Compounding Techniques for Topical and Transdermal Preparations
Target Audience: Pharmacist, Pharmacy Tech
Course Overview
Pharmaceutical compounding is considered both an art and a science that involves preparing medications to meet the unique health needs of individual patients. Compounded nonsterile preparations (CNSPs) encompass many dosage forms, including transdermal and topical preparations. These dosage forms offer many benefits for patient pharmaceutical care, including convenience, ease of administration, and improved medication adherence. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who compound topical and transdermal medications should be well-versed in compounding standards and skilled in the techniques needed to prepare compounds that are effective, safe, and high-quality. This continuing education program will review the importance of topical and transdermal preparations, discuss United States Pharmacopeia (USP) standards for these dosage forms, and review techniques for preparing ointments, creams, pastes, and gels.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:
- Discuss the importance of topical and transdermal dosage forms
- Recall important considerations for preparing transdermal medications
- Identify compounding techniques used to prepare ointments, creams, pastes, and gels
Faculty
- Introduction
- USP <795> Pharmaceutical Compounding - Nonsterile Preparations
- The Topical Route of Administration
- Compounded Topical Preparations
- The Transdermal Route of Administration
- Compounded Transdermal Preparations
- Compounding Techniques for Nonsterile Topical Dosage Forms
- General Techniques
- Ointments
- Pastes
- Creams
- Gels
- Additional Resources
- The Role of the Pharmacy Technician
- Summary
- Disclosure
From June 6, 2026 through June 6, 2029, participants must:
- Read the "learning objectives" and "author and planning team disclosures"
- Study the section entitled "educational activity"
- Complete the Course Test and Evaluation form. The Course Test will be graded automatically. Following successful completion of the Course Test with a score of 70% or higher, a statement of participation will be made available immediately. (No partial credit will be given.)
Credit for this course will be automatically uploaded to CPE Monitor®.
Faculty Planner Disclosure
The following individuals were involved in planning, developing, and/or authoring this activity: Liz Fredrickson, PharmD, BCPS; and Pamela Sardo, PharmD, BS. None of the individuals involved in developing this activity has a conflict of interest or financial relationships related to the subject matter. There are no financial relationships or commercial or financial support relevant to this activity to report or disclose by RxCe.com or any of the individuals involved in the development of this activity.
Unlabeled Use Disclosure
The information provided in this course is general in nature, and it is designed solely to provide participants with continuing education credit(s). This course and materials are not meant to substitute for the independent, professional judgment of any participant regarding that participant's professional practice, including but not limited to patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and/or health management. Medical and pharmacy practices, rules, and laws vary from state to state, and this course does not cover the laws of each state; therefore, participants must consult the laws of their state as they relate to their professional practice. Healthcare professionals must consult their employer, healthcare facility, hospital, or other organization for guidelines, protocols, and procedures to follow. The information provided in this course does not replace those guidelines, protocols, and procedures, but is for academic purposes only, and this course's limited purpose is for the completion of continuing education credits. Participants are advised and acknowledge that information related to medications, their administration, dosing, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, warnings, precautions, or accepted uses is constantly changing. Any person taking this course understands that such a person must make an independent review of medication information before any patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Any discussion of off-label use of any medication, device, or procedure is informational only, and such uses are not endorsed hereby. Nothing contained in this course represents the opinions, views, judgments, or conclusions of RxCe.com LLC. RxCe.com LLC is not liable or responsible to any person for any inaccuracy, error, or omission with respect to this course or course material.
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Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, RxCE.com is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
PTCB Recognition
RxCe.com, LLC, offers pharmacy technician continuing education courses for PTCB recertification. Pharmacy technician courses are indicated both in the Target Audience description and the ACPE UAN which will end with a "T".