the present invention utilizes the reaction of monobasic sodium phosphate monohydrate and sodium bicarbonate in water to produce dibasic sodium phosphate monohydrate , carbon dioxide ( which dissipates ) and water , according to the following equation : an excess of monobasic sodium phosphate monohydrate is used to react with a calculated amount of sodium bicarbonate so that with the addition of water the amount of dibasic sodium phosphate required by the nf monograph for sodium phosphate oral solution is produced . the reaction product is a buffer system of monobasic sodium phosphate and dibasic sodium phosphate . a non - gas producing powder pineapple flavoring formula is added . all components are in powder form and are mixed well together , so that a homogeneous mixture ensures before the addition of water . the final solution has a pleasant odor and taste . a laxative dose suitably consists of 126 g nah 2 po 4 h 2 o and 1 . 27 g nahco 3 . a patient is required to take twice the laxative dose for purgative purposes . the product can be marketed as is , in powder form , or , if mixed with tableting excipients , as a tablet . the reaction of sodium bicarbonate with excess monobasic sodium phosphate will produce the dibasic sodium phosphate in the amount described by the n . f . monograph . a major advantage over the n . f . monograph formulation is the taste of the present formulation . masking of the salty taste of the unflavored formulation is complete . when the reaction with water is complete , a pleasant tasting pineapple drink is the final product . the flavoring system used here , is a non - gas producing formula , an important factor for use of the product as a purgative . ______________________________________ingredients amount ( g / dose ) percent______________________________________1 ) monobasic sodium phosphate 12 . 6 86 . 9 monohydrate2 ) sodium bicarbonate 1 . 3 8 . 963 ) pineapple flavor 0 . 25 1 . 724 ) magnasweet 185 0 . 3 2 . 075 ) sodium saccharin 0 . 05 0 . 34 dihydrate ( u . s . p . ) ______________________________________ magnasweet 185 is a sweetening composition based on glycyrrhizic acid , available from mcandrews and forbes co ., camden , n . j . ( 1 ) ingredients ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) were blended together using a mortar and pestle . ( 2 ) ingredients ( 3 ), ( 4 ) and ( 5 ) were blended together using a different mortar and pestle . ( 3 ) the flavoring mixture , i . e . pineapple flavor , magnasweet 185 and sodium saccharine dihydrate blend from step ( 2 ), was then added to the mortar that contained the salt blend from step 1 and everything was blended together . in use , the final formula is added to 8 . 0 oz . of water ( 120 ml ), as required for the laxative dose . effervescence starts immediately , and with a little stirring the reaction goes to completion within two minutes . slight mixing , as by a teaspoon , speeds the reaction . to prepare the composition of this invention in effervescent tablet form , ingredients ( 1 ) through ( 5 ) are blended with tableting excipients appropriate for effervescent tablets . a binder to help cohesion of the individual ingredients and a lubricant to help compression and speed production , are both necessary for a successful tablet formulation . lubricants that can be used are : sodium lauryl sulfate , micronized polyethylene glycol 8000 , stearic acid and its magnesium and calcium salts , sodium benzoate , sterotax and polyvinyl - pyrrolidone . binders that can be used include pregelatinized starch , sugar - tab , granular di - pak and polyvinylpyrrolidone . in the absence of a suitable binder , ingredients ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) can be manipulated by wet granulation or cohesion through heating to help the binding of the tablet . inert excipient like binders and lubricants may affect the effervescence of the tablet . a small quantity of an edible organic acid such as citric or malic acid may be used to help initiate the reaction with sodium bicarbonate . the effervescent tablets and powders may be packaged in aluminum lined paper containers . such packets are economical and easier to ship , store and generally handle than plastic bottles filled with solution that one still has to dilute . although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof , many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art . therefore , the present invention is to be limited not by the specific disclosure herein , but only by the appended claims .
a laxative composition in powder or tablet form , having a pleasant odor and taste . the composition comprises sodium bicarbonate , monobasic sodium phosphate in stoichiometric excess , and a pineapple flavoring composition containing also magnasweet 185 and sodium saccharin . a minor amount of citric or malic acid may be present .