General Description
Synonyms: Avatech; Drakeol; heavy mineral oil; heavy liquid petrolatum; liquid petrolatum; paraffin oil; paraffinum liquidum; Sirius; white mineral oil.
Description: Mineral oil is a transparent, colorless, viscous oily liquid, without fluorescence in daylight. It is practically tasteless and odorless when cold, and has a faint odor of petroleum when heated
Chemical Name: Mineral oi
Uses
Mineral oil is used primarily as an excipient in topical pharmaceutical formulations, where its emollient properties are exploited as an ingredient in ointment bases.
It is additionally used in oil-in-water emulsions, as a solvent, and as a lubricant in capsule and tablet formulations, and to a limited extent as a moldM Mineral Oil 445 release agent for cocoa butter suppositories.
It has also been used in the preparation of microspheres and as a vaccine adjunct.
Therapeutically, mineral oil has been used as a laxative.
It is indigestible and thus has limited absorption.
Mineral oil is used in ophthalmic formulations for its lubricant properties.
It is also used in cosmetics and some food products
Incompatibilities
Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents.
Safety
Mineral oil is used as an excipient in a wide variety of pharmaceutical formulations.
It is also used in cosmetics and in some food products.
Therapeutically, mineral oil has been used in the treatment of constipation, as it acts as a lubricant and stool softener when taken orally.
Daily doses of up to 45 mL have been administered orally, while doses of up to 120 mL have been used as an enema.
However, excessive dosage of mineral oil, either orally or rectally, can result in anal seepage and irritation, and its oral use as a laxative is not considered desirable.
Chronic oral consumption of mineral oil may impair the appetite and interfere with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.
Prolonged use should be avoided.
Mineral oil is absorbed to some extent when emulsified and can lead to granulomatous reactions.
Similar reactions also occur upon injection of the oil; injection may also cause vasospasm.
The most serious adverse reaction to mineral oil is lipoid pneumonia caused by aspiration of the oil.
Mineral oil can enter the bronchial tree without eliciting the cough reflex.
With the reduction in the use of mineral oil in nasal formulations, the incidence of lipoid pneumonia has been greatly reduced.
However, lipoid pneumonia has also been associated with the use of mineral oil-containing cosmetics and ophthalmic preparations.
It is recommended that products containing mineral oil not be used in very young children, the elderly, or persons with debilitating illnesses.
Handling Precautions
Observe precautions appropriate to the circumstances and quantity of material handled. Avoid inhalation of vapors and wear protect
Related Substances
Mineral oil and lanolin alcohols; light mineral oil; paraffin; petrolatum.