ORAL REHYDRATION SOLUTION

ORS

 Oral rehydration therapy: a fluid replacement therapy used to treat dehydration and
fluid loss occurring from diarrhea/vomiting.
 Compound powder – more than one ingredients
WHAT’S A POWDER?

 Solid dosage form of medicament in which the drug or drugs are dispensed in a finely
divided state.

 Powders can be for :

 Internal use
 External use
POWDER FOR INTERNAL USE:

 Simple Powder:
Eg. Hyoscine Powder for motion sickness
 Compound Powder:
Eg. Oral Rehydration Powder
 Effervescent Powder
Eg. Eno powder
POWDER FOR EXTERNAL USE:

 Also called as Dusting Powders

 For external application on skin for antiseptic, astringent and anti-perspirant
properties
COMPOSITION OF ORS
COMPOSITION OF ORS

 Sodium chloride- 2.6g

 Potassium chloride- 1.5g
 Sodium citrate- 2.9g
 Glucose- 13.5g
Total -20.5
 Osmolarity: 245mEq/L – low osmolarity
 Earlier 311mEq/L - periorbital edema
HOW TO USE?

 Powder is Dissolved in 1 liter of preboiled and cooled water.

 It should be discarded after 24 hours if left.
FUNCTION OF ALL INGREDIENTS

 Sodium chloride:
 Most important electrolytes which are lost during diarrhea
 Sodium constitutes extracellular compartment
 Potassium chloride:
 Potassium being an important ion which constitutes most of intracellular
compartment
 Lack of potassium in the body can lead to various cardiovascular irregularities and
hence death.
FUNCTION OF ALL INGREDIENTS

Sodium citrate:
 Acts as alkalizer and maintains pH of body fluids. Its given to correct
acidosis associated with diarrhea.
 Improves shelf life
 Old ORS formula had sodium bicarbonate as alkalizer but is now
replaced by sodium citrate because-
 Sodium bicarbonate is stable only in solid state and is unstable in
solution form. So, on keeping ORP in solution form after
reconstitution, it decomposes quickly to form sodium carbonate and a
brown colored solution is developed due to formation of furfural
compound with glucose.
FUNCTION OF ALL INGREDIENTS

 Glucose:
 Sodium chloride is absorbed from the small intestine by facilitated diffusion along with
glucose so, adding glucose facilitated absorption of sodium ions.
 Glucose also provides energy
 Water- vehicle and replace fluid loss
HOMEMADE ORS

 If commercial ORS is not available than it can be made by mixing the following:
 Common salt (Sodium chloride)- ½ tsp
 Baking soda (Sodium bicarbonate)- 1 pinch
 Lemon juice (Potassium chloride)- ½ or 1
 Sugar (6 tsp full)
 Boiled & cooled water – 1 liter
 Other than this rice water, dal water, coconut water can also be used
 
INDICATION OF ORS

 Dehydration- diarrhea and vomiting

 Burn
 Heat stroke
DEHYDRATION
PRECAUTION

 Can precipitate CHF, edema, Hypertension

STORAGE

 Store in cool and dry place away from moisture

 Caking and browning of powder if not stored properly – furfural compound formation
ORS

 Super ORS – amino acid alanine and glycine added

 Super super ORS- zinc added
 Zinc – 20mg/day child or 40mg/day adults for 14 days reduce severity, duration,
recurrence of diarrhea
Thank you