Can Less Be More?

1. Can Less Be More? Siobhan Dougherty 9th Grade

2. 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?

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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) • 3 200 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)

6. Procedure • 1. Goggles were put on • 2. Latex gloves were put on • 3. 30 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

7. 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 • 15. 50 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

8. Controls/Variables • 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

9. Rationale for Experiment • The reason I chose this experiment was because I wondered why there was a cost difference between generic and brand name pain relievers, and why brand name ones cost more. I wanted to know if it was worth paying more; if you really get more for your money.

10. Data/Results • Results in Hydrochloric Acid (in minutes) • Results in Water (in minutes)

12. Conclusion • It was hypothesized that brand name pain relievers would dissolve faster than their generic match. This hypothesis was supported in the experiment. This experiment could be improved by doing more trials to assure efficiency.

13. Acknowledgments • National Library of Medicine. (2009, June 1). Pain Relievers. Retrieved November 7, 2009, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/painrelievers.html • Ezine Articles. (2009). Brand Vs Generic Medicine - Which is Better? Retrieved November 8, 2009, from http://ezinearticles.com/?Brand-Vs-Generic-Medicine---Which-is-Better?&id=1340258 • Utah Mountain Biking Company. (n.d.). Pain Relievers. Retrieved November 8, 2009, from http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/firstaid/painmeds.htm • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Hydrochloric Acid. Retrieved  November 8, 2009, from http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/hydrochl.html • Jones, L. (n.d.). Solubility. Retrieved November 8, 2009, from  http://www.sciencebyjones.com/solubility.htm • Thank you for listening to my project. Are there any questions??