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by Stacey Lemus, BS, and Courtaney Davis, BBA, PCCA Senior Formulation Specialists
PCCA offers many oral base vehicle options for use in compounding. We break down the characteristics of several of these oral vehicles below to help guide you on choosing the most appropriate base for your compound.
Use caution when using certain vehicles in patients with special dietary restrictions such as diabetes or autism. When compounding for veterinary use, the pharmacist should assess each vehicle to ensure it is appropriate for the animal’s species. It is also important to check the pH of your compounded preparation to ensure adequate preservation in the chosen base.
PCCA SUSPENDIT® (PCCA #30-4825)
Veterinary Use
SuspendIt contains sodium benzoate, a potential toxin to felines when chronically ingested, so limit use to two weeks. The pharmacist should assess each vehicle to ensure it is appropriate for the animal’s species.
PCCA-PLUS™ ORAL SUSPENDING VEHICLE (PCCA #30-3227)
Appropriate for vet use, although the pharmacist should assess each vehicle to ensure it is appropriate for the animal’s species.
PCCA SWEET-SF SUGAR FREE SYRUP VEHICLE
PCCA SYRUP VEHICLE
PCCA FIXED OIL SUSPENSION VEHICLE™ (PCCA #30-4316)
Certain species, such as avian (birds), are prone to aspiration when using oil vehicles. Make sure to consult with the pet owner and ensure a proper handling relationship with the animal to avoid issues. This vehicle is not appropriate for use in equine (horses) and certain species of rodents and reptiles. The pharmacist should assess each vehicle to ensure it is appropriate for the animal’s species.
PCCA BITTER DRUG POWDER™ USE 26 MG/ML (PCCA #30-3447)
Not suggested for vet use. May use Dry Powersweet (PCCA # 30-4948) 0.1-1%, acesulfame potassium 0.1-0.5% or steviol glycosides 95% 0.1-0.5% instead.
PH AND PRESERVATIVES
It is important to check the pH of your compounded preparation to ensure adequate preservation. Since some formulas have a higher pH, refrigeration may be required (per USP guidelines for preservative-free preparations) due to potential lack of preservative action of the base in a higher pH environment. Parabens may be added to the preparation to ensure preservative action.
FLAVORING
Every API has a specific taste characteristic such as bitter, sour, sweet or salty, so it is important to have a variety of flavors in stock to enhance the taste of compounded oral formulations.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
PCCA members with Clinical Services access who have questions about compounding our formulas may contact our Clinical Services team at 800.331.2498.
A version of this article originally appeared in PCCA’s members-only magazine, the Apothagram.