I am VERY allergic to polyethylene glycol and sodium laurel sulfate. I have had severe breathing problems, and headaches as well as tightness in the chest, swelling of the mouth, throat gums, lips and anaphalaxis. So far I have found that Claritan, Zyrtec, AllerD, Benadryl and Xyzal all have P.E.G. in them. I have had a very stubborn virus for 3 weeks now with a very runny post nasal drip, that is aggravating my throat, lungs and bronchi. Have been unable to find a decongestant/expectorant without P.E.G. Any ideas? Thanks.
Ethylene Glycol Poisoning - What antihistamines do NOT have polyethelene glycol in them?
- Posted:
- 27 Feb 2011 by Kermit88
- Topics:
- decongestant cold formula, allergic asthma, headache, allergic reactions, ethylene glycol poisoning, polyethylene glycol 3350/propylene glycol, swelling, mouth, lips, throat
Details:
Responses (6)
Mary63200927 Feb 2011
You have me very confused. Antihistamines as far as I can tell do not contain polyethelene glycol. Poyethelene glyhol is used for constipation as a bowel excuvant. I take actifed which has to be signed for at the pharmacy counter because it's ingredients are used to make cocaine. No prescription, just signed for.The actifed contains triprolidine & pseudoephedrine. I looked several more antihistamines & none contain a laxative. Think you have the wrong information. Put the indredients you are concerned about into the search box on the heading above, & do some research. Good luck to you... (and oh, Actifed helps running noses dry up etc... )
suzanne6627 Feb 2011
According to the FDA monograph Claritin tablets do not contain PEG
This from http://www.drugs.com/pro/claritin.html
"Inactive Ingredients
Ingredient Name
starch, corn
lactose monohydrate
magnesium stearate "
You could always double check with the manufacturer.
Schering-Plough,
2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ 07033-0530
Contact Details
Phone: (908) 298-4000
Website: http://www.schering-plough.com/
2 Mar 2011
It depends on the manufacturer for Claritin - the generic, made by SAMs club is glycol-free, as well as the CVS brand, I believe. I don't know about the sodium laurel sulfate - you just have to look everywhere to check every manufacturer. There is no blanket statement that applies to these ingredients - they are inactive ingredients, so companies can use them at will to make up the components of their medications.
7 Mar 2011
Pseudoephedrine is a main component in many antihistamines. Please read http://www.drugs.com/monograph/pseudoephedrine.html for a long list of cold remedies containing this ingredient. In the chart at the bottom of the page, under "Preparations" you will see clearly that many of the products listed under pseudoephedrine contain polyethylene glycol in them also.
Therefore, with both acetamenophen (also containing P.G. - see other comments in this section) and psuedoephedrine as major components of many cold remedies, I have to approach all cold remedies and/or antihistamines containing either one or both of these ingredients, as having the possibility of containing polyethylene glycol. These would then have to be researched individually.
ElizaJane23
9 Mar 2011
I just don't see that kermit - I've looked at the reference for acetaminophen you cited, and this one for Pseudoephedrine - just because glycols are present in other related medications, you can't automatically assume each individual ingredient ALWAYS contains glycols. It's what the individual manufacturer puts in as inactive ingredients, which basically boils down to money. I've found by checking a product by the individual manufacturer I've been able to trust whether glycols are present or not. By your assumption that these ingredients have glycols in them, you might as well assume that all medications (and foods, and topicals) have glycols in them. There comes a point where you have to find things you can use - or you go completely without. I need medications - and I've not had reactions to products that don't list glycols in their inactive ingredients. My opinion, my life, I know...
Kermit88
9 Mar 2011
Eliza Jane: In my comment, "I have to approach all cold remedies and/or antihistamines containing either one or both of these ingredients, as having the POSSIBILITY of containing polyethylene glycol. These would then have to be researched INDIVIDUALLY." I meant to convey that when I see on a label that acetamenophin and pseudoephredrine are present, in either an over-the-counter preparation or prescription, that I am always cautious and check the individual active and inactive ingredients in that particular medicine more carefully. I am aware that they do not ALWAYS contain the glycols, but I check them out extra carefully, and certainly don't take that particular remedy without checking into each one of them specifically.
9 Mar 2011
Kermit, I had to go out today, so I stopped & bought a box of the allergy ie Actifed I was talking about. Here is the info:
Name of Seller: HEALTHCARE (by a local "Everythings a dollar Store")
Called: Allerfed Cold & Allergy Tablets
Box of 24 tablets, Price $1.00
Drug Facts: Active ingredients in each tablet: Chlorpheniramine maleate 4mg & Phenylephrine HCI 10mg
Inactive Ingredients: croscarmellose sodium, lactose,magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, silica gel, stearic acid
If you need the rest of the info as uses & interreactions with other medications etc., Warnings, & so on, let me know. Also let me know if you can take this.
On the end of the box says is distrbuted by:
Great Lakes Wholesale & marketing L.L.C., Grand Rapids, MI 49512
Hope this helps you out, please reply
Mary632009
9 Mar 2011
Also, after reading your comment on Pseudoephedrine; the front of the box specificly state "Pseudoephedrine FREE". Mary
Kermit88
9 Mar 2011
Mary: Thanks so much for your information. I will contact the manufacturer and see where I can purchase this product in my area. This seems to be very constuctive information. I would like to collect a list of products that CURRENTLY seem to be free of glycols and post them here, for others that are having this allergic issue.
If you don't mind, I will include a reference to your product suggestion here and augment it with a link, if I can find one on the manufacturer's site, to where to find the product in anyone else's local area. I will also combine it with products found by ElizaJane, and ones I find, so that there will be an ongoing list of cold remedies. Don't have time to start it today, but perhaps tomorrow. Again, thanks for your information, very helpful!! Perhaps I can use it the next time I am having a cold!
Monk1953
linabella19 Apr 2012
Kermit, a compounding pharmacist is the most knowledgeable about what is in medications. Beware of all ingredients, unfortunately you have to look up all the ingredients listed to find out what makes up each ingredient. My daughter was in the er 4 times in 6 mo. (last time she started to have a seizure) for this allergy and no one really believes it. I figured it out and began removing as much exposure as I could. All natural laundry soap, shampoo, foods, etc. her sensitivity has decreased greatly. I have motrin compounded without it cost .50 a pill and got her a medical id also. All of the medications I give her to releive the severe hives has some peg (benadryl, pepcid etc). Good luck.
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.
Similar questions
Polyethylene Glycol 3350 - After a normal bowel movement I sometimes leak a little. Is this because?
... the dosage is too much?
1 answer • 3 Feb 2010 • 
Polyethylene Glycol 3350 With Electrolytes - I have been drinking the Gavilyte-G for 2 hours and?
... have not produced a bowl movement. Could I have another problem?
1 answer • 21 Apr 2010 •
Does Meloxicam have polyethylene glycol in it as a binder?
I am allergic to polyethylene glycol it causes a rash, slurred speech, a sensation in my mouth like it has gone to sleep and since taking these pills ...
1 answer • 20 May 2010 •
What blood pressure medicines do NOT include polyethylene glycol?
I am severely allergic to polyethylene glycol with the following symptoms when ingested in medicines or used in cosmetic preparations : rash; hives; ...
4 answers • 10 Feb 2011 • 1 star
Polyethylene Glycol 3350 - is it any relationship between "polyethylene-glycol" and whitish?
... discoloration of hair(head or face
1 answer • 2 Dec 2011 •
Mary, these two ingredients are "inactive ingredients", so they are not listed under the active ingredients. Propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol are used in many, many different kinds of medications as preservatives, stabilizers, ingredients to make things sift better, not cake, ingredients for inks sprayed on the capsules, etc. They are in all kinds of foods, lotions, shampoos, makeup - you name it, there is a possibility that a glycol is in it, or has been used to make it. It's a very difficult allergy to have, I know, I've been allergic to it for the past 16 years.
Thanks for the info!
Mary, Actifed has three ingredients, acetaminophen, pseudoephedrine, and triprolidine. Acetamenophen has polyethylene glycol in it. While P.G. is used in MANY laxatives, it is also contained in many other products as well. I have used the search method you described many times to make sure of the ingredients in the medicines I purchase, both by prescription, but also over the counter. It is literally a matter of life and death for me. But, thanks for your comment. I appreciate your effort on my behalf.
I just re-read all the info on Actifed & did not find these ingrediants. I post below from Drugs A - Z :
Pronunciation: soo-doe-e-FED-rin/try-PRO-li-deen
Generic Name: Pseudoephedrine/Triprolidin
Actifed is used for:
Temporarily relieving symptoms of hay fever, allergies, or the common cold, including nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, itching of the nose and throat, and itchy/watery eyes. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Actifed is an antihistamine and decongestant combination. The antihistamine works by blocking the action of histamine, which helps reduce symptoms such as watery eyes and sneezing. The decongestant promotes sinus and nasal drainage, relieving congestion and pressure.
Expand this post...
Do NOT use Actifed if:
you are allergic to any ingredient in Actifed
you are taking droxidopa or sodium oxybate (GHB), or you have taken furazolidone or a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor (eg, phenelzine) within the past 14 days
you have severe high blood pressure or severe heart disease (eg, coronary artery disease, ischemic heart disease)
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Actifed:
Some medical conditions may interact with Actifed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
if you have glaucoma or increased pressure in the eyes; high blood pressure; diabetes; heart or blood vessel disease; overactive thyroid; seizures; blockage of the stomach, bowel, or bladder; trouble breathing when you sleep; trouble sleeping; a breathing problem (eg, asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis); the blood disease porphyria; or an enlarged prostate or prostate disease; or if you have difficulty urinating
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Actifed. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially if any of the following apply to you:
Furazolidone or MAO inhibitors (eg, phenelzine) because side effects such as severe headache, high blood pressure, or high fever may occur
Bromocriptine or sodium oxybate ( GHB) because the risk of side effects or toxic effects may be increased by Actifed
Guanethidine, guanadrel, mecamylamine, methyldopa, or reserpine because their effectiveness may be decreased by Actifed.
Droxidopa because side effects such as irregular heartbeat or heart attack may occur
Urinary alkalinizers (eg, sodium bicarbonate) because the side effects of Actifed may be increased
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Actifed may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
Eliza Jane may be right. so check with your health provider.
Mary, if you visit this link http://www.drugs.com/mtm/actifed-cold-and-sinus.html you will see that the first line under the words "Actifed Cold and Sinus" includes the names of the items listed at the beginning my previous comment.
kermit, ok, & thanks. I'm not real bright at 5AM. Sorry. Mary
Kermit you found out that all makers of acetaminophen have glycols in it? Is it used in the processing somehow, because I've never seen it listed? As you know, that's crucial for me to know. I don't ever use it, thank God, because I didnt know all acetaminophen had it in it. Just like I'm glad I don't drink coffee,as I found they use glycols to make it sift better. Now that's not listed anywhere either. Frustrating!
Mary, you don't understand. Most times you have to research by the individual manufacturer, or if it's over the counter, look on the actual box for the inactive ingredients. Health care providers have no wAy of knowing this - we are dependent on our own research to keep us alive and breathing.
Eliza Jane, have done so & didn't find those ingredients. Sorry. Maybe it just the one I'm taking???
Could be - does it list inactive ingredients? If so, and there are no glycols listed, perhaps you've found a brand that is glycol-free, which is what Kermit is looking for. Check for inactive ingredients and if there are no glycols, let Kermit know the manufacturer and where you bought it. That would be a find!
ElizaJane and Mary: I have found that usually in the "professional monograph" areas for each drug on this site have the most detailed information on each drug. For acetamenophen at http://www.drugs.com/pro/propoxyphene-and-acetaminophen-tablets.html under the end of first section on acetamenophen tablets description, you will see that it lists polyethylene glycol. Now, that means that the tablets contain it. It doesn't necessarily mean that every product containing acetamenophen also contains it; but for me, that is enough of a warning not to take anything with acetamenophen in it, unless proven otherwise.
However, my doctor at the ER recently checked Claritin for polyethylene glycol and told me that it was in Claritin. He also checked all the others that he would usually prescribe as antihistamines, mentioned earlier, and they all had it in them.
ElizaJane and Mary: When I went to the Claritin site, and looked at the actual labels on the various types of Claritin, some of them did not include P.G. However, since many of them did contain it, without further research and calling the manufacturer, I cannot assume that it is NOT in the other versions. A health practitioner told me that the FDA requires that an ingredient be listed if it contains a certain weight percentage of the total product. In other words, if there is not enough of it in a given product, according to the FDA definition, they don't have to list it on the label. So, even labels cannot necessarily be trusted.
Expand this post...
In the case of Claritin, it may well be that some of the products contain a weight sufficient to list it, while others contain less than the amount required to list it. Since so many of the Claritin products do include it on the label, unless proven otherwise, I have to suspect (for my safety) that it is in the other products also, just to a lesser percentage. This is not necessarily a logical conclusion, but it works for me until proven otherwise.
I take Claritin every day - the manufacturer for SAMs Club and Cvs doesn't list any glycols, and I've been able to tolerate it. I've done well with checking for inactive ingredients, evidently I can tolerate the little bit in inks, sprays, etc that are so small they don't have to be listed. Every once in awhile, I get my "glycol" migraine and know Ive gotten a little, no matter how careful I am. As long as I'm still breathing I'm ok
Believe me I read labels like you wouldn't believe as I have food allergies, dye, preservatives , meds etc..plus all the other enviromental things. I didn't happen to have a box here today, as we recycle cardboard & hubby removed it & threw it away. I will let you know as soon as I buy some more about listed & unlisted ingredients. I know you can have a reaction to the unlisted amounts too, because I have had to use an Epi pen after eating something that didn't have anything listed on their label I was allergic too. It's not fair to us that have these severe allergies. Thanks Kermit. Mary
Mary and ElizaJane; Thank you both very much for your additional information. It is always appreciated. I am hoping we can make a real resource here, so others with this sensitivity can have more information than we did.
Also, I am hoping to generate enough comments to be able to contact some people who can change the labeling requirements and warnings for this P.G. ingredient everywhere. I would really like them to take P.G. out of so many things.
I intend to cross-pollinate the topic in other groups like allergies, asthma, hives, etc. referring back to this group. I started with Lyrica today, also containing P.G. It was on a discussion about Sciatica. I got severe angioedema from it, due to the P.G. and almost died twice, before the doctor realized it was probably due to the P.G. Within two -three days of discontinuing it almost all of the symptoms retreated.
Ok,I am very new to this PEG allergy. Please help me understand where all it's located. My 9 year old son was prescribed Miralax, and had a terrible reaction. I gave him a cough medicine (Delsym) last night, and he had the same reaction. I never imagine PEG 3350 would be in the cough syrup. Please help me understand where to look for this. Every Dr./nurse I tell about this reactions acts like I'm crazy.