menthol (Biofreeze)

Introduction

A terpene alcohol obtained from peppermint oil or synthesized from inorganic compounds.

Uses

• antipruritic agent
• topical anesthetic
• topical agent for upper respiratory tract infection
  • along with menthol & eucalyptus oil, component of Vicks Vaporub
• in nasal spraysm cough drops & inhalers
• as a flavoring agent

Adverse effects

• although menthol is preceived as increased airflow across the nostrils, nasal airflow resistance is acutally increased within a minute of menthol application & this effect persists for > 3 hours
• inhalation of menthol may result in aspiration, apnea, laryngoconstriction, nausea, ataxia, confusion, euphoria

Mechanism of action

• binds to a receptor causing intracellular influx of Ca+2
• responsible for the feeling of congestion relief in Vicks VapoRub

More general terms

• alcohol
• topical anesthetic
• antipruritic agent

Component of

• menthol/petrolatum/zinc oxide
• menthol/peruvian balsam
• menthol/panthenol
• menthol/oatmeal
• eucalyptus oil/menthol
• dimethicone/menthol/pramoxine
• diclofenac/lidocaine/menthol
• dextromethorphan/menthol/phenylephrine
• clove oil/eucalyptus oil/menthol
• capsicum/menthol/methyl salicylate
• capsicum/menthol
• capsicum/eucalyptus oil/menthol/methyl salicylate
• capsaicin/lidocaine/menthol
• capsaicin/histamine/menthol
• camphor/menthol/turpentine
• camphor/menthol/tetracaine
• camphor/menthol/petrolatum/phenol
• camphor/menthol/petrolatum
• camphor/menthol/methylsulfonylmethane/methyl salicylate
• camphor/histamine/menthol
• camphor/eucalyptus oil/menthol/peppermint oil/thymol
• camphor/capsicum/menthol/methyl salicylate
• camphor/capsaicin/eucalyptus oil/menthol/methyl salicylate
• calamine/menthol/petrolatum/zinc oxide
• borneol/menthol
• benzalkonium/benzocaine/menthol/zinc chloride
• benzalkonium/benzocaine/menthol
• aspirin/menthol
• alpha tocopherol/menthol/nonivamide/salicylate
• allantoin/menthol
• allantoin/lidocaine/menthol
• allantoin/dimethicone/menthol
• menthol/zinc/zinc oxide
• menthol/white petrolatum
• menthol/sodium fluoride/thymol
• menthol/sodium chloride
• menthol/pramoxine/white petrolatum
• menthol/pectin
• menthol/methyl salicylate/thymol
• lidocaine/menthol/methyl salicylate
• lidocaine/menthol
• lanolin/menthol/zinc oxide
• hexylresorcinol/menthol
• eucalyptol/menthol/methyl salicylate/thymol
• ethanol/menthol
• dyclonine/menthol/pectin
• dyclonine/menthol
• diphenhydramine/menthol
• dimethicone/menthol
• dextromethorphan/menthol
• cortisol/hexachlorophene/menthol
• coal tar/menthol/salicylic acid
• coal tar/menthol
• chloroxylenol/iodine/menthol
• capsaicin/menthol/methyl salicylate
• capsaicin/lidocaine/menthol/methyl salicylate
• camphor/menthol/white petrolatum
• camphor/menthol/phenol
• camphor/eucalyptus oil/menthol/methyl salicylate
• camphor/dimethicone/menthol/phenol
• camphor/capsicum/menthol
• camphor/capsaicin/menthol/methyl salicylate/peppermint oil/zinc oxide
• camphor/capsaicin/menthol/methyl salicylate
• camphor/capsaicin/menthol
• calamine/menthol/zinc oxide
• calamine/menthol/white petrolatum/zinc oxide
• benzyl alcohol/menthol
• benzyl alcohol/camphor/menthol/zinc acetate
• benzyl alcohol/camphor/menthol
• benzocaine/menthol/methyl salicylate
• benzocaine/dextromethorphan/menthol
• benzocaine/cetylpyridinium/menthol/zinc chloride
• benzocaine/cetylpyridinium/menthol (Cepacol)
• benzethonium/benzocaine/menthol
• benzalkonium/menthol/white petrolatum
• aspirin/camphor/menthol/methyl salicylate
• alpha tocopherol/menthol
• allantoin/camphor/menthol/phenol
• allantoin/camphor/hexylresorcinol/menthol
• camphor/eucalyptus/menthol
• menthol/pramoxine
• menthol/methyl salicylate
• menthol/zinc oxide
• menthol/phenol
• histamine/menthol
• capsaicin/menthol
• camphor/menthol/methyl salicylate
• camphor/menthol
• benzocaine/menthol

Database

• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=1254
• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=16666