Unit 10

• Respiratory stimulants


  Drugs used to stimulate the respiratory system or restore the normal respiration to increase the activities of the CNS
• Respiratory stimulants


  • Stimulate the chemo receptor and vasomotor center of the body
  • Used to revive an unconscious person who may have fainted
• Mechanism of action of respiratory stimulants


  Act as an irritating agent therefore it irritate the epithelial layer of the air passage such as bronchi, trachea and lungs which leads to respiratory stimulation
• Ammonium Carbonate N.F.


  Contains ammonium bicarbonate and ammonium carbonate to yield 30 to 34% NH3

  
• Ammonium Carbonate N.F. contains not less than 30% of NH3

  
• Preparation of Ammonium Carbonate


  1. (NH4)2 SO4 + CaCO3 → NH4CO3 + CaSO4

  2. 2NH3 + CO2 + H2O à(NH4)2CO3

  
• Ammonium Carbonate


  • White powder, alkaline to litmus
  • Soluble in water
  • Decomposes into ammonia and carbon dioxide on exposure to air

  
• Aromatic Ammonia Spirit


  Hydroalcoholic solution containing ammonium carbonate

  
• Aromatic Ammonia Spirit contains not less than 1.7g and not more than 2.1g of total Ammonia (NH3) and Ammonium Carbonate, and not less than 3.5g and not more than 4.5g of alcoholic content (62-68% of C2H5OH)

  
• Aromatic Ammonia Spirit


  • Used to treat or prevent fainting
  • Used in diagnostic PET imaging (myocardial perfusion)

  
• Expectorants


  Drugs used to help in the removal or expulsion of the secretion or exudate from the trachea, bronchi, or lungs and hence they are used in the treatment of cough

  
• Mechanism of action of expectorants


  1. Decrease the viscosity of bronchial secretion and facilitate their elimination from trachea

  2. Increase the amount of respiratory tract fluid, a demulcent action is exerted on dry mucosal lining, thus relieving the unproductive cough
• Classifications of expectorants


  • Sedative expectorants
  • Stimulant expectorants
• Sedative expectorants


  Stomach irritant expectorants which are able to produce their effect through stimulation of gastric reflexes
• Stimulant expectorants


  Expectorants which bring about a stimulation of the secretory cells of the respiratory tract directly or indirectly
• Stimulant expectorants


  • Eucalyptus
  • Lemon
  • Terpine hydrate
  • Anethole
• Ammonium Chloride


  White crystalline, odourless powder with saline taste, hygroscopic, freely soluble in water

  
• Potassium Iodide

  Colourless, crystalline or white powder, odourless with slight bitter taste, soluble in water, glycerin and in alcohol, becomes yellow on standing due to liberation of free iodine