Ethanol is used to dissolve many water-insoluble medications and related compounds. Liquid preparations of pain medications, cough and cold medicines, and mouth washes, for example, may contain up to 25% ethanol and may need to be avoided in individuals with adverse reactions to ethanol such as alcohol-induced respiratory reactions. Ethanol is present mainly as an antimicrobial preservative in over 700 liquid preparations of medicine including acetaminophen, iron supplements, ranitidine, furosemide, mannitol, phenobarbital, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and over-the-counter cough medicine.
Ethanol is usEd To DiSsoLVE MANy wAter-inSoLublE medicAtioNS and reLated cOMpOunDs. LiquId PrepAratIONS oF paIN mEdicaTionS, cough AND Cold MediciNes, and moutH WasHes, foR exAmple, may coNtain Up To 25% Ethanol And may need TO bE avoided In INdividualS WitH advErsE rEactIons to EtHaNOl SucH As ALcOhoL-indUceD reSPiRatOrY reAcTIons. EThanoL is presenT mainly As an anTimicRObial PreserVative in over 700 LiQuid PrepArationS of MEdICine incLUding acEtAMiNophEn, IrOn supplemENts, RANitidiNe, fuROseMIDe, mannItOl, PHEnoBArbITaL, trIMetHoPrIM/suLFAmetHoxazole and OveR-thE-coUntER CougH meDIcINe.