INCOMPATIBILITIES
Syllabus:
Definitions, study of types of incompatibilities –
Physical, Chemical and Therapeutic
Inorganic incompatibilities involving metals and their
salts, non-metals, acids and alkalis
Organic incompatibilities involving metals and their
salts, purine bases, alkaloids, pyrrazolone derivatives, amino acids,
quarternary ammonium compounds, carbohydrates, glycosides, sulfonamides, local
anaesthetics, dyes, surface active agents and vitamins.
Study of examples of prescriptions containing
incompatibilities and their correction and dispensing methods.
Definition of incompatibility
When two or more ingredients of a
prescription are mixed together, the undesired change that may take place in
the physical, chemical or therapeutic properties of the medicament is termed as
incompatibility.
Classification
Incompatibilities are of
three types:
1. Physical incompatibility
2. Chemical incompatibility
3. Therapeutic incompatibility
PHYSICO-CHEMICAL
INCOMPATIBILITIES
Physical
imcompatibilities: Where the
inmcompatibility is caused by immiscibility, solubility or liquefaction or
solubilization.
Chemical
incompatibilities: Where incompatibility
is due to a chemical reaction or complexation.
PHYSICAL INCOMPATIBILITY
It
may cause unsightly, non-uniform products from which removal of an accurate
dose is very difficult.
Immiscibility
1. Problem: Oils are
immiscible with water.
Remedy: Emulsification or
solubilization.
e.g. Preparation
of castor oil emulsion.
Castor oil is not soluble in
water. Hence, a third agent (gum acacia) is added to prepare a stable emulsion.
This third agent is called emulsifier.
e.g. Preparation
of cresol soap solution
Soap in high concentration in
water forms micelles. The over all preparation is transparent.
e.g. Oil-soluble vitamins A, D are solubilized by polysorbates (non-ionic
surfactants)
2. Problem:
Concentrated hydroalcoholic solutions of volatile oils, such as spirits (e.g.
lemon spirits) and concentrated aromatic water (e.g. concentrated cinnamon
water), when used as adjunct (i.e. additive), e.g. as flavoring agents in
aqueous preparations.
Consequence :Large globules of oils separate out.
Remedy:
(i)
The
hydroalcoholic solution should be gradually diluted with the vehicle before
mixing with the remaining ingredients.
(ii)
The
hydroalcoholic solution should be poured slowly into the vehicle with constant
stirring.
(iii)
Addition of high
concentrations of electrolytes (e.g. salts) in which the vehicle is a saturated
aqueous solution of a volatile oil.
Consequence: Oil separates and collects as an unsightly (looking
bad) surface layer.
e.g. Potassium Citrate Mixture B.P.C.
Potassium citrate (electrolyte)
Citric acid
Lemon
spirit
Syrup
Chloroform
water D.S.
Water
** Quillaia Tincture 1%
When the lemon spirit, used
for flavoring, is added the lemon oil is thrown out of the solution, party by
the change of solvent and partly by the salting out effect of the high
concentration of soluble salt (potassium citrate).
To
prevent separation of this oil as surface layer quillaia tincture is included
as an emulsifier.
Insolubility
1. Problem: Liquid preparations containing diffusible
solids.
Consequence : Indiffusible solids will produce suspensions those
will settle quickly, from which uniform doses cannot be poured out.
Remedy: A thickening agent is necessary to increase the
viscosity and reduce the rate of settling of particles.
Indiffusible solids
e.g. chalk, aromatic chalk
powder, succinyl sulfathiazole and sulphadimidine (in mixture)
e.g. calamine and zinc-oxide
(in lotion)
Thickening agents e.g. gum
acacia, gum tragacanth, methylcellulose etc.
2. Problem: Wetting
problem with insoluble powders.
Some insoluble powders like sulphur and
certain corticosteroids and antibiotics are difficult to wet with water.
Consequence: When water is added to this powders a slowly
dispersing foam is formed on shaking. This foam is stabilized by fine solid
particles.
Remedy: Wetting agents like saponins or polysorbates are
incorporated.
Preparation
|
Wetting agents used
|
Sulphur containing lotion
Corticosteroid injections
Antibiotic injections
|
Saponin
Polysorbate
Polysorbate
|
3. Problem: Claying
of suspensions.
When large amount of wetting
agents are used, a deflocculated suspension will be produced where all he
particles will settle individually and will produce tightly packed sediment.
This is called ‘claying’.
Consequence:
This tightly packed suspension is difficult to redisperse upon shaking.
Remedy: Reducing the amount of wetting agent will solve the
problem. It will form smaller agglomerates of particles that will settle
quickly but will be easily redispersed upon shaking.
4. Problem: When a
resinous tincture is added to water the water insoluble resin agglomerates
forming indiffusible clots.
Remedy: The undiluted tincture is added slowly to a diluted
dispersion of a protective colloid with vigorous stirring.
e.g. Preparation containing either Compound Benzoin tincture
Benzoin Tincture
Lobelia Ethereal Tincture
Myrrh Tincture
Tolu Tincture
When these tinctures are diluted with aqueous vehicle
the resins precipitate and adheres to the side of the container and forms
non-dispersable clots in the liquid. To prevent this the tincture is mixed in a
slow stream into the centre of Tragacanth Suspension and stirring rapidly.]
The hydrocolloids (acacia, tragacanth, and starch) are
adsorbed over the surface of the resin particles and confer hydrophilic
properties and prevent aggregation into clots.
4. Problem: Dispersions of hydrophilic colloids such as acacia or
tragacanth mucilage are precipitated by high concentrations of alcohols or
salts.
Remedy: Alcohols or salts are well diluted in the vehicle and
then the electrolyte or alcohol solution is added slowly into mucilage
(hydrophilic colloid) with constant stirring to avoid local high concentration
that might neutralize the effect of the protective colloid.
e.g. Lobelia and Stramonium Mixture, Compound
B.P.C.
Lobelia
Ethereal Tincture Resin
solutions
Stramonium
Tincture
Tragacanth
Mucilage Hydrophilic
colloid
Potassium
iodide Electrolyte
Chloroform
Water D.S. Vehicle
Water
Method – I
1. Half of the vehicle + Tragacanth power
® Triturated in a mortar and pestle.
® Tragacanth mucilage is formed.
2. Tincture is poured slowly into the centre of the
mucilage with constant stirring.
3. Dissolve the electrolyte into half of the remaining
vehicle.
® Added slowly and stirred to prevent local
concentration.
4. The remaining vehicle is added to make up the volume.
Liquefaction
When certain low melting point solids are powdered
(triturated in a mortar & pestle) together, a liquid or soft mass is
produced due to lowering of melting point of the mixture to below room
temperature.
The medicaments those exhibits this behaviours are:
(i)
any pair among the following compounds:
camphor, menthol, phenol, thymol, chloral hydrate.
(ii)
Sodium salicylate and phenazone
(iii)
Aspirin and phenazone
Method-I
If menthol and thymol are required to be dispensed as
powder, they are triturated in a mortar to form the liquid mixture. The the
liquid is triturated with enough adsorbent powder e.g. light kaolin or light
magnesium carbonate to give a free flowing product.
N.B. Kaolin and magnesium
carbonate are efficient absorbent and the light
category
of the powder has a very large specific surface area.
Method-II
If the final bulk volume of powder is very small then
menthol and thymol are triturated separately with small amount of adsorbent
powder. Then the two powders are combined lightly and packing the resultant
powder in capsules.
The absorbent powders coat the particles and prevent
contact between the medicaments and absorb any liquid that may be produced while triturating.
CHEMICAL INCOMPTIBILITIES
Classification of chemical incompatibilities:
(i) Inorganic incompatibilities
(ii) Organic incompatibilities
INORGANIC INCOMPATIBILITY
General Solubility Principles:
SALTS OF
Sodium,
Na+.
Potassium, K+.
Ammonium, NH4+.
|
Common Anions
|
SOLUBLE IN WATER
|
Chloride,
Cl–.
Acetate, CH3COO–.
Chlorate, ClO3–.
Nitrate, NO3–.
|
Cations of common metals
|
SOLUBLE IN WATER
|
Phosphate,
PO43 –.
Carbonates, CO32–.
Sulphide, S2–.
Hydroxide, OH–.
|
Na+.
K+.
NH4+.
|
SOLUBLE IN WATER
|
Phosphate,
PO43 –.
Carbonates, CO32–.
Sulphide, S2–.
Hydroxide, OH–.
|
Cations except Na+, K+, NH4+.
|
INSOLUBLE IN WATER
|
Hydrolysis
Salts may hydrolyze to form
solutions which may be:
(i) neutral e.g.
(ii) acidic e.g.
(iii) alkaline e.g.
After hydrolysis the weak
base or the weak acid may precipitate out if the amount of the solute is more
than its solubility. Hydrolysis occurs to an appreciable extent when one of the
products of hydrolysis is insoluble or volatile.
WHY hydrolysis occurs to an
appreciable extent when
one of the products of hydrolysis is
insoluble or volatile?
Classification of inorganic incompatibilities:
(i) Metals and their salts:
Group
IA: Sodium
(Na), Potassium(K)
and Ammonium(NH4)
salts.
Group
IB: Copper
(Cu), Silver(Ag), Gold(Au).
Group IIA: Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Barium (Ba)
Group IIB: Zinc (Zn), Mercury (Hg)
Group IIIA: Aluminium(Al)
Group IVA: Tin (Sn), Lead (Pb)
Group IVB: Titanium (Ti), Zirconium (Zi)
Group VA: Arsenic (As), Antimony (Sb), Bismuth
(Bi)
Group VII B:
Manganese (Mn)
Group VIII: Iron (Fe)
(ii) Non-metals :
Carbon (C), Sulphur (S), Iodine (I)
(iii) Incompatibilities of
acids
Strong acids, Weak
acids, Oxidizing acids and Reducing acids
Incompatibilities of Metals and their Salts
GROUP – I Alkali Metal Group [Na, K, NH4]
Incompatibilities: All the common
salts of sodium are soluble in water.
Many sodium salts are
soluble in glycerin.
Sodium salts are nearly
insoluble in alcohol.
The
anionic part of a sodium salt may be precipitated from solution by other metals
Sodium
Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3)
and Sodium perborate have lowest water solubility among the sodium salts.
Sodium
salt
|
Solubility in water
|
Sodium bicarbonate
Sodium perborate
|
1 in 10
1 in 40
|
So these two sodium salts may
precipitate if Na+, HCO3 – or perborate ions remain in
concentrations above their solubilities in a solution.
Example:
A prescription contains
sodium salicylate and potassium bicarbonate.
Incompatibility: Sodium bicarbonate will be formed and precipitated.
The solution will darken on standing due to the presence of salicylates in
alkaline solution.
Potassium
Practically
all potassium salts are soluble in water. Only potassium bitartrate (solubility
1 in 165 in water), form precipitates.
Example:
Potassium
salts with acidic bitartrate solution
Incompatibility:
Potassium bitartrate will be
formed which may precipitate.
Ammonium
Ammonium salts are ammonium
chloride (NH4Cl), ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3),
ammonium nitrite (NH4NO2).
Incompatibilities:
1.
Ammonium salts
will form a white precipitate with tartaric acid.
2.
In presence of
alkalies ammonium salts liberates ammonia.
3.
Ammonium salts
are strong acids are acid in reaction.
e.g. NH4Cl
+ H2O ® NH4OH + HCl
NH4OH
is a weak alkali while HCl is a strong acid hence in the solution number of H+
ion will exceed the number of OH– ion i.e. the solution will have an
acidic pH.
GROUP
– IB
Coinage Metal Group
Copper
Salts: Cupric accetate [Cu(CH3COO)2,
Cupric
nitrate [Cu(NO3)2] are
soluble in water.
Cupric sulfate [CuSO4],
Cupric
chloride [CuCl2]
Incompatibities:
1.
Soluble copper
salts give precipitates with solutions of tannic acid, arsenates, arsenites,
alkalies, carbonates and phosphates
2.
Soluble copper
salts + alkali hyrdroxide ® precipitate of cupric hydroxide [Cu(OH)2 ]
This precipitation can be prevented by organic hydroxy
compounds like glycerin, tartrates, citrates.
3.
Cupric salts (in
solution) + Iodides
® Precipitation of cuprous iodide +
Iodine
e.g. 2CuSO4 +
4KI ® Cu2I2
¯ + I2 + K2SO4.
4.
Cupric salts (in
alkaline solution) + reducing agents (like glucose) ® Cuprous oxide
(Cu2O)
Cu++
+ Glucose + OH– ® Cu2O
¯
Silver
Salts
Silver
nitrate [AgNO3]
Silver
chlorate [AgClO3]
|
SOLUBLE IN WATER
|
Silver
acetate [CH3COOAg ]
Silver
sulfate [Ag2 SO4 ]
|
SLIGHTLY SOLUBLE IN WATER
|
Silver
chloride [AgCl]
Silver
bromide [AgBr]
Silver
iodide [AgI]
Silver
arsenate
Silver
arsenite
Silver
borate
Silver
carbonate [AgCO3]
Silver
phosphate
|
PRACTICALLY INSOLUBLE IN WATER
|
Incompatibilities:
1.
Many silver salts
are decomposed by light with the formation of metallic silver.
2.
Silver nitrate
[AgNO3] + Organic compounds ® Metallic
silver (Ag)
When applied on the skin silver nitrate is reduced by
some organic compound of the skin to form metallic silver, which is black. This
silver causes the black stain on the skin.
Ag+
+ e ® Ag
3.
Silver
salt solution
|
Tannic
acid
Sulphides
(H2S)
Alkaloids
Proteins
|
Precipitate
of silver tannate
Precipitate
of silver sulphide [Ag2S]
Precipitate
Precipitate
|
Gold (Au)
Gold
salts are unstable. They are reduced to metallic gold by even the weakest
reducing gents such as organic matter or heat alone.
Gold salts: Gold tribromide
Gold sodium
thiomalate Used
as antiarthritic agents.
Gold sodium
thiosulfate
Incompatibility:
Dilute NaOH
Excess NaOH
1. Gold
salts Au(OH)3 NaAuO2.
Gold
hydroxide Sodium
aurate
(Brown precipitation) (Soluble
in water)
2.
Gold tribromide in aqueous solution ® Au + Br2.
3.
Gold
sodium thiomalate Both
salts are soluble in water
Gold
sodium thiosulfate Both
are practically insoluble in alcohol and other
organic solvents.
4.
Gold sodium
thiosulfate darkens on exposure to air or light.
5.
Gold-Au198
injection is a colloidal (red color) solution of radioactive gold. It is
stabilized by the addition of gelatin and reducing agent.
GROUP-IIA (Alkaline earth group)
SALTS OF
|
|
|
Mg++
Ca++
Ba++
|
Halides,
Cl–, Br–, I–.
Nitrates
NO3–.
|
Soluble
in water.
They
are deliquescent. So they should be dispensed with suitable absorbents.
|
Mg++
Ca++
Ba++
|
Carbonate,
Bicarbonate,
Sulfates,
Phosphates, Hydroxides, Borates, Oxalates, Arsenates
|
Insoluble
in water
|
Magnesium (Mg)
Salts: Magnesium trisilicate (Mg2Si3O8),
Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4),
Magnesium oxide (MgO)
Incompatibilities:
1.
Magnesium sulfate
MgSO4 is highly soluble in water.
Solution of
|
Solution of
|
Precipitation
of
|
MgSO4.
|
Phosphates
Carbonates
Hydroxides
Silicates
|
Magnesium
phosphate, Mg3(PO4)3.
Magnesium
carbonate, MgCO3.
Magnesium
hydroxide, Mg(OH)2.
Magnesium
silicate
|
e.g.
3MgSO4 + 2Na3PO4 ® Mg3(PO4)2 ¯ + 3Na2SO4.
2.
Magnesium oxide (MgO)
(a)
MgO absorbs
moisture and CO2. It forms a cement-like mass with small amount of
water.
Incompatibility: MgO in
capsules sometimes causes the content to fuse into a hard insoluble mass.
(b)
MgO is basic in nature. In solution it gives a pH
~ 10. Its alkalinity may cause destruction of certain drugs e.g. aspirin and
prednisolone.
(c)
Liquid
preparation containing sodium bicarbonate and magnesium oxide produces caking
that cannot be broken by shaking the bottle.
® MgO is first hydrated and forms Mg(OH)2.
® Mg(OH)2 slowly reacts with NaHCO3.
® Forms basic mgnesium carbonate [Mg2(OH)2CO3]
which is a cement-like crystalline mass.
Light MgO is
more reactive than heavy MgO because
light MgO has smaller particle size.
Calcium
Calcium
compounds are sparingly soluble or
insoluble in water.
are soluble
in acids (except CaSO4)
Incompatibilites
Ca
|
Hydroxide
Citrate
Arsenate
Carbonate
Oxalate
Tartrate
Phosphate
|
Precipitate in aqueous solution
but remain soluble in acid.
|
|||
Ca
|
Sulfate
|
In high concentration these
salts precipitate.
In very low concentration these
salts are soluble.
|
Incompatibilities
·
Calcium hydroxide
[Ca(OH)2] is
soluble in water
is soluble in syrup forming soluble sugar compounds
sucrose.
is soluble in glycerin.
is insoluble in alcohol.
·
Soluble calcium
salts reacts with free fatty acids to form precipitates of Ca salt of fatty
acids.
Ca++
+ RCOOH ® (RCOO)2Ca.
¯
Calcium chloride (CaCl2)
CaCl2
is deliquescent (i.e. it absorbs moisture and gets dissolved in it.)
Calcium bromide (CaBr2)
CaBr2 +
Sodium citrate ® Ca-citrate ¯
CaBr2 +
Sodium salicylate ® Ca-salicylate
¯
CaBr2 +
Sodium carbonate ® Ca-carbonate ¯
Remedy:
Replace CaBr2 with NaBr.
Barium (Ba)
Barium sulfate (BaSO4)
It is
very less soluble in water and forms suspension.
BaSO4
is used in diagnostic purpose.
N.B.
Soluble barium salts are extremely toxic.
Soluble
barium salts
|
Soluble
salts of
|
Precipitate
of
|
BaCl2.
BaI2.
|
Sulfates
Carbonates
Tartrates
Oxalates
Phosphates
Tannic
acid
|
BaSO4.
BaCO3.
Barium
tartrate
Barium
oxalate
Barium
phosphate
Barium
tannate
|
GROUP-IIB
(Zn, Hg)
Zinc (Zn)
Soluble
zinc salts
|
Insoluble
zinc salts
|
Zinc
chloride, ZnCl2.
Zinc
nitrate, Zn(NO3)2.
Zinc
sulfate, ZnSO4.
Zinc
acetate, Zn(CH3COO)2.
|
Zinc
hydroxide, Zn(OH)2.
Zinc
carbonate, ZnCO3.
Zinc
phosphate, Zn(PO4)3.
Zinc
sulphide, ZnS.
|
Incompatibilities
1. Zinc salt +
Sulfurated potash ® ZnS ¯ (Zinc sulfide)
This incompatibility can be an
advantage also in the preparation of lotion of zinc sulfide.
2. Solution of zinc salts undergo
partial hydrolysis
ZnCl2 + H2O ® Zn(OH)Cl ¯ + HCl
The basic salt [Zn(OH)Cl] may
precipitate ni weak aqueous solution, nd may form a cloudy solution. This
problem is more acute if the solution contains any basic ingredient.
Remedy: In eye-washes (of Zinc iodide
solution) the precipitation may be prevented by replacing part of the water by
saturated solution of boric acid.
3. Zinc salts + Fatty
acids ® Zinc
salt of fatty acid ¯
e.g. Caprylic
acid
Undecylenic
acid
Stearic
acid
Tannic
acid
Mercury
Mercurous
(Hg+) salts are insoluble in water.
Mercuric
(Hg++) salts are soluble in water.
Presently
two mercury salts are used for their germicidal effect
i)
ammoniated
mercury
ii)
mercuric oxide
(yellow in colour)
iii)
mercuric chloride
(HgCl2), mercuric iodide (HgI2)
iv)
calomel (i.e.
Mercurous chloride, Hg2Cl2)
Solution
of
|
Solution
of
|
Precipitate
of
|
Mercuric
(Hg++)salts
|
Alkaloids
Proteins
Tannins
Organic
acids
|
Mercury
salts of alkaloids
Mercury
salts of proteins
Mercury
salts of proteins
Mercury
salts of organic acids
|
Ammoniated
mercury
Incompatibilities:
·
Ammoniated
mercury is gritty and it is difficult to incorporate in an ointment base. Often
it is triturated gently in a mortar and pestle. The frictional heat produced by
heavy and vigorous grinding may reduce the compound into metallic mercury.
·
The combined use
of ammoniated mercury and salicylic acid in ointments frequently cause skin
irritation due to the formation of mercuric salicylate.
Mercuric chloride and Mercuric iodide
Mercuric
chloride slowly decomposes in aqueous solution, but is more stable in presence
of excess chloride such as NH4Cl.
Mercuric
iodide is solubilized by the addition of potassium iodide (KI).
HgI2 +
2KI ® K2HgI4.
Mercurous
salts (Hg+)
Incompatibilities:
1.
Hg+ salts are
easily reduced to the free metal by light, moisture and trituration.
2.
Hg+
salt +
Oxidizing agents (e.g. I2)
® Hg++.
3.
Since the dose of
mercurous salts (less soluble) are high hence if they changes to mercuric salts
more soluble) and the preparation becomes toxic.
Mercurous chloride (CALOMEL, Hg2Cl2)
1.
Some reducing
agent reduce calomel to metallic mercury.
e.g. Hg2Cl2 + Sn++ ® 2Hg¯ + Sn4+ + 2Cl –.
2.
Iodides and
bromides cnoverts Hg2Cl2 or Hg2I2
into mercuric compound and metallic mercury (Hg).
e.g. An ointment containing calomel (Hg2Cl2)
and potassium iodide (KI) is irritating because of the formation of mercuric
salts.
Hg2Cl2 +
4KI ® Hg + K2HgI4 +
2KCl
GROUP-III
A [Al]
Aluminium
Soluble
salts
|
Insoluble
salts
|
Aluminium
chloride, AlCl3.
Aluminiium
sulfate, Al2(SO4)3.
|
Aluminium
phosphate, AlPO4.
Aluminium
carbonte, Al2(CO3)3.
|
Incompatibility
1.
Aqueous solutions
of aluminium salts are acidic in reaction. It produces effervescence with any
carbonate salts.
e.g. AlCl3 + H2O ® Al(OH)3
+ HCl (Strong acid)
CaCO3 + 2HCl ® CaCl2 +
CO2 H2O
2.
Soluble
aluminium salts
|
Soluble
organic salts
|
Precipitates
insoluble salts or complexes
|
AlCl3
, Al2(SO4)3.
|
Penicillin
Sulfonamide
|
Aluminium
penicillin
Aluminium
sulfonamide
Aluminium-penicillin-sulfonamide
|
3.
Auminium
ions (Al 3+)
|
NaOH,
KOH
Na2CO3,
Borax
(Na2B4O7, H2O)
|
Precipitation
of
Aluminium hydroxide
Aluminium carbonate
Aluminium borate
|
These
precipitations may be dissolved in an excess of sodium hydroxide through the
formation of sodium aluminate (NaAlO2)salts.
e.g. AlCl3 +
3NaOH ® Al(OH)3¯ + 3NaCl
Al(OH)3 +
NaOH ® NaAlO2 + 2H2O
Aluminium hydroxide gel
Aluminium
hydroxide gel is a suspension of aluminium hydroxide in water. The gel is
destroyed by heat, freezing, electrolytes, acids, fixed alkalies and
dehydration.
Aluminium silicates
·
Bentonite is a
mixture of [H2O.(Al2O3.Fe2O3.3MgO).4SiO2.nH2O]
and [K2O.Al2O3.6SiO2]
·
Kaolin [Al2O3.2SiO2.2H2O]
adsorbs drugs and inactivates them. e.g. strychnine and atropine.
GROUP-IV
A [Sn, Pb]
Tin(Sn)
Soluble salts
|
Precipitated by
|
Fluoride
chloride
|
Hydroxides
Sulfides
Carbonates
Tannins
Phenols
Many
organic acids
Plant
extracts
|
Stannous fluoride is used in dentistry.
Incompatibility : Stannous fluoride is water soluble but may be oxidized and
hydrolyzed.
SnF2 Sn(OH)2 .
Stannous chloride Hydrolysis Stannous hydroxide
Remedy
Therefore
only freshly prepared solutions are used in dentistry.
Stannous
chloride powder is also protected from moisture.
Lead (Pb)
Soluble salts
|
Slightly soluble
|
Insoluble
|
Acetate
Subacetate
Chlorate
Nitrate
|
Chloride
bromide
|
Arsenate
Arsenite
Borate
Carbonate
Iodide
Oxide
Phosphate
Sulfate
Tannate
|
Incompatibility:
On exposure to air, solutions of lead salts absorbs CO2 and become cloudy due
to the precipitation of basic lead carbonate.
Pb(CH3COO)2 + CO2 + H2O ® [PbCO3, Pb(OH)2]
Basic
lead carbonate
GROUP
IV B (Ti, Zr)
Titanium
Titanium
dioxide is used in sun-screen cream. It is neutral in action and is stable.
Zirconium
Zirconium
carbonate and oxides are insoluble in water. They are used in ointments for
external purpose and usually present no incompatibility.
GROUP-VA
(As, Sb, Bi)
Arsenic (As)
·
Arsenates and
arsenites of alkali metals are soluble in water.
·
Arsenites are
slowly oxidized to arsenates by oxidizing agents and are slowly oxidized by
atmospheric oxygen in neutral solutions.
·
Arsenic triiodide
is hydrolyzed in solution to aresenous acid [As(OH)3] and hydroiodic
acid.(HI). On standing the solution becomes yellow due to the liberation of
iodine.
AsI3
+ 3H2O ® As(OH)3 + 3HI
4HI + O2
® 2I2 + 2H2O
Antimonu (Sb)
Antimony
salts hydrolyze in aqueous solution. Acid must be added to avoid the
precipitation of basic salts
Tartar emetic (Antimony potassium tartrate, K(SbO)C4H4O6)
forms precipitates with the salt solution of any metal. It forms a precipitation
of potassium bitartrate with mineral acids.
K(SbO)C4H4O6 +
3HCl ® KHC4H4O6¯ + SbCl3 + H2O
Bismuth (Bi)
·
Aqueous solutions
of bismuth salts + Alkali hydroxide ® Bi(OH)3
¯.
·
Bismuth
subnitrate undergoes hydrolysis to yield an acidic suspension.
2BiONO3
+ H2O ® (BiO)2(OH)NO3
¯ + HNO3.
Thus this aqueous suspension will present the
incompatibilities of acids
e.g. effervescence
from carbonate salts
precipitation
of salicylic acid from a solution of salicylate.
Remedy: Bismuth subnitrate is substituted with bismuth
subcarbonate to avoid this problem.
GROUP-VIII (Fe)
Iron (Fe)
The common source of incompatibilities with iron salts
are due to
(i)
Iron salts
hydrolyzes in aqueous solution to produce acidic solution.
(ii)
Various
oxidation-reduction situations.
Incompatibilities:
1. Ferric chloride hydrolyze into ferric hydroxide
plus the free acid.
FeCl3 + 3H2O ® Fe(OH)3
¯ + 3HCl
2. Ferrous (Fe++) salts are oxidized when
exposed to air, being oxidized to ferric state (Fe+++), usually with
the precipitation of basic ferric salt.
4FeSO4
+ 2H2O + O2 ® 4Fe(OH)SO4¯
3. Fe2+
salts + carbonates ® precipitate
of the corresponding ferrous salts
arsenites
arsenates
oxalates
phosphates
4. Ferric salts
are reduced to the ferrous state by iodides.
2Fe3+ + 2I– ® 2Fe2+ + I2.
INCOMPATIBILITIES OF NON-METALS
Carbon (C)
Activated
charcoal
1. It is easily oxidized so it is not triturated with
oxidizing agents.
2. It has adsorptive action hence, it should not be
dispensed with potent drugs like alkaloids because the potent drugs will be
adsorbed and become inactive.
Sufur (S)
In pharmacy three forms of powdered-sulfur are
available: precipitated, sublimed and washed.
·
These powders are
soluble only in carbon-disulfide (CS2) but insoluble in other
solvents.
Iodine (I2)
·
Iodine is an
oxidizing agent in alkaline solution
I2 `+ Arsenites Oxidizing
Hypophosphites 2
I–.
Other reducing
agents
e.g. I2 + H2AsO3 + H2O 2HI
+ H3AsO4.
Arsenous
acid Arsenic
acid
·
I2 + Volatile
oils Substitution
e.g.
Turpentine ol and
oxidation
Explosion
may result from such combinations.
·
I2 +
KI KI3.
KI3 + Alkaloids Precipitation
·
Solubility: 1 gm in 3000ml water
in
80 ml glycerin
in
13ml alcohol
in
4 ml carbon-di-sulfide.
INCOMPATIBILITIES OF ACIDS
Categories
of acids:
1. Strong acid: They are highly ionized in
aqueous solution.
e.g. Perchloric
acid (HCLO4), sulfuric acid (H2SO4),
hydrochloric acid (HCl),
Hydrobromic acid (HBr), Nitric acid (HNO3),
Phosphoric acid (H3PO4)
2. Weak acid: They are slightly ionized in
aqueous solution.
e.g. Acetic
acid (CH3COOH), Carbonic acid (H2CO3),
hydrogen sulfide (H2S),
hydrocyanic acid (HCN), boric acid (H3BO3).
3. Oxidizing acid:
e.g. Nitric
acid (HNO3), Nitric acid + Hydrochloric acid mixture ® HCl + HNO3 +
NOCl + Cl2.
Permanganic acid (KMNO4), Chromic acid (H2CrO4),
Perboric acid (HBO3)
and Nitrous acid (HNO2)
4. Reducing acid:
e.g. Hypophosphorous
acid (H3PO2), sulfuric acid (H2SO3),
hydroiodic acid (HI)
thiosulfuric
acid (H2SO3), thiocyanic acid (HSCN).
Nitric acid
(HNO3) Oxidising acid
(i)
HNO3
reacts with some alkaloids to form colored compounds.
(ii)
It forms
explosive nitroglycerin when rotated with sulfuric acid and glycerin.
(iii)
Fe++,
arsenous and mercurous salts are oxidized by HNO3 into their oxidized state.
(iv)
Nitrates
(like KNO3) + Charcoal
Sulfur Explosion
Sucrose
Glycerin
Hypochlorous
acid (HOCl) (Reducing acid)
HOCl is unstable..
Hypochlorites
(e.g. Sodium hypochlorite, NaOCl) are decomopsed by acids, even H2CO3
with the liberation of usntable HOCl. Solutions of hypochlorites must be
prepared at room temperature, because heat converts them into chlorates and
chlorides.
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)
Hydrogen
peroxide decomposes slowly with the evolution of oxygen. Heat increases the
role of reaction.
Hydroiodic acid (HI) (Reducing acid)
HI and
I– in acidic solution turn brown on standing, free idine being
released.
2HI ® H2 + I2.
4 I– + O2 + 2H+ ® 2 I2 + 2H2O
Examples of acid preparation
Fluid extract:
Ergot, ipecac, nux vomica, aconite.
Elixir: Compound pepsin, compound
glycerophosphates, lactated pepsin.
Solutions: Ammonium acetate, ferric chloride,
iron and ammonium acetate, ferrous sulfate,
Hydrogenperoxide,
magnesium citrate.
Syrups: Citric acid, hydroiodic acid,
cherry, ferrous iodide, orange, raspberry, squill, ipecac.
Glycerites: boroglycerin, pepsin
Tintures: aconite, ferric chloride,
camphorated opium, nux vomica, cinchona.
Miscellaneous: Squill vinegar
Preparations having an alkaline reactions
They
have general incompatibilities of alkalies:
e.g. (i) neutralization of acids,
(ii) precipitation of alkaloids
(iii) precipitation
(iv) liberation of NH3
from ammonium salts.
Alkaline preparation
Fluid extract: Senega
Ointments: Rose water
Solutions: lead subacetate, sodium
hypochlorite, Ca(OH)2, soda and mint.
Spirits: aromatic ammonia
Syrups: senega, ginger, rhubarb
Water: Ammonia
GENERAL
ORGANIC INCOMPATIBILITIES
1. Hydrocarbons:
They include both saturated and
unsaturated compounds of C and H.
·
Over exposure to
volatile hydrocarbons may cause damage to the heart, liver or kidneys.
·
A hydrocarbon may
produce Vitamin A, D, E and K deficiency on prolonged use or exposure.
(a) Saturated hydrocarbon
Saturated
hydrocarbons used in pharmacy include:
Petroleum ether (C5 – C7)
Deodorized kerosene (C9
– C15)
Light mineral oil (C15
– C20)
Mineral oil (C18 – C24)
Petrolatum (C18 – C30), White petrolatum (C18 – C30)
Paraffin (C24 – C30).
Some
times unsaturated hydrocarbons may remain as impurities, which may degrade to
produce rancidity. So dl-a-tocopherol (another name is Vit. E) is used as antioxidant.
(b) Unsaturated hydrocarbons
Contains
double bonds (called alkenes), or
triple bond(s) (called alkynes).
Reactions of unsaturated hydrocarbons:
(i)
addition type
reactions : unsaturated bonds may add Br2, HBr, H2, H2SO4)
(ii)
may be oxidized
at unsaturation point
(iii)
may be reduced at
the unsaturation point.
(c) Aromatic hydrocarbon
Benzene, naphthalene, anthracene
– these are not found in prescription.
(d) Hydrogenated hydrocarbons
e.g. Chloroform (CHCl3),
ethyl bromide (C2H5Br) etc.
They
are immiscible with water, soluble in alcohol and organic solvents.
(e) Alcohols
C2H5OH +
HI ® C2H5 I + H2O.
(Ethanol) (Ethyl iodide)
·
Ethanol and
methanol are incompatible with acacia, albumins and oxidizing agents such as
chlorine, bromine, permanganate and chromic acid.
Purine bases:
e.g. Caffeine (1,3,7
trimethyl xanthine)
theobromine (3,7 dimethyl
xanthine)
theophylline (1,3 dimethyl
xanthine)
Properties:
They
are very weak bases and cannot form salts with acid also.
Alkaloids
Solubility
Solvent
|
Free alkaloids
|
Alkaloidal salts
|
Water
Ether
Chloroform
Oils
|
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
|
Yes
No
No
No
|
Reactions
Reactants
|
Free alkaloids
|
Alkaloidal salts
|
Alkaline
reactants
Borax
Sodium phosphate
Potassium citrate
|
|
Precipitation of insoluble free alkaloids
|
Tannins
|
Precipitation of tannates
|
Precipitation
|
Organic
acids
|
Precipitation
|
Precipitation
|
Picric
acid
Iodine
Potassium
iodide
Potassium
mercuric iodide
Mercuric
chloride
Gold
chloride
|
Precipitation
|
Precipitation
|
General remedies
1.
In low
concentration the alkaloid may not precipitate out of the solution, because the
free alkaloid may also have slight solubility.
2.
In many cases
this problem may be solved by adding alcohol, because free alkaloidal bases are
soluble in alcoholic solution.
3.
If there is a
possibility of precipitation then it is advisable to display the message “Shake the bottle before use” on the
label.
4.
In some cases it
is feasible to add some acacia mucilage or other suspending agent to retard the
settling of the precipitate.
5.
Aqueous solutions
of alkaloidal salts frequently show a precipitate due to mold growth.
Chlorbutanol (0.5%) may be incorporated as preservative.
Examples of
incompatibilities
1. Alkaloidal
salts with soluble iodides
Alkaloidal salts will react with soluble iodides and
may precipitate insoluble iodide salts of alkaloids.
Alklaoidal
salts
|
Soluble
iodide
|
Emetine
hydrochloride
Methadome
hydrochloride
Strychnine
hydrochloride
Papaverine
hydrochloride
|
Potassium
iodide
|
Incompatibility
Emetine-HCl +
KI ®
Emetine-HI + KCl
Solubility of Emetine-HI is less hence may
precipitate.
Example: Potassium iodide is used as expectorant in some
alkaloid containing cough mixtures.
Remedy: If the
alkaloid concentration is very low then precipitation does not occur.
2. Alkaloidal
salts with tannins
Incompatibility:
Alkaloidal salts +
tannins ® Alkaloidal
tannates¯
N.B.
One advantage of this reaction is in case of alkaloidal poisoning strong tea
(or tannic acid solution) is used to precipitate the alkaloids.
Remedy:
Method-B (suspended with the help of tyragacanth mucilage) is used to suspend
the precipitate.
Pyrazolon derivatives
e.g. Antipyrine, aminopyrine are non-narcotic analgesic
Incompatibilities
1.
The produce color
when mixed with oxidizing agents.
2.
The solid
compounds have a tendency to liquefy or form a soft mass when triturated with a
number of hydrogen-bnoding substances.
Aliphatic amino acids and derivatives
Amino
acids are carboxylic acids which contain an amino (NH2) group
attached to any carbon atom in the radical attached to carboxyl.
e.g.
Solubility: Soluble in water, insoluble in
alcohol.
They
are amphoteric, forming either hydrochloride or sodium salts.
Examples
of aliphatic amino acids : amino acetic acid, methionine.
Quarternary ammonium compounds
These
comopunds have the general formula of
R4NX where R = alkyl or aryl group
X
= Cl, OH
e.g. Trimethylammonium chloride , (CH3)4N+Cl–
.
Incompatibilities:
1.
Quarternary
ammonium bases are very soluble in water and readily absorb carbon dioxide from
air.
2.
These are highly
ionized and reacts with the anions of weak acids (e.g fatty acids, acidic dyes,
certain antibiotics, and barbiturates) to form insoluble complexes, e.g.
Thus
the the efficacy of quarternary ammonium germicides reduces in presence of
alkali soaps or other anionic surfactants.
Remedy:
The addition of inorganic or organic salts (e.g. NaCl) will solubilize such
complexes.
Glycosides
Glycosides
are compounds formed by condensation of sugars with other organic molecules
containing hydroxyl (occassionally sulfhydryl group, – SH).
Incompatibilities:
1.
In presence of
water, glycosides are hydrolyzed by heat, enzymes or acids but are fairly
stable towards alkaline hydrolysis. The hydrolyzed products may not show the
desired therapeutic action.
2.
Most glycosides
are precipitated by tannic acid or lead subacetate.
A few
natural drugs contains glycoside moieties:
e.g. aloe, cascara sagrada, digitalis,
gentian, glycyrrhiza, jalap, stopanthus, and squill.
The
useful glycoside molecules are:
Digitoxin, digoxin, lanatoside C,
ouabain, rutin, and sennoside A and B.
Remedy:
These are usually dispensed as solid dosage forms (such as tablets, capsules,
powders) or as freshly reconstituted solutions because of their instability.
Local anaesthetics
Local
anaesthetics may be divided into two categories depending on their solubility.
A. Slowly
soluble local anaesthetics–
They are alkyl esters of aromatic acids. They are
almost insoluble in water, hence they are unsuitable for injection but are used
in the form of dusting powders, ointments, etc. on wounds of the skin or on
mucous membrane.
e.g. local
anaesthetics – benzocaine
topical
anaesthetic – lidocine
dental
anaesthetic – procaine
narcotic
anaesthetic – cocaine
ophthalmic
anaesthetic– benoxinate
B. Soluble local anaesthetic
These are polyfunctional amines or amino
ester salts which may produce incompatibilities due to
(i) their pH (ii)
acids present (iii)hydrolysis
of ester.
Examples:
Lidocaine, procaine and tetracaine.
Dyes
Most
of the dyes used in pharmacy may be classified as
(i) cationic, (ii) anionic (iii) nonionic.
·
The first two
categories produce most of the problems in compounding since they may interact
with oppositely charged components to form insoluble comlpexes.
·
Dyes other than
colored compounds usually contain certain unsaturated color bearing groups
known as chromophores:
The presence of any of these groups on an aromatic nucleus is usually sufficient to produce a color. Reduction of the radical to the saturated state results in the loss of color. e.g.
·
Some drugs gives
color after decomposition e.g. Neomycin, streptomycin, procaine.
In some preparation loss of color or change of shade
occurs e.g. amaranth.
All these may be the effects of light, acid, alkali,
reducing agents, oxidizing agents, catalysts etc.
Basic dyes
(Cationic)
Structure: R+ X –.,
e.g. methylrosaniline chloride,
methylene blue.
(i)
They usually
contain amine or quarternary groups.
(ii)
They form salts
with acids, the colored ion being positively charged. E.g. methylrosaniline
chloride.
(iii) Basic dyes are soluble in hot water and readily
soluble in alcohol.
(iv) Basic
dyes + Soaps
Tannins Precipitate
Tartar
emetic
(v)
Negatively
charged surface + basic dyes
® adsorption
(e.g. filter, glass ware)
(vi) They should be stored in dark as they rapidly
decolorised in sunlight.
(vii)
Basic dye + acid
dye ® precipitation
Acid dyes
(Anionic dyes)
They
usually contains –SO3H and
–COOH groups which forms salts with alkalies
e.g. –SO3Na, –COONa,
In aqueous solution RSO3Na will produce
(i)
they are soluble
in water, insoluble in alcohol.
(ii)
Acid
dyes + tannins NO precipitation
Other
dyes
(iii) Acid dyes
+ Basic dyes ® precipitation.
THERAPEUTIC
INCOMPATIBILITY
Usually this incompatibility arises when one or more
drugs produce response or intensity different from that intended in the
patients.
Classification
Over
doses
Under
doses
Improper
consumption by the patient
Contra-indicated
drugs
A) Over doses: This
can be subgrouped as follows:
Excessive single dose
Sometimes a single dose may become overdose depending
on the health of the patient e.g. a normal dose (taking body weight as 70 kg
for an adult male) may be overdose for a lowly built person. However it should
not be more than 2 to 3 normal dose.
Remedy: The pharmacist should consult the physician and
clarify the dose.
e.g. 1 Rx
Atropine sulphate 6 mg
Phenobarbital 360 mg
Make capsules.
Label: One capsule to be taken three times a day before
meals.
Comments: In
this prescription the doses of both atropine sulphate and phenobarbital are 12
times the normal doses. The physician intended for 12 capsules to be dispensed
but he has mistaken or may be it is an incomplete prescription. Hence, before
dispensing the pharmacist should consult the physician again.
Correct prescription
Rx
Atropine sulphate 6 mg
Phenobarbital 360 mg
Make capsules. Supply 12 capsules.
Label: One capsule to be taken three times a day before meals.
e.g. 2 Rx
Strychnine sulphate 20 mg
Iron and ammonium citrate 500 mg
Prepare capsules. Supply 12
capsules.
Label: One
capsule to be taken three times a day after meals.
Comment: 10
times overdose of strychnine hydrochloride than that of normal. The pharmacist
should consult the physician and obtain the permission to change the dose.
Corrected prescription
Strychnine sulphate 2 mg
Iron and ammonium citrate 500 mg
Prepare capsules. Supply 12 capsules.
Label: One capsule to be taken three times a day after
meals.
Excessive daily dose
In this case the daily dose of drug is exceeded .
e.g.1 Rx
Codeine phosphate 15 mg
Ammonium chloride 500 mg
Prepare capsules and supply
24 capsules.
Label: Two
capsules to be taken every hour for cough.
Comment: The
U.S.P. recommends that the prescribed dose should be taken after every four
hours and not every hour. Hence the physician should be consulted.
Additive and synergistic combinations:
There are certain drugs
possessing similar pharmacological activity. If these drugs are combined
together, they may produce additive or synergistic action. In such case advice
of the physician is necessary.
e.g. Rx
Amphetamine sulphate 20 mg
Ephedrine sulphate 50 mg
Syrup q.s. 100 ml
Let a mixture be made
Label: Take
25 ml every four hours.
Comment:
Both of the drugs are sympathetic stimulants and they are prescribed in their
full dose. The formulation will produce additive overdose effect. Hence, The
dose of individual drug should be reduced.
(B) Under dose In this
type of incompatibility, effect of one drug is lessen or antagonised by the
presence of another drug. This can be exemplified by combination of following
types of drugs:
Stimulants like nux-vomica, strychnine sulphate, caffeine etc.
with sedatives like barbiturates,
paraldehyde etc.
Sympathomimetic or adrenergic
like ephedrine, nor-adrenaline with sympatholytic
drugs like ergotamine.
Sympathetic stimulants like methamphetamine with parasympathetic stimulants like pilocarpine.
Purgatives like castor oil, liquid paraffin etc with antidiarrheal agents like bismuth
carbonates.
Acidifiers like dilute hydrochloric acid and alkalisers like sodium bicarbonate,
magnesium carbonate.
Comment: In
all the cases the pharmacist should consult with the doctor who had prescribed
it and one drug shuold be removed from the prescription.