Why do so many medicines go 'Something-something' Hydrochloride?

Question

or usually just HCl.

Answer 1

It isn't because it helps the drug become more soluble, (it does have that effect but that isn't the reason they make it that way)

It is because the hydrochloride molecule is ABSORBED into the body more easily, and it carries the medication molecule(s) as a piggy-back into the body systems. If there wasn't the HCl molecule, most of the medication would just pass through your body as waste or obvious foreign matter that gets filtered out rather than metabolized.

Answer 2

This is generally because of the method of manufacture of the drug and it is related to the solubility of the compound in the drug. When many chemicals are synthesized they end up as what is known as either a free acid or a free base (owing to their chemical components and their ionic state). In many cases the compound is better able to be crystallized or solubilized by making it into a "salt form". Routinely this can be accomplished by adding "counterions" or by adding compensatory solutions. Small amounts of hydrochloric acid can alter the ionization of the drug and ends up making the hydrochlride form. It is not the only method used. If you look at a number of drugs you will find associated compounds like tartrate, citrate, sulfate, oxalate, propionate, etc.

Answer 3

Well the formulations of many drugs tend to either dissolve too slow so the hydrochloride, a salt, when mixed with water will become hydrochloric acid and help dissolve the drug so it can get into the system much faster.

Answer 4

That has to do with the ingredients in the drug. A lot of drugs have numerous ingredients with hydrochloride being common in them.

Answer 5

i just asked my doctor this same question not long ago and i believe he said its the way it is made, but lets wait and see