INHALANTS

                                   Inhalants

 It is defined as the process of "administration of drug or chemical agent inside the body with the help of nose and mouth in the form of gaseous, volatile, aerosol or vapours are known as inhalants."

• Gaseous substance can be taken by nose or trachea.
•  The drugs or chemical agent which are available in the form of vapour should be inhaled in the body by nose.
•  For local or systemic effect most of the gases is directly in administered by Nasal or oral respiratory route.

 example
Oxygen( O2 gas )
Nitrogen(N2 gas )
Nitrous oxide( N2O )
Helium( He )
 classification of inhalants
Inhalants are classified according to their function 
(I) Respiratory system ( oxygen and Carbon dioxide )
(II)Respiratory stimulant ( carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide )
(III) Miscellaneous ( Helium along with oxygen )

(1.) Nitrous Oxide

Molecular formula :N2O

Molecular weight: 44u

Synonyms: Laughing Gas.
I.P. limit: Nitrous oxide contain not less than 95% of N2O in the gaseous phase.

Preparation of N2O:-
It is prepared by thermal decomposition of Ammonium Nitrate.
                    Heat
NH4NO3--------------> N20 + 2H2O.
( Note: The gas should be purified by Sodium Hydroxide Sodium dichromate and water. )

physical property and Characters:-

• It is colourless odourless and tasteless gas.
• N2O is heavier than air.
• It is freely soluble in alcohol and solvent like Ether and in oils.
• It act as a strong oxidizing agent at high temperature 

storage condition of Nitrous Oxide:

• It should be stored in a well closed metallic cylinder under high pressure.

Stability of Nitrous Oxide:

• It is stable at temperature room temperature and any ordinary condition.

( Note. Temperature should not exceed more than 37°C  when it is stored in room temperature. )

labelling of Nitrous Oxide

• The cylinder should be painted with blue colour.
• The name and symbol N2O should be written on the cylinder. 

Uses of Nitrous Oxide:-

• It is used as anaesthetic agent in minor operation. 
• It is used for relieve pain during childbirth.
• It is used to produce nervous excitement.
•  is only inorganic gas used as an anaesthetic agent.

(2.) Carbon dioxide

Molecular formula: CO2

Molecular weight: 44u





I.P. limit: carbon dioxide content not less than 99% V/V CO2.

(Note: It present in air about 0.03%V/V )

Preparation of carbon dioxide 

It is prepared by heating of carbonates of heavy metals.
            Heat

• CaCO3--------> CO2 + CaO

                Heat

• 2NaHCO3----------> CO2 + Na2CO3 + H2O

                   Heat

• NaHCO3----------->CO2 + NaOH

properties or characteristics of CO2:-

• It occur as colourless gas.
• It does not support combustion.
• It has faint acid taste.
• It is soluble in water at normal temperature and pressure.

Storage condition of carbon dioxide:-

• It should be stored in well closed metallic cylinder under high pressure.

Stability of carbon dioxide:-

• It is stable at room temperature and any ordinary conditions.
• Below - 80°C it forms dry ice.

labelling of carbon dioxide:-

• The cylinder should be painted with grey colour.
• The name and symbol carbon dioxide should be written on the cylinder.

uses of carbon dioxide:-

• It is used as a respiratory stimulant.
• It is used in the treatment of drug addiction.
• Dry ice of carbon dioxide is used in various chemical reactions and in surgical operation.
• It is used in concentrated soft drink.

(3.) Oxygen

Molecular formula: O2

Molecular weight: 32u

I.P. limit: oxygen contain not less than 99% volume by volume of oxygen.

Preparation of oxygen:-

• Oxygen is prepared by fractional distillation of liquefied air.
• It is prepared by electrolysis of water.

2H20-----------> O2 + 2H2

( During electrolysis of water. )

• It is also prepared by heating of some oxygen containing salt, metallic oxide etc.

               Heat

2KClO3------------> 3O2 + 2KCl

Physical property or characteristics of oxygen:-

• It occur as a colourless,odourless and tasteless gas.
• Oxygen is natural occurring gas.
• It is soluble in water, alcohol at normal temperature and pressure.
• It is inflammable gas.
• ( means it support combustion. )

Storage condition of oxygen:-

• It should be stored in a well closed metallic cylinder under high pressure.

Stability of oxygen

• It is stable at room temperature and any ordinary condition.
• At a particular temperature gas is soluble in water.

labelling of Oxygen:-

• The shoulder of the cylinder should be painted with white colour and remaining portion of the cylinder should be painted with black colour.
• The name and symbol oxygen should be written on the cylinder.

uses of oxygen:-

• It is used in respiratory function for living organism.
• It is used as a treatment of anoxia and hypoxia.
• It is used in the treatment of poisoning of carbon monoxide.
• Liquefied oxygen is used as a fuel in rocket science.

Pharmacopial feed back for Inhalants
As the above discussed point showing the medicinal value of inhalants.The use of inhalant in small dose or dose prescribe by doctor is good for health, but in large dose it make very harmful condition for health. Sometimes people used to do Inhalants abuse like Solvent Thinner which cause brain Damage and other serious condition arises so the use of inhalants and their forms like Aerosol, vapour, volatile, etc are taken under the supervision of Well known Doctor's.

                            

( Note:  This is authors self point regarding the demerit of inhalants. )
 For more about the topic and bad uses of inhalants Visit to Google and search INHALANT ABUSE.



image courtesy: google images
Book reference: GR Chatwal and Mhod. Ali