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Cetrimide

    Synonyms:  Bromat; Cetab; Cetavlon; Cetraol; cetrimidum; Lissolamine V; Micol; Morpan CHSA; Morphans; Quammonium; Sucticide.

    Description: Cetrimide is a white to creamy white, free-flowing powder, with a faint but characteristic odor and a bitter, soapy taste

    Chemical Name: Cetrimide

    Antimicrobial preservative; antiseptic; cationic surfactant; disinfectant.

    • Cetrimide is a quaternary ammonium compound that is used in cosmetics and pharmaceutical formulations as an antimicrobial preservative.

    • It may also be used as a cationic surfactant.

    • In eye-drops, it is used as a preservative at a concentration of 0.005% w/v.

    • Therapeutically, cetrimide is used in relatively high concentrations, generally as 0.1–1.0% w/v aqueous solutions, cream or spray as a topical antiseptic for skin, burns, and wounds.

    • Solutions containing up to 10% w/v cetrimide are used as shampoos to remove the scales in seborrheic dermatitis.

    • Cetrimide is also used as a cleanser and disinfectant for hard contact lenses, although it should not be used on soft lenses; as an ingredient of cetrimide emulsifying wax, and in o/w creams (e.g. cetrimide cream).

    Incompatible with soaps, anionic surfactants, high concentrations of nonionic surfactants, bentonite, iodine, phenylmercuric nitrate, alkali hydroxides, and acid dyes. Aqueous solutions react with metals.

    Most adverse effects reported relate to the therapeutic use of cetrimide. If ingested orally, cetrimide and other quaternary ammonium compounds can cause nausea, vomiting, muscle paralysis, CNS depression, and hypotension; concentrated solutions may cause esophageal damage and necrosis

    Observe normal precautions appropriate to the circumstances and quantity of material handled. Cetrimide powder and concentrated cetrimide solutions are irritant; avoid inhalation, ingestion, and skin and eye contact. Eye protection, gloves, and a respirator are recommended.

    Benzalkonium chloride; benzethonium chloride; dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide; hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide; trimethyltetradecylammonium bromide.