help with terminology

Started by TotalKayOs
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TotalKayOs

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I know this is a stupid question but how do you recognize if a drug is acidic or basic from it's name. I should have learned it last year but I kind of glazed over it. For example morphine sulfate is basic I believe and Ibuprofen Soduim is acidic, I believe. How cane you tell the difference? Is it just the -ate ending?
 
My guess 😉 :

Sodium Ibuprofen is the conjugate base (think of NaOH, for example), therefore ibuprofen is acidic.

Morphine Sulfate (-ate ending designates the salt form of a carboxylic acid) is the conjugate acid, so morphine is basic.

You could first identify the salt form of the drug as a base or acid...if the salt is a base, the drug is acidic...and vice versa.
 
Ok, since we're posting our questions.. I have an unrelated, yet school-related question. What reference would list the physical description of the actual drug? ie. Atorvastatin: White to off-white crystalline powder: formulated as oval white tablets imprinted with the strenght on one side, no score line. I'm guessing Facts and Comparisons, which I don't own. Online references aren't allowed for this project. My books only seem to have useful information. Looks like I'm off to the library tomorrow.
 
Merck Index for the physical properties (ie, off white crystalline powder, MP, BP, etc). It doesn't have info on scores, AFAIK.
 
Originally posted by LVPharm
Merck Index
Click to expand...

I have it, no luck. 🙁 I'm thinking package inserts might be the easiest.
 
Yeah, or you could try the Martindale, or Ident-A-Drug.
 
I was looking at eFacts (the online version of Facts & Comparisons)

The type of physical description they give for atorvastatin is: "White, elliptical. Film-coated"

Mevacor (lovastatin): Peach, octagonal

They have "score" info as well...that's probably the same kind of description you'll get in the "book" version of F&C.
 
Thanks. Of all places, the PDR has some of the best info. I was always taught to hate the PDR as a reference, but it's got what I need this time.
 
there is an online sourse called Lexi-comp online it might need a pass word but it has pictures of many drugs, brand and generic front and back. it's been helpful to me.
 
We use a Clinical Pharmacology CD. It cost us $55, but we get the updates for free. To find Mevacor, I clicked on Product Information and enter the drug name. This brings up 29 products of Mevacor, which I can click on. There are photos, and information that display in adjacent windows. It's pretty cool. We'll be getting a formal training session on using the software this afternoon.
 
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