Parabens (methylparaben and propylparaben) are large spectrum antimicrobial drugs, hydro soluble, insipid, colorless and odorless. Those characteristics make them as a substance needed in the formulation of medications. Parabens have not only been used in pharmaceutical, more about organic chemicals in medicine in Uses of Oganic Chemistry in Medicine, but also in food and cosmetics for over 50 years.
In pharmaceutical world, propylparaben has its use as an excipient. The definition of excipient is that Parabens (methylparaben and propylparaben) is an inactive constituent, this is a substance without therapeutic power. Parabens (methylparaben and propylparaben) is used to guarantee stability, physicochemical and organoleptic properties of pharmaceutical products.
As an excipient, propylparaben belongs to preservatives. Its chemical formula is C10H12O3. See Examples of Organic Compounds and Uses. Propylparaben can be softly absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract and skin and its metabolites are rapidly excreted in the urine.
All parabens, including propylparaben, have similar structure to estrogen. Studies said that traces of parabens are found in breast tumors. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), you can read more about chemicals in cosmetics in Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetic Ingredients by FDA, reviewed the safety of propylparaben in 1984 and concluded the safe use at level not more than 25%. Propylparaben is often used at levels ranging from 0.01 to 0.3%. More about propylparaben pharmaceutical uses can be seen in the list below.
Here is the full list of propylparaben pharmaceutical uses:
1. Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and fever reducer. Acetaminophen common used to treat many conditions such as headache, muscle aches, arthritis, backache, toothaches, colds and fevers. You should not use this medication if you are allergic to it or have several liver diseases.
Some signs of an allergic reaction to acetaminophen that you may have are hives, breathing problems, swollen face, lips, tongue or throat. It also may cause a severe skin reaction that can be fatal. Other side effects that you may face are nausea, dark urine and yellowing of the skin and eyes.
2. Antacid
Antacid, also known as Alka-Seltzer fruit chews, is a class of medicine that neutralize acid in the stomach. It may be rare, but you should take a note that some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking this drug. It may cause allergic reaction and very hard stools (constipation).
There are several symptoms which may lead you to the bad side effect such as rash, hives, swollen, peeling skin without fever, trouble breathing, and more. Some very rare cases are loss of appetite, urticaria, renal impairment and continuous headache. It varies in each person.
3. Amoxicillin
Amoxicillin is a type of penicillin antibiotics that fights bacteria. People tend to call it as antibiotic. This antibiotic is used to treat many different type caused by bacteria, such as tonsillitis, bronchitis, pneumonia and more. The combination of amoxicillin along with Biaxin and a stomach acid reducer is used to treat stomach ulcers caused by helicobacter pylori infection.
You better not to take this medication if you are allergic to any penicillin antibiotics such as ampicillin and penicillin. The use of antibiotics can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of new infection. If you have watery or bloody diarrhea, you must stop taking the medicine. Signs of allergic that you may face are hives, breathing problems and swelling on face, tongue or throat.
4. Bisacodyl
Bisacodyl is an oral and rectal medication. The most famous brands of this medicine in Indonesia are Dulcolax Laxative and Dulcogen. Bisacodyl, a laxative, a drug that stimulates bowel movement.
The use of Bisacodyl is to treat constipation, empty the bowels before surgery and intestinal medical procedure. People with stomach pain, nausea and vomiting should not use this drug. Meanwhile, women who are breast-feeding a baby or pregnant should take this medicine with doctor’s advice. Side effects that may be caused by Bisacodyl are rectal bleeding, stomach paint, feeling light-headed and rectal burning.
5. Vimovo
Vimovo is used to treat symptoms of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Besides propylparaben, the drug also contains a combination of esomeprazole and naproxen. While esomeprazole helps decreasing the amount of acid produced in the stomach, naproxen may increase risk of fatal heart attack or stroke. You may want to read Common Chemicals Used in Medicine.
The common Vimovo’s side effects are stomach discomfort and diarrhea. Meanwhile, signs of an allergic reaction to Vimovo are runny nose, trouble breathing, swelling throat, etc. Other side effect is heart attack which has signs such as chest pain, sudden weakness on one side of the body, short of breath and more.
6. Phrenilin Forte
Next in the list of propylparaben pharmaceutical uses is phrenilin forte. Its main function is to treat tension headaches. Some common side effects of this medication are dizziness, feeling sleepy, belly pain and upset stomach or throwing up. Note that many people may also have no side effects or only have minor side effects.
7. Chlorpromazine
Chlorpromazine is actually in a group of drugs called phenothiazines. It is an anti-psychotic medication working by changing the actions of chemicals in our brain. Chlorpromazine is used by psychotic disorder patients such as manic depression and to treat severe behavioral problems in children. Side effects that may happen vary from allergic reaction to serious movement disorder.
8. Benzonatate
Benzonatate is a non-narcotic cough medicine. It is used to relieve coughing. The mechanism of this medication is that it numbs the throat and lungs, making the cough reflex less active. Several side effects are serious such as choking feeling, chest pain, feeling like pass out, hallucinations and confusion.
Common side effects also exist including headache, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, mild itching and skin rash. It is less serious than other effects.
More Propylparaben Pharmaceutical Uses
Here is the full list of propylparaben pharmaceutical uses:
- Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide
- Phenylephrine Hydrochloride
- Amantadine Hydrochloride
- Aspirin
- Anafranil
- Ceftin
- Cyclobenzaprine Hydrochlorise
- Dipyridamole
- Disopyramide Phospate
- Ergocalciferol
- Lescol
- Oxazepam
- Sennosides
- Tetracycline Hydrochloridr
- Verapamil Hydrochloride
- Verelan
- Zenatane
Those are 25 medicines which use propylparaben in its ingredients. From the list above, we can see that it is widely used in pharmaceutical world, ranging from cough syrups up to rectal medicines. Yet, we should aware that they also have various side effects.