Glycerol

Oral
Cough
Adult: For dry tickly cough: As 15% v/v syr: 5-10 mL 3-4 times daily.
Child: As 15% v/v syr: 3 months to <1 year 5 mL 3-4 times daily; 1-5 years Same as adult dose.
Incompatibility: Forms explosive mixture with strong oxidising agent. May result in black discolouration when combined with zinc oxide or bismuth subnitrate.

Rectal
Constipation
Adult: As supp: 2-3 g once daily as needed.
Child: 2-<6 years 1-1.2 g once daily as needed; ≥6 years 2-2.1 g once daily as needed.
Incompatibility: Forms explosive mixture with strong oxidising agent. May result in black discolouration when combined with zinc oxide or bismuth subnitrate.

Topical/Cutaneous
Hydrate and soften skin
Adult: As 25%, 40% w/w cream: Apply regularly to affected areas.
Child: Same as adult dose.
Incompatibility: Forms explosive mixture with strong oxidising agent. May result in black discolouration when combined with zinc oxide or bismuth subnitrate.

Patient with hypervolaemia, cardiac failure, renal disease, dehydration, diabetes mellitus. Treatment with a cough medicine in children (especially under 1 year old) should be considered carefully due to potential risks and limited evidence on efficacy. Pregnancy and lactation.

Cardiac disorders: Cardiac arrhythmia, circulatory overload, heart failure. Gastrointestinal disorders: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, thirst, abdominal cramp, rectal irritation/discomfort/ mucosal erosion. General disorders and administration site conditions: Application site reaction (e.g. burning sensation, erythema, pain, pruritus, rash, irritation). Metabolism and nutrition disorders: Hyperglycaemia, dehydration. Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders: Rectal tenesmus. Nervous system disorders: Dizziness, headache (oral). Psychiatric disorders: Mental confusion. Renal and urinary disorders: Glycosuria. Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders: Severe pulmonary oedema. Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Exacerbation of eczema and dry skin.
Potentially Fatal: Rarely, nonketotic hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic coma.

Symptoms: Headache, thirst, nausea, vomiting, hyperglycaemia, dehydration, diarrhoea, dizziness, mental confusion and cardiac arrhythmia. Management: Symptomatic and supportive treatment. Perform gastric lavage for recent ingestion.

Glycerol is an osmotic dehydrating agent with hygroscopic and lubricating properties which increases plasma osmolality, resulting in the movement of water from extravascular spaces into the plasma through osmosis. It has a demulcent property which possibly blocks sensory cough receptors in the respiratory tract. Synonym: glycerin.
Onset: 15-30 minutes (rectal).
Absorption: Readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract (oral). Poorly absorbed (rectal).
Metabolism: Extensively metabolised in the liver into glucose or glycogen or oxidised to carbon dioxide and water.
Excretion: Mainly via urine, as unchanged drug.

Oral: Store below 25°C. Rectal: Store below 25°C. Protect from heat. Topical/Cutaneous: Store below 25°C.

Cough & Cold Preparations / Emollients & Skin Protectives / Laxatives, Purgatives

A06AX01 - glycerol ; Belongs to the class of other laxatives.
A06AG04 - glycerol ; Belongs to the class of enemas. Used in the treatment of constipation.