Which Pain Reliever Dissolves in Simulated Gastric Fluid the Fastest?

Researched by Vanessa W.
2000-01

 

PURPOSE

The purpose of this experiment was to determine which pain reliever of aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, and acetaminophen dissolved in the least amount of time, in simulated gastric fluid.

I became interested in this project because my family is always suffering from headaches. We are always switching types of pain relieves for some pain relievers upsets our stomach and others don’t. We want a pain reliever that dissolves faster so our pain will go away quicker. So I decided to do a project that my family could really make use of, hopefully it will help other families as well.

The information gained from this experiment will help people who get pains such as headaches, colds, flu, cramps, backaches, dental pain, arthritis muscle pain, menstrual pain, structional muscle pain, and fevers. These people may want a pain reliever that dissolves faster so their pains will go away quicker.

HYPOTHESIS

My hypothesis was uncoated pain relievers would dissolve faster in simulated gastric fluid then harder waxy coated pain relievers.

I base my hypothesis on a pharmacist, David Thome. He said powdery pain relievers would dissolve quicker than other aspirins made to dissolve slower that have a hard coat.

EXPERIMENT DESIGN

The constants in this study were:

Amount of fluid used
Ph level of simulated gastric put in the fluid
Temperature of the fluid
Temperature of the Lab worked in
Stirring of the fluid as the pain reliever dissolves
How much the pain reliever dissolves before being declared dissolved
Type of fluid used
The manipulated variable was the type of pain reliever.

The responding variable was how fast the pain reliever dissolved.

To measure the responding variable I placed a pain reliever in an automatic stirrer (like how the stomach works) with simulated gastric fluid. I recorded how long it takes for the pain reliever to fully dissolve, using a stopwatch. 


 


MATERIALS

QUANTITY ITEM DESCRIPTION
30 Pain relievers (6 different types, 5 of each type)
1 Safety goggles
1 Apron
1 Paper
1 Timer (needs to count seconds)
1 Automatic stirrer
1 Pen
1 Water
3500 ml Hydrochloric acid

PROCEDURES

  1. Gather all of your materials. Put on the safety goggles and apron.
  2. Mix hydrochloric acid water until there is about 5.0 liters of pH 4.0 mixture. 
  3. Pour 150 mm of the water mixture into a glass graduated cylinder.
  4. Put the graduated cylinder with the water mixture on a magnetic stirrer.
  5. Start the magnetic stirrer.
  6. Start the timer.
  7. Place one pain reliever inside the magnetic stirrer.
  8. Keep a very close eye on the pain reliever. When the pain reliever is fully dissolved (There should be nothing visible and no small pieces on the bottom) stop the timer. 
  9. Record how long it took the pain reliever to dissolve.
  10. Wash your hands and graduated cylinder out well.
  11. Repeat steps 3-10 to the rest of the pain relievers.
  12. Find the average of each pain reliever.

RESULTS

The original purpose of this experiment was to determine which pain reliever of aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, and acetaminophen dissolved in the least amount of time in simulated gastric fluid.

The results of the experiment were uncoated aspirin dissolved in simulated gastric fluid faster then the other pain relievers tested. Perfect choice dissolved the slowest. 

See the table and graphs

CONCLUSION

My hypothesis was uncoated aspirin will dissolve in simulated gastric fluid faster then waxy coated pain relievers.

The results indicate that this hypothesis should be accepted. Uncoated aspirin dissolved in the least amount of time of all the pain reliever I tested.

Because of the results of this experiment, I wonder if uncoated aspirin is the safest and the most effect of the pain relievers tested.

My findings should be useful to people who get minor pains, because they would know which pain reliever works the fastest.

If I were to conduct this project again I would have used more fluid (250ml) in my experiment, warmed the temperature of the fluid to body temperature (98.6 degrees), done more trials, and tested more types of pain relievers.


 
RESEARCH REPORT
 
 

INTRODUCTION

Many people get pains such as headaches, colds, flu, cramps, backaches, dental pain, arthritis muscle pain, menstrual pain, structional muscle pain, and fevers. Chances are these people will take aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium or acetaminophen. Americans consume more than 80 billion doses of these drugs in a year. 
 
 

ANALGESICS

An analgesic is any drug that relieves pain, but does not cause unconsciousness. There are two types of analgesics, narcotic and non-narcotic. Narcotics relieve severe pain, but are addictive. Non-narcotics relieve minor pain, but are not addictive. Types of nonarcotic include aspirin and acetaminophen. Narcotic includes codeine, merphine, and meperidine. 
 
 

ASPIRIN

Aspirin help pains such as headaches, migraines, colds, flu, cramps, and dental pain. Aspirin, being used as early as the Stone Age, is the oldest known analgesic. It was used by such cultures as the Greeks, Indians, and others. Aspirin is found in the bark of willow trees. It has analgesic, antipyretic, antiplatele, and in higher dosages anti-inflammatory activities. It is a synthetic chemical compound acetylsalicylic acid. Aspirin is more effective than codeine, a prescribed analgesic.  It is not recommended for children under the age of 12 for the risk of Reyes Syndrome. Even one aspirin a day increases the chance of intestinal bleeding. It irritates the stomach. Half an aspirin a day can decrease the chance of stroke or heart attacks. It also reduces blood clots. Complications can be avoided by using anteric-coated aspirin, which doesn’t dissolve until reaching the intestine.  Americans consume about 40 million pounds of aspirin a year. That is about 300 tablets for every man, women, and child. Some brand names include Bayer, Bufferin, and Ecotrin. The maximum dosage is 4 grams (4000 mg) a day.
 
 

IBUPROFEN

Ibuprofen is a drug to reduce inflammation, fever, and sensation of pain. Ibuprofen is used for such pains as arthritis, muscle pains, headaches, cramps, fever and menstrual pain. When ibuprofen is prescribed it is normally used for severe symptoms associated with arthritis. When it is not prescribed it is usually to relieve low intensity pain, inflammation, or fever. It has the widest use of drugs called proplonic and cidderivatives. Ibuprofen was developed during the 1960’s and was only available by a prescription. In 1984 the FDA approved it to be sold over the counter. It has fewer side effects then aspirin. Prolonged use of ibuprofen can result in ulcers and internal bleeding because it blocks the production of the stomach lining's protective mucous barrier. It can prevent the body from excreting salt and water for people who suffer from kidney disease, liver disease, or high blood pressure. The anticoagulant effect of ibuprofen can result in excessive bleeding when taking prior to tooth extraction or minor surgery. Alcoholic beverages should be avoided while taking this medication. Some brand names include Advil, Morin, and Nuprin. 
The max dosage is 1.2 grams (1200 mg) a day.
 
 

ACETAMINOPHEN

Acetaminophen is a drug that does not need a prescription. It is used for such minor pains as headaches structional muscle aches, and fever. The difference between this and the other two is it doesn’t reduce inflammation. Yet it doesn’t irritate the stomach lining as the other two do. An over dosage causes severe liver damage. A brand name includes Tylenol. 
 
 

NAPROXEN  SODIUM

Naproxen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic drug. It relieves such pain as fevers, arthritis, muscle pain, menstrual, headaches, inflammation of joints, gout, and backache. The FDA approved it in 1994 to be able to buy without a prescription. Most common side effects include constipation, heartburn, abdominal pain, nausea, dyspepsia, diarrhea, stomactitis, and headaches, ringing in your eyes, vomiting, and swelling of fingers and ankles.  It irritates your stomach. A brand name is Aleve. The maximum daily dosage is .66 grams or 660 mg.
 
 

SUMMARY

Analgesic is any pain reliever that does not cause unconsisness. Four types of analgesics are aspirin, acetaminophen, Naproxen, and ibuprofen. The first of these pain relievers used was aspirin, being first used in the Stone Age. The latest of one of these being used is ibuprofen, approved in the 1960’s.  Each of this pain reliever’s work by blocking the formation of prostaglonoline hormone like chemicals found throughout the body. 
BIBLIOGRAPHY

"Acetaminophen,"[Online] available http://encarta.msn.com/find/concise.asp?ti=059E9000

"Adverse reactions," [Online] available http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/naprox_ad.htm.  2000

"Aspirin," Encarta. 2000 CD-ROM

"Aspirin," [Online] available
 http://www. Enclopedia.com/articles/00820.html

"Aspirin," [Online] available
 http://www. Pueblo.gsa.gov/press/aspirin.htm.  June, 1995

"Aspirin," [Online] available
 http://www. Painfurum.com/en/i/ngang.asp.htm

"Aspirin," [Online] available http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/patgenrx/acetood-pat.htm

"Description," [Online] available http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/acetcod.htm

FDA "FDA issues professional labeling for aspirin," [Online] available 

http://www.fda.gov/cder/news/aspirin/aspirin_QA.htm
Fisher, Daniel. "Aspirin," Academic American Enclopedia. 1998, vol. 2 pp259-260

"Ibuprofen," [Online] Available 
http://www Painfurum.com/en/i/ngang.ibu.htm
Johnson, M Eugene Jr. "Ibuprofen," The World Book Enclopedia. 1998 vol. 10 pp. 4

"Naproxen," [Online] available 
http:\\www.rxlist.com/cgi/patgenrx/naprox_pat.htm

N.E. Sladek. "Analgesics," The World Book Enclopedia. 1998 vol. 1 pp. 447
 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank the following people for making my science project possible;
My Dad, Bruce, for driving places,
My Mom, Karen, for driving me places to get my project board,
My sister, Sarah, for helping me thourghout my journal,
Ken for helping mr thoughout the year on my science project, also for getting the magnetic stirrer needed for my experiment,
Rita for helping me on my display board, and taking that gorgeous picture of me and my friends on my bio page(check it out),
 and My class mates Lacey, Tiera, and Heather, for helping me with all of my mistakes, and on my display board.

Thanks for all your help!

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