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Hygroscopicity – Meaning in Pharmacy and Medicine

Hygroscopicity describes the ability of a substance to absorb and retain moisture from the surrounding air. In medicine and pharmacy, this property is highly relevant for storage and drug stability.

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Things worth knowing about "Hygroscopicity"

Hygroscopicity describes the ability of a substance to absorb and retain moisture from the surrounding air. In medicine and pharmacy, this property is highly relevant for storage and drug stability.

What is Hygroscopicity?

Hygroscopicity refers to the ability of a substance to absorb water molecules from the surrounding air and bind them. Substances that exhibit this property are described as hygroscopic. The degree of moisture absorption depends on the relative humidity of the environment and the chemical structure of the substance in question.

Hygroscopicity in Pharmacy and Medicine

In pharmacy and medicine, hygroscopicity is a critical property, as many active pharmaceutical ingredients, excipients, and drug formulations are hygroscopic. Uncontrolled moisture absorption can lead to a range of problems, including:

Changes in chemical stability of the active ingredient (e.g., hydrolysis)
Alterations in physical properties (e.g., caking or clumping of powders and tablets)
Reduction in efficacy or bioavailability of the drug
Changes in taste or consistency of oral dosage forms

Hygroscopic Substances in Medicine

Common hygroscopic substances relevant to medicine and pharmacy include:

Salts such as magnesium chloride or calcium chloride
Sugar alcohols such as sorbitol and mannitol (frequently used as excipients in tablets)
Certain antibiotics and other active ingredients in powder form
Lyophilisates (freeze-dried pharmaceutical products)

Hygroscopicity and Food

Hygroscopicity is also relevant in the food industry. Many food additives, salts, and sugar compounds are hygroscopic, which affects the shelf life, texture, and quality of food products. Hygroscopic food additives such as certain humectants are deliberately used to keep products moist and pliable.

Storage of Hygroscopic Substances

Hygroscopic substances must be stored under controlled conditions to maintain their quality and effectiveness. Typical measures include:

Storage in airtight, sealed containers
Use of desiccants such as silica gel or molecular sieves
Adherence to prescribed temperature and humidity conditions as specified by the manufacturer
Climate-controlled storage facilities in pharmacies and hospitals

Clinical Relevance

It is important for both healthcare professionals and patients to understand that hygroscopic medications can lose their effectiveness if stored improperly, and in some cases may even form harmful degradation products. Patients should always follow the storage instructions on the packaging and avoid storing medications in humid environments such as bathrooms.

References

European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) - 11th Edition. European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and HealthCare (EDQM), 2023.
Aulton, M. E., Taylor, K. M. G.: Aulton's Pharmaceutics: The Design and Manufacture of Medicines. 5th Edition, Elsevier, 2017.
World Health Organization (WHO): Guidelines for Stability Testing of Pharmaceutical Products. WHO Technical Report Series, Geneva, 2009.

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