Liquid paraffin (drug)

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Paraffinum liquidum
Liquid paraffin in bottle.jpg
Liquid paraffin in a bottle
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Topical, oral
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Formula C
n
H
2n+2

Liquid paraffin, also known as paraffinum liquidum, paraffin oil, liquid paraffin oil or Russian mineral oil, is a very highly refined mineral oil used in cosmetics and medicine. Cosmetic or medicinal liquid paraffin should not be confused with the paraffin (i.e. kerosene) used as a fuel. The generic sense of paraffin meaning alkane led to regional differences for the meanings of both paraffin and paraffin oil. It is a transparent, colorless, nearly odorless, and oily liquid that is composed of saturated hydrocarbons derived from petroleum. [1]

Contents

The term paraffinum perliquidum is sometimes used to denote light liquid paraffin, while the term paraffinum subliquidum is sometimes used to denote a thicker mineral oil.

History

Petroleum is said to have been used as a medicine since 400 BC, and has been mentioned in the texts of classical writers Herodotus, Plutarch, Dioscorides, Pliny, and others. [2] It was used extensively by early Arabians and was important in early Indian medicine. Its first use internally is attributed to Robert A. Chesebrough, who patented it in 1872 for the manufacture of a "new and useful product from petroleum." [1] After Sir W. Arbuthnot Lane, who was then Chief Surgeon of Guy's Hospital, recommended it as a treatment for intestinal stasis and chronic constipation in 1913, liquid paraffin gained more popularity.[ citation needed ]

Usage in medicine

Liquid paraffin is primarily used as a pediatric laxative in medicine and is a popular treatment for constipation and encopresis. [1] Because of its ease of titration, the drug is convenient to synthesize. It acts primarily as a stool lubricant, and is thus not associated with abdominal cramps, diarrhea, flatulence, disturbances in electrolytes, or tolerance over long periods of usage, side effects that osmotic and stimulant laxatives often engender (however, some literature suggests that these may still occur). [1] [3] The drug acts by softening the feces and coats the intestine with an oily film. [4] Because of this it reduces the pain caused by certain conditions such as piles (haemorrhoids). These traits make the drug ideal for chronic childhood constipation and encopresis, when large doses or long-term usage is necessary. [1]

Consensus has not been entirely reached on the safety of the drug for children. While the drug is widely accepted for the management of childhood constipation in North America and Australia, the drug is used much less in the United Kingdom. [1] The drug is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the North American Society for Gastroenterology and Nutrition, with the latter organization outlining it as a first choice for the management of pediatric constipation. [1] The drug is suggested to never be used in cases in which the patient is neurologically impaired or has a potential swallowing dysfunction due to potential respiration complications. Lipoid pneumonia due to mineral oil aspiration is thus a recognized severe complication of this medication, and there is a need for a heightened awareness among caregivers about the potential dangers of inappropriate mineral oil use. [5] Some go as far as saying that it should never be used with children due to this risk. [4]

Liquid paraffin is also used in combination with magnesium as an osmotic laxative, sold under the trade name Mil-Par (among others). [6]

Additionally, it may be used as a release agent, binder, or lubricant on capsules and tablets. [7]

Usage in cosmetics

Liquid paraffin is a hydrating and cleansing agent. Hence, it is used in several cosmetics both for skin and hair products. It is also used as one of the ingredients of after wax wipes. [ citation needed ]

Health

Paraffin in beaker Liquid paraffin in beaker.jpg
Paraffin in beaker

Upon being taken orally, liquid paraffin might interfere with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, though evidence does not seem to fully support this. [8] It can be absorbed into the intestinal wall [4] and may cause foreign-body granulomatous reactions in some rat species. These reactions might not occur in humans, however. [9] Some evidence suggests that it engenders a lack of carcinogenicity. [10] If liquid paraffin enters the lungs, it can cause lipoid pneumonia. [4]

If injected, it can cause granulomatous reactions. [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Constipation</span> Bowel dysfunction

Constipation is a bowel dysfunction that makes bowel movements infrequent or hard to pass. The stool is often hard and dry. Other symptoms may include abdominal pain, bloating, and feeling as if one has not completely passed the bowel movement. Complications from constipation may include hemorrhoids, anal fissure or fecal impaction. The normal frequency of bowel movements in adults is between three per day and three per week. Babies often have three to four bowel movements per day while young children typically have two to three per day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laxative</span> Agents that relax and loosen the bowels and stools

Laxatives, purgatives, or aperients are substances that loosen stools and increase bowel movements. They are used to treat and prevent constipation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mineral oil</span> Liquid mixture of higher alkanes from a mineral source, particularly a distillate of petroleum

Mineral oil is any of various colorless, odorless, light mixtures of higher alkanes from a mineral source, particularly a distillate of petroleum, as distinct from usually edible vegetable oils.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Petroleum jelly</span> Chemical substance used as a lubricating agent and topical ointment

Petroleum jelly, petrolatum, white petrolatum, soft paraffin, or multi-hydrocarbon, CAS number 8009-03-8, is a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons, originally promoted as a topical ointment for its healing properties. Vaseline has been an American brand of petroleum jelly since 1870.

Encopresis is voluntary or involuntary passage of feces outside of toilet-trained contexts in children who are four years or older and after an organic cause has been excluded. Children with encopresis often leak stool into their undergarments.

Functional constipation, also known as chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC), is defined by less than three bowel movements per week, hard stools, severe straining, the sensation of anorectal blockage, the feeling of incomplete evacuation, and the need for manual maneuvers during feces, without organic abnormalities. Many illnesses, including endocrine, metabolic, neurological, mental, and gastrointestinal obstructions, can cause constipation as a secondary symptom. When there is no such cause, functional constipation is diagnosed.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bisacodyl</span> Laxative

Bisacodyl (INN) is an organic compound that is used as a stimulant laxative drug. It works directly on the colon to produce a bowel movement. It is typically prescribed for relief of episodic and chronic constipation and for the management of neurogenic bowel dysfunction, as well as part of bowel preparation before medical examinations, such as for a colonoscopy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sodium picosulfate</span> Chemical compound

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Vaseline is an American brand of petroleum jelly-based products owned by transnational company Unilever. Products include plain petroleum jelly and a selection of skin creams, soaps, lotions, cleansers, and deodorants.

Paraffin may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macrogol</span> Medication for constipation, classified as an osmotic laxative

Macrogol, also known as polyethylene glycol (PEG), is used as a medication to treat constipation in children and adults. It is taken by mouth. Benefits usually occur within three days. Generally it is only recommended for up to two weeks. It is also used as an excipient. It is also used to clear the bowels before a colonoscopy, when the onset of the laxative effect is more rapid, typically within an hour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Docusate</span> Laxatives/stool softeners

Docusate is the common chemical and pharmaceutical name of the anion bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate, also commonly called dioctyl sulfosuccinate (DOSS).

Co-danthrusate is a combination of dantron and docusate. Dantron is a mild peristaltic stimulant which acts on the lower bowel to encourage normal bowel movement without causing irritation. It belongs to the group of medicines under the term stimulant laxative. It stimulates the nerves in the stomach wall, which causes the stomach muscles to contract. This medicine is used for analgesic-induced constipation. It takes six to twelve hours to work. This can cause discoloration of urine and bowel and liver tumors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fire breather's pneumonia</span> Medical condition

Fire breather's pneumonia is a distinct type of exogenous—that is, originating outside the body—lipoid pneumonia that results from inhalation or aspiration of hydrocarbons of different types, such as lamp oil. Accidental inhalation of hydrocarbon fuels can occur during fire breathing, fire eating, or other fire performance, and may lead to pneumonitis.

Sodium citrate/sodium lauryl sulfoacetate/glycerol sold under the brandname Microlax and Micolette Micro enema, among others, is a small tube of liquid gel that is used to treat constipation.

Constipation in children refers to the medical condition of constipation in children. It is a functional gastrointestinal disorder.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Sharif F, Crushell E, O'Driscoll K, Bourke B (August 2001). "Liquid paraffin: a reappraisal of its role in the treatment of constipation". Archives of Disease in Childhood. 85 (2): 121–4. doi:10.1136/adc.85.2.121. PMC   1718886 . PMID   11466186.
  2. "Liquid Petroleum or "Russian Mineral Oil" *". Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association. 3 (7): 1013–1018. 1914-07-01. doi:10.1002/jps.3080030718. ISSN   0095-9553.
  3. Gordon M, MacDonald JK, Parker CE, Akobeng AK, Thomas AG (August 2016). "Osmotic and stimulant laxatives for the management of childhood constipation". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2018 (8): CD009118. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009118.pub3. PMC   6513425 . PMID   27531591.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Nathan A (2010). Non-prescription Medicines. Pharmaceutical Press. ISBN   9780853698869.
  5. Weinstein M (March 2001). "First do no harm: The dangers of mineral oil". Paediatrics & Child Health. 6 (3): 129–31. doi:10.1093/pch/6.3.129. PMC   2804525 . PMID   20084222.
  6. "Magnesium & Liquid Paraffin". Patient UK. Archived from the original on 2009-04-14.
  7. "Section 172.878, White mineral oil, of Title 21 of the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations". Government Publishing Office. 19 September 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  8. Gal-Ezer S, Shaoul R (November 2006). "The safety of mineral oil in the treatment of constipation--a lesson from prolonged overdose". Clinical Pediatrics. 45 (9): 856–8. doi:10.1177/0009922806295285. PMID   17041175. S2CID   690845.
  9. Fleming KA, Zimmerman H, Shubik P (February 1998). "Granulomas in the livers of humans and fischer rats associated with the ingestion of mineral hydrocarbons: A comparison". Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. 27 (1 Pt 2): 75–81. doi:10.1006/rtph.1997.1109. PMID   9618325.
  10. Shoda T, Toyoda K, Uneyama C, Takada K, Takahashi M (December 1997). "Lack of carcinogenicity of medium-viscosity liquid paraffin given in the diet to F344 rats". Food and Chemical Toxicology. 35 (12): 1181–90. doi:10.1016/S0278-6915(97)00105-1. PMID   9449224.
  11. Sejben I, Rácz A, Svébis M, Patyi M, Cserni G (August 2012). "Petroleum jelly-induced penile paraffinoma with inguinal lymphadenitis mimicking incarcerated inguinal hernia". Canadian Urological Association Journal. 6 (4): E137-9. doi:10.5489/cuaj.11146 (inactive 2024-09-12). PMC   3430719 . PMID   23093564.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of September 2024 (link)