Neutralizing capacity and cost effectiveness of antacids

Summary

Liquid antacids generally offer better acid neutralization and cost-effectiveness than tablets. Prescribing high-potency antacids is recommended for optimal therapy, considering taste and sodium content.

Related Concept Videos

Buffers02:56

Buffers

A solution containing appreciable amounts of a weak conjugate acid-base pair is called a buffer solution, or a buffer. Buffer solutions resist a change in pH when small amounts of a strong acid or a strong base are added. A solution of acetic acid and sodium acetate is an example of a buffer that consists of a weak acid and its salt: CH3COOH (aq) + CH3COONa (aq). An example of a buffer that consists of a weak base and its salt is a solution of ammonia and ammonium chloride: NH3 (aq) + NH4Cl...
Buffer Effectiveness02:19

Buffer Effectiveness

Buffer solutions do not have an unlimited capacity to keep the pH relatively constant . Instead, the ability of a buffer solution to resist changes in pH relies on the presence of appreciable amounts of its conjugate weak acid-base pair. When enough strong acid or base is added to substantially lower the concentration of either member of the buffer pair, the buffering action within the solution is compromised.
The buffer capacity is the amount of acid or base that can be added to a given volume...
Buffers: Buffer Capacity01:09

Buffers: Buffer Capacity

Buffer capacity is the quantitative measure of a buffer to resist the change in pH. As shown in the following equation, the buffer capacity, denoted by 'beta', is expressed as the number of moles of acid or base needed to change the pH of a one-liter buffer solution by 1 unit. Here, Ca and Cb indicate the number of moles of acid and base, respectively. Note that dpH represents the change in pH.
In the graph, pH is plotted as a function of the number of moles of base (Cb) added to a weak acid...
Acid Suppressive Drugs for Peptic Ulcer Disease: Proton Pump Inhibitors01:13

Acid Suppressive Drugs for Peptic Ulcer Disease: Proton Pump Inhibitors

Peptic ulcers, often induced by H. pylori infections or NSAID usage, arise from disruptions in the delicate balance of gastric acid production. Peptic ulcers stem from heightened gastric acid levels due to H. pylori infections or NSAID use. The protective mucus layer diminishes in the presence of these factors, allowing gastric acid to erode the stomach lining and form ulcers.
Gastric acid, a potent cocktail of hydrogen and chloride ions, is produced in specialized parietal cells within the...
Acid Suppressive Drugs for Peptic Ulcer Disease: Histamine H2-Receptor Antagonists01:28

Acid Suppressive Drugs for Peptic Ulcer Disease: Histamine H2-Receptor Antagonists

Histamine H2 receptors, which are intricately located on the basolateral membrane of parietal cells, play a crucial role in modulating gastric acid secretion. When released from enterochromaffin-like cells, histamine engages H2 receptors, initiating the cyclic AMP (cAMP) pathway. In this pathway, adenylyl cyclase converts ATP into cAMP, elevating intracellular cAMP levels. The activation of protein kinase A follows, stimulating the proton pump. This stimulation prompts the secretion of hydrogen...
Acid Suppressive Drugs for Peptic Ulcer Disease: Antacids01:31

Acid Suppressive Drugs for Peptic Ulcer Disease: Antacids

In the complex environment of the gastric lumen, excessive acid secretion can lead to the formation or worsening of ulcers within the delicate mucosal layer. Antacids, such as sodium bicarbonate and calcium carbonate, provide relief by neutralizing this acid, transforming it into harmless salt and water. This neutralization process raises the gastric pH from a highly acidic level of 1 to a more basic 3-4, reducing the acidity within the stomach.
However, this neutralization reaction between...