Know Your Chemicals | Acetaminophen | Aspirin | Ibuprofen
Chemical Compounds
Some are safe and part of our daily lives, some are hazardous and deadly. Today we talk about three Chemicals in details. The three chemicals are: Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Ibuprofen.
| Chemical Compound | Chemical Formula | Mol. weight | Chem CID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acetaminophen | C8H9NO2 | 151.16256 g/mol | 1983 |
| Aspirin | C9H8O4 | 180.15742 g/mol | 2244 |
| Ibuprofen | C13H18O2 | 206.28082 g/mol | 3672 |
Acetaminophen
Also known as: p- hydroxyacetanilide, paracetamol, Panadol, N-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)acetamide, Tylenol.
Physical Description: Odorless white crystalline solid. Bitter taste. pH about 6.
General information:
Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen or APAP, is a medication used to treat pain and fever. It is typically used for mild to moderate pain. There is poor evidence for fever relief in children. It is often sold in combination with other ingredients such as in many cold medications. In combination with opioid pain medication, paracetamol is used for more severe pain such as cancer pain and after surgery. It is typically used either by mouth or rectally but is also available intravenously. Effects last between two and four hours.
Aspirin
Also known as: p- Acetyl salicylic acid, o-Acetoxybenzoic acid
Physical Description: Odorless white crystals or crystalline powder with a slightly bitter taste, pH about 3.
General information:
Aspirin, also known as acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), is a medication used to treat pain, fever, and inflammation. Specific inflammatory conditions in which it is used include Kawasaki disease, pericarditis, and rheumatic fever. Aspirin given shortly after a heart attack decreases the risk of death. Aspirin is also used long-term to help prevent heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots in people at high risk. Aspirin may also decrease the risk of certain types of cancer, particularly colorectal cancer. For pain or fever, effects typically begin within 30 minutes.
Ibuprofen
Also known as: Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, rac-2-(p-isobutylphenyl) propionic acid.
Physical Description: Colorless, crystalline stable solid. with a Characteristic odor, pH about 4.4.
General information:
Ibuprofen, from isobutylphenylpropanoic acid, is a drug in the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) class used for treating pain, fever, and inflammation. This includes painful menstrual periods, migraines, and rheumatoid arthritis. About 60% of people improve with any given NSAID, and it is recommended that if one does not work then another should be tried. It may also be used to close a patent ductus arteriosus in a premature baby. It can be used by mouth or intravenously. It typically begins working within an hour.
Sources: National Center for Biotechnology Information. Wikipedia. Images by Pixabay
There was once a chemical component of a very common tablet name decolgen that were taken out because for large consumption of it can result to a much more bigger disease. I just forgot the name of the chemical but it was widely spread few years ago.
phenylpropanolamine : shrinks blood vessels, causes strokes.
You got it right bro.
Ibuprofen = Nurofen, MIG
Aspirin (Bayer AG trademark) - there are plants with high content of Acetyl salicylic acid: raspberry and willow (willow bark). My Grandma forced me to dring tea with lemon and raspberry jam when I catched cold. It's just what Aspirin is: AS acid+Ascorbic acid.
wow
Useful vene more useful would be if you made for the American guys a table with comaprisons of cheap and expenisve tablets that have the same effect. Very popualr over here in Russia, as in you have 2 - 3 types of aspirin (with different names), one costs (for example) 10 cents, and the second 2 bucks
In the US there are two types of medicines Brand names and Generics. The Brand name medicines cost a lot more to buy, and the generics are very cheap, can go as cheap as 1 cent or even less per tablet.
wow
I see! In Russia its popualr to make such posts with comparison, maybe it would be popular on steem if you did the same. As in to show people that they dont need to overpay for the brand medecine
The problem in the US medicines go on generic after 10 years or so, so newer medicines are hard to get cheap in the country. People who need constant supply of expensive medicines, travel to Canada or Mexico to purchase supplies for 3 months, some use online prescription services. There is not much to compare in the US, if your medicine is not available as generic, there is no cheaper alternative but to buy from outside the country.