Why does medicine have HCl in it?

Answer 1

Well, honey, medicine has hydrochloric acid (HCl) in it because it helps with absorption and dissolving certain drugs in the stomach. It also helps to maintain the pH balance of the medication so it can do its job properly. So, next time you pop a pill, just remember that little bit of HCl is there to make sure it works its magic.

Answer 2

HCl is the chemically abbreviated form of Hydrochloride. It is basically the way that the medications are put into solid form. Many liquid or oral suspension formulas contain HBr, hydrobromide. Some medications contain Fumarate, some contain Maleate, it's basically a medium to put the substances into or dilute them.

Answer 3

Many times you will see -HCl listed in a medicine but it isn't really HCl as hydrochloric acid. A lot of drugs are NOT water soluble, and in order to make them more water soluble, the chemist makes them into a salt, if possible. So, one of the most common salts is the CHLORIDE salt, and this is made by the addition of HCl. These drugs are then referred to as "the hydrochloride salt" of the drug. Here's a generic example: RNHR' where R and R' are larger carbon chains and NH is the amine. This would be insoluble in water. Adding HCl produces RNH2R'(+) with a positive charge and this makes it more soluble.