Spirits, Oral rehydrating Solutions

Dr. Asif Mahmood

Ph.D. Pharmaceutics (IUB-PAK)
Spirits

Spirits are alcoholic or hydroalcoholic solutions

of volatile substances.
• The alcoholic contents in spirits is high i.e. > 60%
• Offer greater solubility of aromatic or volatile
substances
• Used as flavoring agents and medicinally for the
therapeutic value of the aromatic solute
• Spirits may be taken orally, applied externally, or
used by inhalation, depending upon the particular
preparation
• Depending on the materials, spirits may be
prepared by simple solution, solution by
maceration, or distillation.

• The spirits most recently official in the USP–NF

are aromatic ammonia spirit, camphor spirit,
compound orange spirit, and peppermint spirit.
• Spirits also known as essences.
 Amount of alcohol differ from one spirit to another
,the lowest amount of alcohol found in internal
spirits as(aromatic spirit of ammonia) which
contain 62-68% alcohol while (camphor spirit)
which is used externally contain 80-87%.
 Spirits should be stored in light resistant containers
and in cool place to prevent evaporation of alcohol
and volatilization of volatile substance or active
ingredients and to limit oxidative changes.
Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS)

Rapid fluid loss associated with diarrhea can lead to dehydration and
ultimately death in few patients

Diarrhea
Increased frequency of loose, watery stools, and because of the rapid fluid
loss, dehydration can be an outcome

During diarrhea, the small intestine secretes far more than the normal
amount of fluid and electrolytes, and this simply exceeds the ability of the
large intestine to reabsorb it.
This fluid loss which occurs mostly from the body’s extracellular fluid
compartment, can lead to a progressive loss of blood volume culminating in
hypovolemic shock.
• Diarrhea is a normal physiologic body response to rid itself of a noxious or toxic
substance, such as rotavirus or Escherichia coli. Thus, the treatment approach is to
allow the diarrhea to proceed and not to terminate it too quickly.

• The loss of fluid during diarrhea is accompanied by depletion of sodium, potassium,

and bicarbonate ions

• if severe, the loss can result in acidosis, hyperpnea,

and vomiting as well as hypovolemic shock.

• If continuous, bouts of vomiting and diarrhea can cause malnutrition as well.

• Oral rehydration solutions are usually effective in treatment of patients with mild
• Therapy with electrolytes solutions is based on the
observation that glucose is actively absorbed from the
small intestine, even during bouts of diarrhea.

• This active transport of glucose is advantageous

because it is coupled with sodium absorption.

• Glucose and sodium contents in an isotonic solution are

110mM (2%) glucose and 60mEq/L of sodium ion,
respectively offer optimum sodium and glucose
absorption.
Bicarbonate and/or citrate ions are also included to
correct the metabolic acidosis caused by diarrhea and
dehydration

A liter of typical oral rehydration solution contains 45

mEq Na+, 20mEq K+, 35mEq Cl−, 30mEq citrate, and
25g dextrose.
Causes of Dehydration