From Chemical Burn to Below Knee Amputation: Amputation Secondary to Application of Over-the-Counter Topical Analgesic With Menthol and Methyl Salicylate

Methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen) is widely available in many over-the-counter liniments, ointments, lotions or medicated oils for the relief of musculoskeletal aches and pains. Ingestion of methyl salicylate poses the threat of severe, rapid-onset salicylate poisoning because of its liquid, concentrated form and lipid solubility. Excessive usage of these preparations in patients receiving warfarin may result in adverse interactions and bleedings. Methyl salicylate in topical analgesic preparations may cause irritant or allergic contact dermatitis and anaphylactic reactions. Physicians should fully appreciate the potential dangers from topical preparations containing methyl salicylate.

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A full-thickness chemical burn to the hand using formic acid-based anti-wart treatment: a case report and literature review

Scars Burns & Healing ◽

10.1177/2059513119897888 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 205951311989788

Author(s):

Olivia Sjökvist ◽

Christian Smolle ◽

David Jensson ◽

Fredrik Huss

Keyword(s):

Case Report ◽

Literature Review ◽

Formic Acid ◽

Postoperative Recovery ◽

Chemical Burn ◽

Full Thickness ◽

Chemical Burns ◽

Over The Counter ◽

Common Warts ◽

Thickness Skin

Introduction: Chemical burns are comparably rare but often result in full-thickness skin defects with frequent involvement of underlying structures. Hands are the most commonly affected injury site and impaired functional outcome is common. We present a case of an unusual chemical burn to the dorsum of the hand of a child secondary to application of a topical anti-wart treatment containing formic acid. Case report: An 11-year-old girl was referred to our outpatient department with a full-thickness injury resulting from a chemical burn having used a topical formic acid solution in the treatment of common warts. On examination, a 20-mm circular full-thickness defect was noted to the dorsum of the hand. The extensor tendons were not involved and there were no signs of infection. She required surgical debridement and local flap coverage. The postoperative recovery was unremarkable. Conclusion: Through a comprehensive literature review, four common topical solutions used in anti-wart treatment were identified to be associated with burns. Together with our case, this highlights the importance of careful patient education in the usage of common topical over-the-counter treatments.

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Simultaneous GC determination of turpentine, camphor, menthol and methyl salicylate in a topical analgesic formulation (Dologex®)

Chromatographia ◽

10.1007/bf02490466 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 52 (3-4) ◽

pp. 245-248 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

E. González-Peñas ◽

M. López-Alvarez ◽

F. Martínez de Narvajas ◽

A. Ursúa

Keyword(s):

Methyl Salicylate ◽

Topical Analgesic

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Analysis of over-the-counter analgesics purported to contain mescaline from the peyote cactus (Lophophora williamsii: Cactaceae)

Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas ◽

10.17348/jbrit.v15.i1.1055 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 125-137

Author(s):

Robert LeBlanc ◽

Sohan De Silva ◽

Martin Terry

Keyword(s):

High Performance ◽

Detectable Level ◽

Vulnerable Species ◽

Wild Populations ◽

Over The Counter ◽

Quantitative Evidence ◽

Topical Product ◽

Massive Scale ◽

The U.S ◽

Topical Analgesic

The purpose of this study was to investigate samples of commercial over-the-counter products purported to contain extracts from peyote cactus (Lophophora williamsii), a vulnerable species. Samples were extracted with organic solvent and then washed to remove impurities. The extracts of these products were subjected to an analysis by real-time mass spectrometry (DART-MS) to determine the presence or absence of the alkaloid mescaline (3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylamine). High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine mescaline concentrations in the samples and to provide quantitative evidence of the concentration—if any—of mescaline in the products. If a detectable level of mescaline—a stable and abundant alkaloid of L. williamsii—was found in a given extract, then it was inferred that L. williamsii was present in the corresponding topical product. The results of this investigation show that most consumers who purchase the products in question are being defrauded if they believe they are buying L. williamsii-based medicines. The lack of mescaline—implying the lack of peyote—in these products suggests that wild populations of the vulnerable cactus L. williamsii, though currently being decimated on a massive scale in Mexico and the U.S. for other purposes, are rarely harvested for use in topical analgesic products. This conclusion is based on the finding that less than 5% of the ostensible L. williamsii-containing topical analgesic products that were analyzed in this study actually contained mescaline.

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Simultaneous GLC Determination of Methyl Salicylate and Menthol in a Topical Analgesic Formulation

Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences ◽

10.1002/jps.2600680431 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 68 (4) ◽

pp. 506-508 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Joseph P. Sapio ◽

Krish Sethachutkul ◽

Joseph E. Moody

Keyword(s):

Methyl Salicylate ◽

Topical Analgesic

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An Absurd Concept of Self-Medication: A Case of Oral Chemical Burn

International Healthcare Research Journal ◽

10.26440/ihrj/0406.09222 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (6) ◽

pp. 151-153

Author(s):

Yagyeshwar Malhotra ◽

Parul Uppal Malhotra ◽

Neera Ohri ◽

Anindita Mallik

Keyword(s):

Essential Oil ◽

Oral Cavity ◽

Plant Extracts ◽

Direct Contact ◽

Chemical Burn ◽

Clove Oil ◽

White Patch ◽

Self Medication ◽

Over The Counter ◽

History Of

A chemical burn is seen in oral cavity after a noxious agent is placed in direct contact with the mucosa as a mode of self treatment or iatrogenically by dentist. Mild lesions due to less irritating agents result in mild alteration in texture, while more severe lesions (soreness to outright pain) are due to more irritating agents and because of agents of longer duration of contact. Commonly used chemicals used by patients for tooth pain are aspirin which is placed next to the offending tooth and OTC preparations. The essential oil based preparations are easily available in pharmacies or are prepared by local people. These medicaments can harm a patient if not used under medical or ayurvedic supervision as they have beneficial plant extracts, essential oils etc. A case of such self inflicted chemical burn of the oral mucosa is reported due to use of clove oil preparation available locally, used with varying amount and frequency. History of using over the counter medicaments for dental ailment should be asked when patients visit the dentist with complains of burning or white patch in mouth.

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Acetaminophen: Neonatal hepatotoxicity due to late pregnancy exposure

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100127906 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 45 ◽

pp. 718-719

Author(s):

G.A. Miranda ◽

M.A. Arroyo ◽

C.A. Lucio ◽

M. Mongeotti ◽

S.S. Poolsawat

Keyword(s):

Low Dose ◽

Fetal Liver ◽

Late Pregnancy ◽

Toxic Chemicals ◽

Control Group ◽

High Dose ◽

Over The Counter ◽

Liver And Kidney ◽

Neonatal Liver ◽

Childbearing Women

Exposure to drugs and toxic chemicals, during late pregnancy, is a common occurrence in childbearing women. Some studies have reported that more than 90% of pregnant women use at least 1 prescription; of this, 60% used more than one. Another study indicated that 80% of the consumed drugs were not prescribed, and of this figure, 95% were “over-the-counter” drugs. Acetaminophen, the safest of all over-the-counter drugs, has been reported to induce fetal liver necrosis in man and animals and to have abortifacient and embryocidal action in mice. This study examines the degree to which acetaminophen affects the neonatal liver and kidney, when a fatty diet is simultaneously fed to the mother during late pregnancy.Timed Swiss Webster female mice were gavaged during late pregnancy (days 16-19) with fat suspended acetaminophen at a high dose, HD = 84.50 mg/kg, and a low dose, LD = 42.25 mg/kg; a control group received fat alone.

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