system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Why is HCl prevalent in so many drugs?

I have seen variations of HCl in many drugs, ranging from allergy pills to bipolar depression medication. It seems that HCl is supplementary to the main compound (for example cetirizine), but what role does it play and why does it work with many different compounds?
gpt
HCl, Hydrochloride, is just a form in which a certain substance is given. Hydrochlorides are water-soluble and usually offer a better bioavailablity, that's why most drugs are provided as a HCl.

Every organic base (e.g. amines) can be converted to a hydrochloride by a reaction with hydrochloric acid IIRC.