Inorganic Pharmacy in Pharmaceutical Industry

Inorganic Pharmacy in Pharmaceutical Industry

• Inorganic pharmacy is a branch of pharmaceutical sciences that examines the physicochemical properties and medicinal values of inorganic compounds, and how they are used in various disease conditions.

Importance of Inorganic Substances in Pharmaceuticals

• Inorganic pharmaceuticals have diverse uses:
  • Therapeutic Agents: Astringents and antimicrobials serve therapeutic purposes.
  • Pharmaceutical Aids: Bentonite and talc are examples of pharmaceutical aids.
  • Modifying Body Fluids: Antacids, alkalis, and mineral acids adjust body fluid pH.
  • Replenishing Body Fluids: Sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride/phosphate replenish essential substances.
  • Catalysts: Platinum, nickel, and lithium aluminum hydride are catalysts.
  • Pharmaceutical Analysis: Potassium permanganate is a common titrant.

Inorganic Compounds in Pharmacy and Medicine

• Inorganic compounds in pharmacy are categorized into groups:
  • Gastrointestinal Agents: Protectives, adsorbents, acidifying agents, antacids, cathartics.
  • Electrolytes: Used in replacement therapy for physiological ions and acid-base balance.
  • Essential and Trace Elements: Transition elements with pharmaceutical importance, components of inorganic drugs, iron and hematinics, mineral supplements.
  • Topical Agents: Protective agents, astringents, and anti-invectives.
  • Dental Products: Dentifrices, complexing and chelating agents, anti-caries agents.
  • Radiopharmaceuticals: Involves nuclear reactions, dosage, methods of obtaining standards, radioisotopes, hazards and precautions, half-life, clinical applications, and measurement of activity.
  • Pharmaceutical Aids: Filter aids, anti-oxidants, adsorbents, suspending agents, preservatives, colorants, diluents, excipients.
  • Gases and Vapors: Oxygen, anesthetics (inorganic), respiratory stimulants.
  • Miscellaneous Agents: Emetics, sclerosing agents, inorganic poisons and antidotes, expectorants.

Terminology in Inorganic Pharmacy

• Abrasives: Used for cleaning and whitening teeth (e.g., Dibasic calcium phosphate).
• Absorbents: Used to absorb toxins and bacteria in the GIT (e.g., Calcium carbonate).
• Acidifiers: Temporarily increase acidity in the GIT (e.g., Dilute hydrochloric acid).
• Adsorbents: Used for treatment of GIT issues, aid in absorbing substances (e .g., bismuth subnitrate).
• Alkalizers: Induce alkaline conditions or counteract acidity (e.g., Sodium citrate).
• Anesthetics: Produce reversible loss of sensation (e.g., Nitrous oxide).
• Analgesic: Relieve pain (e.g., Nitrous oxide).
• Antacids: Neutralize excess stomach acid (e.g., Aluminum hydroxide gel).
• Anthelmintics: Treat worm infestations (e.g., Ammoniated mercury).
• Antibacterial: Treat bacterial infections (e.g., Yellow mercuric oxide).
• Anticonvulsants: Treat epilepsy (e.g., Potassium bromide).
• Anti coagulants: Prevent blood clotting (e.g., Sodium citrate).
• Anti depressants: Treat depression (e.g., Lithium carbonate).
• Antidotes: Treat poisoning (e.g., Sodium nitrite, Sodium thiosulphate)
• Antifebriles: Reduce fever and relieve pain (e.g., Ammonium acetate).
• Antifungal agents: Treat fungal infections (e.g., Zinc undecylenate).
• Anti infectives: Treat local infections (e.g., Potassium permanganate).
• Anti irritant agents: Prevent irritation or allergic reactions (e.g., Aluminium metal powder).
• Antiseptics: Inhibit microbial growth without killing (e.g., Strong iodine solution).
• Antiperspirants: Remove body odor (e.g., Aluminum sulphate).
• Anti-protozoals: Treat protozoal infections (e.g., Sodium antimony gluconate).
• Anti pruritic (topical): Soothe skin irritation (e.g., Calamine).
• Antihypercalcemic agents: Treat abnormal calcium levels (e.g., Sodium acid phosphate).
• Antioxidants: Prevent or delay oxidation (e.g., Sodium bisulphite).
• Astringents : Cause protein precipitation (e.g., Calamine, Aluminum citrate).
• Bactericides: Kill bacteria (e.g., Potassium permanganate).
• Bacteriostatics: Prevent bacterial growth (e.g., Alum).
• Bleaching agents: Clean and bleach materials (e.g., Hydrogen peroxide).
• Buffers: Maintain pH stability (e.g., Acetate buffer).
• Cathartics: Stimulate bowel movements (e.g., Calomel).
• Calcium supplements: Provide calcium (e.g., Calcium lactate).
• Carbonates: Used for tooth cleaning and in other medical products.
• Chlorinated lime: A germicide.
• Dentifrices: Clean teeth (e.g., Calcium carbonate).
• Diagnostic agents: Aid in diagnosing diseases (e.g., Barium sulphate).
• Diaphoretics: Promote sweating (e.g., Potassium citrate).
• Disinfectants: Kill microbes on non-living surfaces (e.g., Ammonium acetate).
• Diuretics: Increase urine output (e.g., Ammonium chloride).
• Dusting powders: Soothe skin (e.g., Talc, Zinc stearate).
• Electrolyte replenishers: Treat acid-base imbalances (e.g., Sodium chloride).
• Emetics: Induce vomiting (e.g., Zinc sulphate).
• Expectorants: Thin and expel phlegm (e.g., Potassium iodide).
• Germicides: Kill germs (e.g., Chlorinated lime).
• Laxatives: Promote bowel movements (e.g., Magnesium Sulphate).
• Protectives: Coat and protect surfaces (e.g., Zinc stearate).
• Purgatives: Promote bowel evacuation (e.g., Magnesium sulphate).
• Radiation shields: Block radiation (e.g., Lead sheets).
• Radio isotope tracers: Monitor distribution (e.g., Carbon-14).
• Radiotherapeutic agents: Treat diseases using radioisotopes (e.g., Iodine121).