And Powders For Oral Suspension

Pediatrics and baby medications come in liquid or dispersible tablets or granules. Liquid dosage forms are given to children by measuring the right dose just using a measuring device. The case is different with dispersible tablets or granules.

Dispersible tablets or granules contain typical ingredients required for an aqueous suspension. They are packaged as a unit dose sachet or multidose bottles.

Dispersible Tablets Or Granules

Unit dose tablet or sachet could be administered to a patient by sprinkling the powder on top of semi solid foods such as pap or ice cream. They could also be mixed with a suitable vehicle such as water or fruit juice before administration. The choice of vehicle and the quantity may be stated by the manufacturer. In cases where it was not stated, sterile water is the best vehicle to use.

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Any quantity of water or vehicle will do. As long as the patient consumes the whole mixture. A dose could be mixed with 10ml, less or more of the vehicle. The bottom line is to finish the whole mixture.

Powder For Oral Suspension

Multidose bottles are presented with powders or granules. This preparation can last for a long time at room temperature before reconstitution. Reconstitution with a suitable vehicle such as water reduces the shelf life.

Oral suspension

How To Reconstitute A Powder For Suspension

1. Shake the bottle to loosen the powder. Hit the base of the bottle on a table if it is difficult to disperse. Open the cap.

2. Some powder for suspension comes with a mark on the bottle where water for mixing should be added to. Carefully add cool boiled water to about half the height of the final marking on the bottle. Some powder for suspension comes with a measuring cup for mixing. Add water to the mark and add half of the water to the bottle.

Not lukewarm water, warm water or hot water. The water must cool down to room temperature before mixing. Some use commercial bottled water.

3. Close the cap. Shake the bottle until all the powder is thoroughly mixed.

4. Allow the suspension to stand for about 2-5 minutes to rid the air bubbles in the bottle.

5. Open the cap. Carefully add water till the final marking on the bottle. For powder for suspension that comes with a measuring cup, add the rest of the water.

6. Close the cap. Invert the bottle and shake the bottle vigorously for at least 5 seconds to get an even suspension. The suspension is then ready for oral intake.

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7. The suspension should either be stored in the refrigerator or kept at room temperature depending on the instruction of the manufacturer.

8. Shake well before giving each dose.

9. Discard any remaining suspension upon expiry as advised after reconstitution. General rule of thumb when the expiry after reconstitution is not stated, discard after two weeks (14days) after opening.

10. If you have more than one bottle of the same suspension, finish one bottle before mixing the second one.