Epitome of the Pharmacopeia of the United States and the National Formulary Part 66

USES: The most frequently used inorganic a.r.s.enical preparation. It has an alkaline reaction and therefore tends to precipitate alkaloids.

DOSAGE: 0.2 Cc. or 3 minims (U.S.P.).

=*Pota.s.sii Bicarbonas (Pot. Bicarb.), Pota.s.sium Bicarbonate, U.S.P.=--KHCO{3}.

Colorless, transparent crystals or white, granular powder, odorless and having a saline, slightly alkaline taste. Freely soluble in water (1:2.8) and almost insoluble in alcohol.

ACTION AND USES: Mild alkali; similar to sodium bicarbonate, but without advantage over the latter.

DOSAGE: 1 Gm. or 15 grains (U.S.P.).

_Liquor Antisepticus Alkalinus (Liq. Antisept. Alk.), Alkaline Antiseptic Solution, N.F._--Pota.s.sium bicarbonate (3.2%), sodium borate (3.2%) and sodium benzoate (0.8%) with thymol, eucalyptol, oil of peppermint, methyl salicylate and cudbear in alcohol, glycerin and water.

USES: Of slight value as antiseptic, but a pleasant cleansing gargle.

=*Pota.s.si Bitartras (Pot. Bitart.), Pota.s.sium Bitartrate, U.S.P.= (Cream of Tartar).

Colorless, slightly opaque crystals or white, somewhat gritty powder, odorless and having an acidulous taste. Only slightly soluble in water (1:155) and very slightly soluble in alcohol (1:8,820).

ACTION AND USES: Diuretic and aperient. Frequently administered in combination with jalap as a hydragogue cathartic. See _Pulvis Jalapae Compositus_ under =Jalapa=.

DOSAGE: 2 Gm. or 30 grains (U.S.P.).

=*Pota.s.sii Bromidum (Pot. Brom.), Pota.s.sium Bromide, U.S.P.=--KBr.

White crystals or granular powder, odorless and having a strongly saline taste. Freely soluble in water (1:1.5); slightly soluble in alcohol (1:250).

ACTION AND USES: Nerve sedative; diminishes reflex excitability and depresses the motor area of the cortex.

Similar to sodium bromide, but more likely to disturb digestion.

DOSAGE: 1 Gm. or 15 grains (U.S.P.); preferably administered by itself in simple dilute solutions; increased if necessary. Long-continued administration should be interrupted occasionally to prevent bromism and acc.u.mulation in the system.

_Elixir Pota.s.sii Bromidi (Elix. Pot. Brom.), Elixir of Pota.s.sium Bromide, N.F._--Pota.s.sium bromide (17.5%) in syrup, water and aromatic elixir; may be colored with compound tincture of cudbear. Absolute alcohol content about 7.5 per cent.

DOSAGE: 8 Cc. or 2 fluidrachms (N.F.).

_Sal Pota.s.sii Bromidi Effervescens (Sal Pot. Brom. Eff.), Effervescent Salt of Pota.s.sium Bromide, N.F._ (Pulvis Pota.s.sii Bromidi Effervescens, N.F. III).--Pota.s.sium bromide (16.6%), sodium bicarbonate (53%), tartaric acid (20.4%) and citric acid, the last-named three yielding sodium citrate and sodium carbonate.

DOSAGE: 6 Gm. or 1-1/2 drachms.

_Sal Pota.s.sii Bromidi Effervescens Compositus (Sal Pot. Brom. Eff. Co.), Compound Effervescent Salt of Pota.s.sium Bromide, N.F._ (Pulvis Pota.s.sii Bromidi Effervescens c.u.m Caffeina, N.F. III, Effervescent Pota.s.sium Bromide with Caffeine).--Caffeine (0.8%) and pota.s.sium bromide (8.3%) in a mixture of sodium bicarbonate (58.7%), lithium carbonate (4.2%), tartaric acid (18%) and citric acid. (Yielding citrate and tartrate of lithium and sodium.)

USES: "Headache" mixture; generally undesirable.

DOSAGE: 6 Gm. or 1-1/2 drachms (N.F.).

_Syrupus Bromidorum (Syr. Bromidor.), Syrup of the Bromides, N.F._--Pota.s.sium bromide and sodium bromide (each 8%), ammonium bromide (5%), calcium bromide (2.5%), lithium bromide (0.8%) flavored with tincture of vanilla and colored with compound tincture of cudbear in compound syrup of sarsaparilla and syrup.

USES: It is very improbable that this complex mixture has any advantage over a simple bromide.

DOSAGE: 4 Cc. or 1 fluidrachm (N.F.).

=*Pota.s.sii Carbonas (Pot. Carb.), Pota.s.sium Carbonate, U.S.P.=--K{2}CO{3}. (A hydrated form is sold as salt of tartar).

White, odorless, deliquescent granular powder with a strongly alkaline taste. Very soluble in water (1:0.9), but insoluble in alcohol.

ACTION AND USES: Strongly alkaline and caustic; very dilute solutions sometimes used as antacid.

DOSAGE: 1 Gm. or 15 grains (U.S.P.).

=*Pota.s.sii Chloras (Pot. Chloras), Pota.s.sium Chlorate, U.S.P.=--KClO{3}.

Colorless, l.u.s.trous crystals or white, granular powder, odorless and having a saline taste. Soluble in water (1:11.5) and almost insoluble in alcohol.

ACTION AND USES: Used as mouthwash and gargles in stomat.i.tis, etc. Large doses are actively poisonous, causing disintegration of the blood corpuscles. Has been used in the form of gargle and troches for sore throat (swallowing the latter may be dangerous).

DOSAGE: 0.25 Gm. or 4 grains (U.S.P.).

_Trochisci Pota.s.sii Chloratis (Troch. Pot. Chlorat.), Troches of Pota.s.sium Chlorate, U.S.P._--Each troche contains pota.s.sium chlorate (0.15 Gm. or 2-1/2 grains) with sugar and tragacanth.

=Pota.s.sii Chloridum (Pot. Chlorid.), Pota.s.sium Chloride, N.F.=--KCl.

Colorless crystals or white powder, odorless and having a saline taste. Freely soluble in water (1:2.8) and insoluble in alcohol.

ACTION AND USES: Has been recommended for use as table salt in place of sodium chloride, in cases in which the absorption of salt was thought to be undesirable. Its value is not established.

=*Pota.s.sii Citras (Pot. Cit.), Pota.s.sium Citrate, U.S.P.=

Transparent crystals or white, granular powder; odorless and having a cooling saline taste. Very soluble in water (1:0.6) and almost insoluble in alcohol.

ACTION AND USES: Systemic alkali and diuretic like pota.s.sium acetate, but more laxative.

DOSAGE: 1 Gm. or 15 grains (U.S.P.).

_*Pota.s.sii Citras Effervescens (Pot. Cit. Eff.), Effervescent Pota.s.sium Citrate, U.S.P._--An effervescent mixture representing pota.s.sium citrate (20%), sodium citrate (27.55%) and sodium tartrate (38.7%).

DOSAGE: 4 Gm. or 1 drachm (U.S.P.).

_Liquor Pota.s.sii Citratis (Liq. Pot. Cit.), Solution of Pota.s.sium Citrate, U.S.P._--Pota.s.sium citrate (8%) in water.

DOSAGE: 15 Cc. or 4 fluidrachms (U.S.P.).