Butylparaben
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 25, 2024.
Excipient (pharmacologically inactive substance)
What is it?
Butylparaben, with the chemical formula of C11H14O3 is an antimicrobial preservative used in many cosmetics, as a food flavoring agent and as a suspending agent for medications. Butylparaben used in industry is synthetically created, but natural parabens also exist in nature.
All parabens have similar structure to estrogen. Studies conducted in the early 2000s located traces of parabens in breast tumors, but evidence has not linked parabens with breast cancer.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) reviewed the safety of methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben in 1984 and concluded they were safe for use in cosmetic products at levels up to 25%. Typically parabens are used at levels ranging from 0.01 to 0.3%.[1]
Some examples of medications containing Butylparaben
- Acetaminophen and Hydrocodone Bitartrate 500 mg / 5 mg
- Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride 10 mg
- Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride 25 mg
- Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride 25 mg
- Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride 25 mg
- Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride 25 mg
- Ergocalciferol 1.25 mg (50,000 USP units)
- Fluoxetine Hydrochloride 20 mg
- Hydroxyurea 500 mg
- Lescol 40 mg
- Loxapine Succinate 50 mg
- Loxapine Succinate 5 mg
- Oxazepam 10 mg
- Phenytoin Sodium Extended 100 mg
- Phenytoin Sodium Extended 100 mg
- Phrenilin with Caffeine and Codeine acetaminophen 325 mg / butalbital 50 mg / caffeine 40 mg / codeine phosphate 30 mg
- Temazepam 30 mg
- Temazepam 15 mg
- Tetracycline Hydrochloride 500 mg
- Tylenol Extra Strength 500 mg
References
- US Food and Drug Administration. Cosmetics. Parabens. 8/19/2012. http://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/productandingredientsafety/selectedcosmeticingredients/ucm128042.htm
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.