I have noticed that a number of people have been writing about trying to deal with the PEG 400 and hypromellose (HPMC) ingredients.
I think that this may (or may not, but more likely may) be a red herring.
After all, the old OC tablets
had both ingredients, but did not gel up.
A similar argument holds for the hydroxypropyl cellulose that are in 10's and 80's
in both formulations
A while back, I posted a side by side comparison table of the ingredients of both formulations. You might find it convenient to print out and keep on your desk. I'd include it here, but this version of the bulletin board software does not support either tables or html. You can find it at:
Comparison
Just to show that the PEG 400 and HPMC in the old formula did not cause a problem, here is how (I have heard) one could have gotten a talc free powder from the old OC's:
Definitions:
Inverter microwave: With some microwaves, you do not get true power settings. Instead, for example, 50% power means that the oven alternates being on for 10 seconds with being off for 10 seconds. In such a microwave, you cannot simmer soup. Instead, the soup boils for a few seconds, then does nothing, then boils again, then does nothing, etc.
In an Inverter microwave, power levels are accomplished by turning the oven on and off hundreds of times per second, so it seems like continuous low power. An inverter microwave is essential for this method. "Inverter" is Panasonic's term for this functionality. Other brands that have it may use different terms. I've owned Panasonics that do this, and Sharps that do not, although this does not necessarily mean that no Sharps can do it.
API: "Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient"
Open-Air siphon: A less wasteful and more efficient method than using coffee filters. There is a (perhaps too) detailed writeup on open-air siphons at:
open air siphons
Method:
Do not try this without an inverter microwave!
- powderize 10 80's and place in a medium (1.25" x 3") pill bottle,
- add 6 ml of water to medium bottle
- boil briefly at power level 3 in an "inverter" microwave
- let cool,
- use an open-air siphon to remove the clear liquid (without the solids) into a new, separate small (3/4" x 3") pill bottle.
- loosen up the solids in the medium bottle to prepare for going back to step B.
- goto step B, unless you already have 5 or 6 bottles of clear liquid (each containing less API than the previous one).
The first two bottles are the strongest, and the remaining ones, when added together, have a little less API than the second.
- check bottles 1 and 2, if not very clear, use an open-air siphon to purify them.
- If you needed to purify in the previous step, rinse the siphon string in the liquid from bottles 3, 4, 5... in succession, so you don't waste any API.
- Set bottles 1 and 2 aside.
- pour remaining bottles into a large pill bottle, like 5" tall with 2.5" base.
- boil tall bottle at level 5 in an inverter microwave until there is only about 3 ml left.
- pour tall bottle into a new small bottle. Call this bottle 3. Use 3 ml of hot water to wash remainder of API from large bottle, and add to the 3ml already in bottle 3. It will look like there are tiny fibers suspended in bottle 3. Stir, and allow to sediment, as it cools.
- Use open-air siphon to obtain clear liquid from bottle 3.
- Preheat cookie pan in 250 degree oven. You can use a lower temperature, but not less than 212 degrees, or it will take a long time.
- Fashion a small flat bottom pan from Reynolds "no-stick" foil. Check that it is watertight.
- Put foil pan onto cookie pan and add contents of bottles 1 and 2. When it starts to bubble you are almost done. Before it hardens, add contents of bottle 3 on top.
It should harden evenly and have a clear to slightly golden clear color. It contains lactose as well as the API. Keep watching it, and remove from the oven when the liquid has stopped evaporating. If you let it go too long, the lactose may burn.
- Let the tray and it's contents cool, peel the contents from the non-stick surface, crush and powder as fine as you choose.
Note 1: The higher the power setting of the microwave, the wider the base of your medium or large bottle needs to be to keep from "erupting". The first time you do this, make sure that your oven is absolutely clean in case you get an eruption and have to salvage API from the microwave walls! It is safest to use the lowest microwave setting that works until you get the hang of it. (although at higher levels, the excipients may melt together better resulting in an easier to siphon (or filter, if you must go that way) quickly liquid.)
Note 2: Some people choose to mix the three bottles together, divide back into three bottles and then evaporate each separately, iso tat they won't worry about making a mistake with one or more of them. If you do this, add some water to the bottles when done, so you can drink any residue.
Note 3: All bottles should be transparent so you can see inside.
Note 4: Some people choose to use plastic trays like the ones that Stoufer's single serving lasagna comes in instead of foil trays, but if you do this, make sure that the plastic won't melt at the temperature you have chosen. Some trays can't be used a second time at the same temperature!
Note 5: Whatever kind of tray you use, use appropriate caution when hendling it while it is hot!
