Macrogol as API

Product description

Polyethylene glycol (PEG), as pharmaceutical substance well known under the name Macrogol, is used as an osmotic-type laxative to treat constipation or to clear the colon before coloscopy.

Polyethylene glycols are polymers of ethylene oxide with the following chemical structure:

HOCH2-[CH2-CH2 -O]n-CH2OH (n: average number of EO-units).

Within the pharmaceutical industry the number included in the names of polyethylene glycols

indicates the average molecular weight.

PEGs with a molecular weight up to 400 are non-volatile, clear, viscous, colourless or almost colourless hygroscopic liquids at 25C. They are used as drops, parenterals and fillings for gelatin capsules.

Polyethylene glycols with a molecular weight above 3000 are white or almost white solids with a waxy or paraffin like appearance and available as powder. They are used as ointment bases, tablet bindings, film coatings and lubricants.

Macrogol 3350 & Macrogol 4000, widely used as active ingredients, have the ability to bind a

defined amount of water, which is transmitted immediately into the large intestine.

There it softens the stool and increases the stool volume, which leads to a stimulation of

intestinal peristalsis and increases the number of bowel movements.

Supplier

Country availability

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey