Adult: For dry tickly cough: As 15% v/v syr: 5-10 mL 3-4 times daily. Child: As 15% v/v syr: 3 months to <1 year 5 mL 3-4 times daily; 1-5 years Same as adult dose.
Rectal Constipation
Adult: As supp: 2-3 g once daily as needed. Child: 2-<6 years 1-1.2 g once daily as needed; ≥6 years 2-2.1 g once daily as needed.
Topical/Cutaneous Hydrate and soften skin
Adult: As 25% or 40% w/w cream: Apply regularly to affected areas. Child: Same as adult dose.
Incompatibility
Forms explosive mixture with strong oxidising agent. May result in black discolouration when combined with zinc oxide or bismuth subnitrate.
Special Precautions
Patient with hypervolaemia, cardiac failure, renal disease, dehydration, diabetes mellitus. Treatment with a cough medicine in children (especially under 1 year old) should be considered carefully due to potential risks and limited evidence on efficacy. Pregnancy and lactation.
Adverse Reactions
Cardiac disorders: Cardiac arrhythmia, circulatory overload, heart failure. Gastrointestinal disorders: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, thirst, abdominal cramp, rectal irritation/discomfort, tenesmus, rectal mucosal erosion. General disorders and administration site conditions: Application site reaction (e.g. burning sensation, erythema, pain, pruritus, rash, irritation). Metabolism and nutrition disorders: Hyperglycaemia, dehydration. Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders: Rectal tenesmus. Nervous system disorders: Dizziness, headache (oral). Psychiatric disorders: Mental confusion. Renal and urinary disorders: Glycosuria. Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders: Severe pulmonary oedema. Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Exacerbation of eczema and dry skin.
Overdosage
Symptoms: Headache, thirst, nausea, vomiting, hyperglycaemia, dehydration, diarrhoea, dizziness, mental confusion and cardiac arrhythmia. Management: Symptomatic and supportive treatment. Perform gastric lavage for recent ingestion.
Action
Description: Mechanism of Action: Glycerol is an osmotic dehydrating agent with hygroscopic and lubricating properties which increases plasma osmolality, resulting in the movement of water from extravascular spaces into the plasma through osmosis. It has a demulcent property which possibly blocks sensory cough receptors in the respiratory tract. Synonym: glycerin. Pharmacokinetics: Absorption: Readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract (oral). Poorly absorbed (rectal). Metabolism: Extensively metabolised in the liver into glucose or glycogen or oxidised to carbon dioxide and water. Excretion: Mainly via urine, as unchanged drug.
Chemical Structure
Glycerol Source: National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Database. Glycerol, CID=753, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Glycerol (accessed on Jan. 22, 2020)
Storage
Store below 25°C. Protect rectal suppository from heat.
A06AG04 - glycerol ; Belongs to the class of enemas. Used in the treatment of constipation. A06AX01 - glycerol ; Belongs to the class of other laxatives.
References
Anon. Glycerin. Lexicomp Online. Hudson, Ohio. Wolters Kluwer Clinical Drug Information, Inc. https://online.lexi.com. Accessed 29/05/2017.Anon. Hyperosmotic Laxatives. AHFS Clinical Drug Information [online]. Bethesda, MD. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. https://www.ahfscdi.com. Accessed 29/05/2017.Buckingham R (ed). Glycerol. Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference [online]. London. Pharmaceutical Press. https://www.medicinescomplete.com. Accessed 29/05/2017.Joint Formulary Committee. Glycerol (Glycerin). British National Formulary [online]. London. BMJ Group and Pharmaceutical Press. https://www.medicinescomplete.com. Accessed 29/05/2017.Walgreens Adult Glycerin Laxative (Walgreens). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/. Accessed 29/05/2017.Walgreens Children Glycerin Laxative (Walgreens). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/. Accessed 29/05/2017.
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