Chapter 8 MISCELLANEOUS INORGANIC

PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS

INHALANTS
Oxygen USP 31

Synonym : Dephlogisticated Air, Aire vital, fire air ,

aire puro
Properties
One volume dissolves in about 32 volumes of
water in about 7 volumes of alcohol at 20 0 C
and at pressure of 760 mm of mercury
Stored in Green-colored cylinders or carry
green label
Supports rapid combustion
Uses
Inhalation of Oxygen relieves all phatological
conditions accompanied by cyanosis and
dyspnea ( difficult in breathing )
Should be given only for a limited period of time
since uninterrupted inhalation for one or two
days could cause harmfull effects
Given in cases of poisoning by carbon monoxide
, coal gas , nitrous oxide, chloroform, etc.
Official category : Inhalant

Carbon Dioxide USP 31

Commercial production :
1. Fractional Distillation of Liquid Aire ( Linde Process )
Air is liquefied by a combination of low
temperature and high pressure
When liquid air is distilled
the first portion of vapour is richer in the
lower boiling component. Hence , Liquid
Nitrogen( BP -195.80 C) tends to distill
over the first than Oxygen (BP -1830 C)
repeated liquefaction and distillation
gives almost 86% pure oxygen
2. Electrolysis of Water

when an electric current is passed through

water containing 15% sodium or potassium
hydroxide , the water is broken down into its
component elements, hydrogen and oxygen
which are evolved as gases.
Oxygen is liberated at the anode while hydrogen
gas is liberated at the cathode

Synonym : Carbonic Acid gas , Carbonic Anhydride

Properties
One volume dissolves in about one volume of
water
Administered in concentrations up to 7% in
oxygen which is stored in gray/green cylinders
Cooling occurs when temperature is reduced to
about -790 C by this process , solid carbon
dioxide is formed which is the Dry Ice and is
used as a refrigerant.
Uses
Used in admixture with oxygen and air as a
respiratory stimulant
For person suffering from pneumonia and in
cases of asphyxiation
Frozen Carbon dioxide(dry ice ) used in the
treatment of such skin conditions as acne ,
angiomas , corn and calluses , eczema , moles ,
psoriasis and warts.
Used in preparation of soft drinks
Used to displace air in parenteral and topical
preparations that are easily oxidized

Helium USP 31

Properties
Usually supplied in brown cylinders and also
as a mixture containing 20% or 40% oxygen in
brown/ green cylinders
Uses

80 parts of Helium with 20 parts of Oxygen

( 80% helium- 20% oxygen )
Used in respiratory disease
Penetrated the restricted respiratory
passages with greater facility than does
air
Used in high pressure , underwater diving
( because it has much lower water and fat
solubility than nitrogen )
Reduced the risk of bends and the time of
decompression when bringing the diver
up
Producing unintelligible speech with a Donald
Duck sound

Respiratory Stimulants

Nitrous Oxide USP 31

Synonym : Laughing GaS

Properties
May be distinguished from oxygen using the
following test :
o With nitric oxide , oxygen forms reddish
brown vapors of NO2 and N2O3 while
nitrous oxide will not have any reaction
when inhaled in small doses it produce a form of
inebriation
in larger doses or mixed with 1 volume of
oxygen it reacts as an anesthetic
stored in Blue cylinder
Uses
used by inhalation when momentary anesthesia
is desired , as by a dentist for the extraction of
teen , opening of the abcesses abd the like

Synonym : Azote
Properties
Usually sold in Black cylinder
Uses

Aromatic ammonia spirit is composed of two active

ingredients :
Ammonium carbonate NF XV and Strong
Ammonia Solution NF XV
both of which causes a reflex action of
the patient taking a sudden deep breath.
Used to revive as unconscious person
who may fainted or had the wind knock
out of him

Ammonium Carbonate NF 26

Nitrogen USP 31

Has a little therapeutic use

Official pharmaceutical air to displace air & to
increase the shelf life of an easily oxidized
product
USP permits the use of nitrogen to displace air
on parenteral and topical preparations provided
it is so indicated on the labe

Synonym : Preston salt , Sal volatile , Bakers ammonia

, ammonium Sesquicarbonate
Properties
Consist of varying proportions of ammonium
bicarnoate and ammonium carbamate such that
it yields between 40 to 34 % ammonia
Without empyreuma ( the odor of animal or
vegetable matter when charred in a closed
vessel ) and having sharp , ammoniacal taste
Exposure to air it loses ammonia and carbon
dioxide
Uses
Used as a leavening agent
Official category : source of ammonia

Aromatic ammonia spirit USP XX

Properties

Aromatic ammonia contains in each 100 mL 1.7

to 2.1 g of total ammonia and ammonium
carbonate corresponding to 3.5 to 4.5 g of
ammonium carbonate
Volatile oils and as solvent, ethyl alcohol

Uses
Respiratory stimulant by inhaling the vapors

Expectorants and Emetics

Expectorants are used orally to stimulate the flow of

respiratory tract secretions
Facilitated flow will allow ciliary motion and coughing
to move the loosened material toward the pharynx
more easily
Used in the treatment of respiratory disorders in which
secretions are purulent , viscid or excessive
Reflex action by irritating the gasatric mucosa and
thereby stimulating respiratory tract secretion

Ammonium Chloride USP 31

Synonym : Sal ammoniac , Salmiac , ammonium

muriate
Uses
Ammonium ion increase tge secretions ,
especially the saliva , mucous and sweat
As an expectorant because it is less viscous and
less tenacious
Used largely in solution an electrolyte for voltaic
batteries
Official category : as systemic acidifier and
chloride replenisher

Potassium Iodide USP 31

Synonym : Kalium Jodatum

Uses
Official as an expectorant
Employed in the treatment of asthma ,
bronchitis , emphysema and sinusitis .

An antifungal agent and antitussive agent

Used in treatment of goiter and to avoid latter

Antidotes

An agent that counteracts a poison

Mechanism of antidotal action

I.

II.

III.

By counteracting the effects of a poison by

producing other effects . ( physiological antidote
Example : sodium nitrite which converts
haemoglobin into methemoglobin in order
to bind cyanide
By changing the chemical nature of the poison
( chemical antidote )
Example : is sodium thiosulfate which
causes the conversion of the
systematically toxic cyanide to non-toxic
thiocyanate
By preventing the adsorption of the poison into
the body ( mechanical antidote )
Example : activated charcoal and
kaolin ( adsorb the poison prior to
absorption across the intestinal wall ) and
magnesium sulfate and cupric
sulfate ( inactive and precipitate the
toxic material as insoluble salts .)

Sodium Nitrite USP 31

Synonym : Natrium , Nitrosum
Uses :
Antidote to cyanide poisoning given in the form of 2%
solution administered intravenously
Sodium thiosulfate USP 31
Synonym : Antichlor Hypo
Uses
Officual Category : antidote for cyanide poisoning it is also
used in iodine poisoning

 The term Hypo is still used in photography

As a fixer in photographic films ( because of its solubilizing
action on silver halides )
As an antichlor in bleaching paper pulps

Activated Charcoal USP 26

Synonym : Carbon ligni

Definition
The residue from the destructive
distillation of various organic materials ,
treated to increase its adsorptive power.
Uses
Official category : General purpose
antidote

Cupric Sulfate USP 31

Synonym : blue vitriol , blue stone , copper sulphate ,

caparrosa Azul , piedra lipis
Properties
Deep blue , triclinic crystals
Uses
Official category : andtidote for
phosphorus poisoning
Used as emetic , in doses of 300 mg
As an astringent on tonic from 10 to 30
mg

Tableting Aids

Diluents are filler materials which brings the tablets up

to acceptable size
Physiologically inert
Lactose is a common diluent
Inorganic agents( calcium sulphate and colloidal silicon
dioxide ) are also used

Calcium Sulfate NF 26

Synonym : Gypsum , Alabaster , Satin spar , light spar

for the dehydrate calcium sulphate

Properties
Anhydrous
Uses
Marketed as Drierite and used as a rechargeable
laboratory and industrial desiccant ( anhydrous
form )
Tablet diluent ( dihydrated form )
Plasters of Paris hemihydrate of calcium
sulfate , used for making supportive casts by
physicians and dental impressions by dentists .

Colloidal Silicon Dioxide NF 26

Properties
Is a submicroscopic fused silica prepared by the
vapour phase hydrolysis of a silicon
tetrachloride at 1100 0 C
Uses
As tablet diluent , suspending and thickening
agent

Lubricants

Most of the lubricants are insoluble soaps heavy

metals of fatty acids .
Official inorganic lubricant are calcium stearate and
magnesium stearate

Suspending Agents

Suspending agents act by alternating the surface

character of the solvent(surfactants) and other
thickening agents.

Bentonite NF 26

Synonym : Soap clay, mineral siap , wilkinite

Properties

Insoluble In water
Swells approximately 12 times when added to
water
Form highly viscous suspensions or gels
( because of the property of adsorbing larges
amounts of water )

Uses
Official category : Suspending Agent
Used as stabilizer in many industrial emulsions
Exerts detergent effects , used in soaps and
cleansers

As clarifying agent with adsorptive powers for

dyes and other coloring matters.