ESR INVESTIGATIONS of X-RAY EXPOSED DRUGS

X-ray is used in several areas for analysis, imaging, sterilisation and security. X-ray machines are increasingly used in the entrance of the airports, shopping centres, etc. for security purposes. Therefore, human beings and belongings are frequently exposed to X-ray by transiting these checkpoints at various sites such as airports, shopping centres etc. This study aims is to investigate the X-rays potential effects (arising from security machines) on different groups of medicines which are analgesics (acetaminophen, acetylsalicylic acid, naproxen, flurbiprofen), anti-diabetics (metformin HCl, pioglitazone), PPI's (lansoprazole, pantoprazole sesquihydrate), anti-hypertensives (losartan, clopidogrel hydrogen sulphate), heart failure medicines (verapamil HCl, spironolactone) used frequently and daily, by using ESR analysis. Coated acetylsalicylic acid tablets showed different intensities of ESR signals after 58 mGy irradiation. It thought to be the result of the coating polymer (Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC)). According to the ESR results which were obtained for 0,24-58 mGy irradiated drugs- 1 hour after irradiation (refrigerated during this period) X-ray did not affect those medicines except the acetylsalicylic acid tablets significantly. The meaningful differences were only obtained between the non-irradiated, and 58 mGy irradiated acetylsalicylic acid tablets. Therefore, it can be concluded that X-ray exposed medicines, except coated acetylsalicylic acid tablets (after 58 mGy irradiation), can be used safely for the irradiation levels used in this study (0.24 mGy-0.58 mGy). In addition those data, ESR analyses were followed by other analysis such as FT-IR, DSC/TGA, dissolution, SEM, etc., and they are planned to be published soon.