Siobhan Dougherty 9 th Grade

Problem The problem in this experiment is to see whether generic or brand name pain relievers will dissolve faster. Is it worth paying more money to get brand name pain relievers?

Research Hydrochloric acid Gastric juice Acidity level Representation of stomach acid Generic/Brand name Manufacturing cost Why there is a cost difference FDA testing Same dosage, effects, uses, risks, etc Differences Packaging and color/taste

Hypothesis If different types of pain relievers, both brand and generic, are separately placed into stomach acid, then the brand name pain relievers will dissolve faster.

Materials 6 Tablets of regular strength generic Acetaminophen- 325 mg each 6 Tablets of regular strength brand name Acetaminophen (Tylenol)-325 mg each 6 Tablets of regular strength generic Aspirin-325 mg each 6 Tablets of regular strength brand name Aspirin (Bayer)-325 mg each 6 Tablets of regular strength generic Ibuprofen-200 mg each 6 Tablets of regular strength brand name Ibuprofen (Advil)-200 mg each 30 mL of stomach acid (hydrochloric acid) for each trial (540 mL altogether) 20 mL of gastric juice for each trial (360 mL altogether) mL beakers 50 mL of distilled water for each trial (900 mL altogether) One pair of goggles One pair of latex gloves Pen and paper Stopwatch Paper towels Clean water (to wash beakers in between trials)

Procedure 1. Goggles were put on 2. Latex gloves were put on mL of hydrochloric acid and 20 mL of gastric juice was poured into 3 separate 200 mL beakers 4. Three tablets of generic Acetaminophen were gathered 5. One tablet of Acetaminophen was dropped into the beaker 6. The stopwatch was started when the tablet reached the mix of hydrochloric acid and gastric juice 7. The dissolution time of the tablet was observed 8. The stopwatch was stopped when the tablet was fully dissolved 9. Results were recorded 10. Steps 3-9 were repeated for two more tablets of Acetaminophen

Procedure (continued) 11. The three beakers were then emptied and cleaned out with water 12. The beakers were dried thoroughly with paper towels 13. Steps 3-11 were repeated for brand name Acetaminophen (Tylenol), generic Aspirin, brand name Aspirin (Bayer), generic Ibuprofen, and brand name Ibuprofen (Advil) 14. Results were recorded again mL of distilled water was gathered into one beaker 16. Each tablet, both brand name and generic, was tested once in water, repeating the process above (used as a control) 17. Results were recorded

My independent variables are the types of pain relievers and the brand name versus the generic form of the drug. My dependent variable is how quickly each tablet will dissolve My constants are the amount of hydrochloric acid/gastric juice and the amount of distilled water (in mL), the location where the experiment was performed, the acidity level of the hydrochloric acid/gastric juice, all pain relievers were regular strength, and the procedure was constant throughout all trials. My control was using distilled water instead of hydrochloric acid/gastric juice Controls/Variables

Data/Results Trial 1Trial 2Trial 3AVERAGEST DEVCL Acetaminophen Tylenol Aspirin Bayer Ibuprofen Advil  Results in Hydrochloric Acid (in minutes)  Results in Water (in minutes) Trial 1AVERAGE Acetaminophen 5.85 Tylenol 4.15 Aspirin 1.2 Bayer 0.87 Ibuprofen Advil 12.35

Conclusion It was hypothesized that brand name pain relievers would dissolve faster than their generic match. This hypothesis was supported in the experiment. One problem that could have affected the outcome of the experiment is that not all of the tablets were the same amount of mgs. This experiment could be improved by doing more trials to assure efficiency.

Acknowledgments National Library of Medicine. (2009, June 1). Pain Relievers. Retrieved November 7, 2009, from Ezine Articles. (2009). Brand Vs Generic Medicine - Which is Better? Retrieved November 8, 2009, from Which-is-Better?&id= http://ezinearticles.com/?Brand-Vs-Generic-Medicine--- Which-is-Better?&id= Utah Mountain Biking Company. (n.d.). Pain Relievers. Retrieved November 8, 2009, from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Hydrochloric Acid. Retrieved November 8, 2009, from Jones, L. (n.d.). Solubility. Retrieved November 8, 2009, from Thank you for listening to my project. Are there any questions??