Glycerol Interactions Overview

Check For Interactions With Glycerol

Glycerol

Also known as
  • Glycerin
  • Glycerine
Glycerol Glycerol, also known as glycerin or glycerine, is a colorless and odorless liquid that is widely used in a variety of industrial and commercial applications. It is a sugar alcohol and is also naturally occurring in the body. Glycerol is primarily used as a humectant in commercial products, which helps substances to retain moisture. It is also commonly used in food products as a sweetener and a thickening agent, and is also an ingredient in many cosmetics and personal care products, such as soaps and lotions, to help keep skin hydrated. Glycerol has a variety of medicinal uses, including as a laxative. Additionally, it is purported to help improve athletic performance by improving endurance and delaying the onset of fatigue. Glycerol can be used as a drug masking agent and is therefore banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
There are 0 drugs known to interact with Glycerol

Additional Details

Is Glycerol Safe? Are There Any Warnings?

Safety: Glycerol is generally safe when used rectally, topically, and orally in appropriate amounts. However, caution should be exercised when using intravenous glycerol, and it is prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) due to its potential to mask blood doping.

Adverse Effects: Glycerol is well tolerated orally, rectally, and topically. The most common side effects include bloating, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, burning, irritation, and pruritus. Intravenous use of glycerol may lead to hemolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

How Is Glycerol Thought To Work? What Is the Mechanism of Action?

Mechanism of Action: Glycerol is a naturally occurring trivalent alcohol that serves as a backbone for triglycerides in the body. It has various effects:

  • Glycerol has hydration effects when applied topically, preventing water loss and acting as a humectant in moisturizers.
  • In patients with meningitis, glycerol's benefits may be due to its effect on osmolality, reducing cerebrospinal fluid loss, enhancing cerebral circulation, and reducing inflammation by scavenging free radicals.
  • Glycerol has demonstrated hyperosmotic laxative activity, promoting bowel movements.
  • When used rectally, glycerol can help with constipation in both children and adults.
  • Oral glycerol may improve hydration during exercise, but its effects on athletic performance are limited and conflicting.

Pharmacokinetics

There is insufficient reliable information available about the pharmacokinetics of glycerol.

Interaction Overview

Interactions with Drugs: No known interactions.

Interactions with Supplements: No known interactions.

Interactions with Conditions: No known interactions.

Interactions with Lab Tests: No known interactions.

Common Side Effects To Watch For

Monitor for bloating, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, burning, irritation, and pruritus. If any concerns arise, seek medical attention.

Are Supplements Standardized?

There is currently insufficient reliable information available regarding the standardization of glycerol supplements.

Drugs that interact with Glycerol

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Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

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