Theophylline Theo Dur

1
Cocaine
Drugs as Amines and Salts
By Jacob Duncan
Amine Organic derivatives of ammonia in which
one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by
another group Acid A
substance that provides H ions when dissolved in
water.
Base A
substance that provides OH- ions when dissolved
in water.
Salt
An Ionic compound formed in an acid-base
neutralization reaction.
USE Cocaine is a very addictive stimulant that
can be used to suppress appetite and give the
user a high. The drug can be snorted, smoked,
or injected. Use of cocaine can result in death
usually by heart failure or stroke.
Theophylline (Theo Dur)
ABSORPTION Cocaine comes in mainly two forms, as
a salt and a base. As a salt, it is cocaine
hydrochloride which is used when snorting or
injecting since it is soluble in water. As a
base, cocaine is referred to as a freebase
which is insoluble in water but does vaporize at
a low temperature. This is the form that is used
when smoking cocaine which is preferred since it
goes straight into the blood and to the brain
giving a more powerful rush.
CHEMISTRY The nitrogen (N) that is attached to
the cocaine is what makes it basic. When the
hydrochloride (CH3) is added, the salt form of
cocaine is produced.
USE Theophylline is the generic drug name for
Theo-Dur. It is used to improve breathing by
opening air passages and treat diseases like
asthma and chronic bronchitis.
Codeine (Tylenol 3)
ABSORPTION Theophylline is an amine that is
taken orally and dispersed into the blood stream
and body water and then finally absorbed into the
liver.
CHEMISTRY Theophylline is an organic compound
with nitrogen (N) bound to hydrochloride (CH3)
ions making it an amine.
USE Tylenol 3 is the combination of codeine and
acetaminophen. It is used to relieve mild to
moderate pain. An overdose of any medication
containing codeine could result in lowered
respiration, loss of consciousness, and
convulsions.
References
ABSORPTION Codeine alone is an amine but is used
in this medicine as the salt codeine phosphate.
It is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and
then dispersed to tissues in the body and into
organs such as the liver or kidneys.
McMurry, John Robert Fay, Chemistry, Prentice
Hall, NJ, 2004. http//encycl.opentopia.com/term/C
ocaine http//www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/cocaine.h
tml http//www.marvistavet.com/html/body_theophyl
line.html http//www.druginfonet.com/acetamin.htm
http//chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicrevie
w/bp/2orgainc/ amines.html
http//www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/theosr_cp.htm
http//www.nationmaster.com
CHEMISTRY Pure codeine is a naturally occurring
amine but when it has a sulfate or phosphate
group added, it is converted into a salt. In
Tylenol 3, codeine has an phosphate group (PO4)
added to it which makes it a salt.