2,4-dichlorobenzyl alcohol + amylmetacresol + ascorbic acid: clinical use

Prescribing considerations

• Confirm symptoms are suitable for self-care and assess persistent, recurrent, severe or rapidly worsening presentations.
• Consider the glucose and sucrose content in diabetes.
• Check excipients in people with wheat allergy, sulphite sensitivity or previous reactions to fragrances or azo colourings.

Contraindications and cautions

• Hypersensitivity to an active substance or excipient.
• Age under 6 years.
• Wheat allergy.
• Rare hereditary fructose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption or sucrase-isomaltase insufficiency.

Monitoring

• Routine laboratory monitoring is not specified.
• Review symptom progression and investigate red flags or lack of improvement.
• Monitor for oral irritation, hypersensitivity and bronchospasm.

Clinical pharmacology

2,4-Dichlorobenzyl alcohol and amylmetacresol have local antiseptic properties. Ascorbic acid provides vitamin C. Product-specific pharmacokinetic information is not stated.

Formulation and product differences

• Orange-flavoured circular lozenge containing glucose and sucrose.
• Contains low-level gluten derived from wheat starch and is regarded as gluten-free for coeliac disease, but is unsuitable for wheat allergy.
• Contains sulphur dioxide, propylene glycol, fragrance allergens and the azo colourings sunset yellow and Ponceau 4R.
• Essentially sodium-free according to the product definition.