Aggregation of antihistamines in aqueous solution. The effect of electrolyte on the miscellar properties of some diphenylmethane derivatives.

The effect of sodium chloride on the micellar properties of the antihistamines, dephenhydramine hydrochloride, bromodiphenhydramine hydrochloride, chlorcyclizine hydrochloride and diphenylpyraline hydrochloride in aqueous solution has been investigated by light scattering and viscometric methods. The drugs behaved as typical ionic surfactants showing an increase in aggregation number and decrease in critical micelle concentration as the electrolyte concentration was increased over the range 0.05 to 0.154 mol kg-minus1. A linear relation between log critical micelle concentration and log counterion concentration was established, from which values of the degree of ionization and the free energy of micellization were calculated. The intrinsic viscosity was decreased by the addition of electrolyte and this has been attributed to a decrease in micellar hydration due to a removal of hydrogen-bonded water.