Drug Nomenclature
Pharmacopoeias. In China, Europe, International, Japan, US. Some pharmacopoeias do not differentiate between the heavy and light varieties.
European Pharmacopoeia, 6th ed. (Kaolin, Heavy). A purified, natural, hydrated aluminium silicate of variable composition. It is a fine, white or greyish-white, unctuous powder. Practically insoluble in water and in organic solvents.
BP 2008 (Light Kaolin). A native hydrated aluminium silicate, freed from most of its impurities by elutriation, and dried. It contains a suitable dispersing agent. It is a light, white, odourless or almost odourless, unctuous powder free from gritty particles. Practically insoluble in water and in mineral acids. The BP 2008 directs that when Kaolin or Light Kaolin is prescribed or demanded, Light Kaolin shall be dispensed or supplied, unless it is ascertained that Light Kaolin (Natural) is required.
BP 2008 (Light Kaolin (Natural)). It is Light Kaolin which does not contain a dispersing agent. It is a light, white, odourless or almost odourless, unctuous powder free from gritty particles. Practically insoluble in water and in mineral acids. The BP 2008 directs that when Kaolin or Light Kaolin is prescribed or demanded, Light Kaolin shall be dispensed or supplied, unless it is ascertained that Light Kaolin (Natural) is required.
The United States Pharmacopeia 31, 2008 (Kaolin). A native hydrated aluminium silicate, powdered and freed from gritty particles by elutriation. It is a soft, white or yellowish-white powder or lumps with an earthy or clay-like taste and when moistened with water assumes a darker colour and develops a marked clay-like odour. Insoluble in water, in cold dilute acids, and in solutions of alkali hydroxides.
Profile
Light kaolin and light kaolin (natural) are adsorbent antidiarrhoeal agents that have been used as adjuncts to rehydration therapy in the management of diarrhoea. Up to about 24 g daily may be taken orally in divided doses. Kaolin is often combined with other antidiarrhoeals, especially pectin. Kaolin can form insoluble complexes with some drugs in the gastrointestinal tract and reduce their absorption oral doses should not be taken at the same time.
Externally, light kaolin is used as a dusting powder. Kaolin is liable to be heavily contaminated with bacteria, and when used in dusting powders, it should be sterilised.
Heavy kaolin is used in the preparation of kaolin poultice, which is applied topically with the intention of reducing inflammation and alleviating pain (see Rubefacients and Topical Analgesia).
Light kaolin is also used as a food additive.
Preparations
British Pharmacopoeia 2008: Kaolin and Morphine Mixture; Kaolin Mixture; Kaolin Poultice.
Proprietary Preparations
Brazil: Kaogel
UK: Childrens Diarrhoea Mixture Entrocalm.
Multi-ingredient Preparations
The symbol ¤ denotes a preparation which is discontinued or no longer actively marketed.
Argentina: Anusol-A; Argeal; Endomicina¤; Gastranil; Opocarbon; Opocler¤;
Australia: ADM¤; Bis-Pectin¤; Chemists Own Diarrhoea Mixture¤; De Witt’s Antacid¤; Diaguard Forte¤; Diaguard¤; Diarcalm; Donnagel; Glucomagma¤; Kaodyne¤; Kaofort¤; Kaomagma with Pectin; Kaomagma; Kaopectate¤; Streptomagma¤;
Austria: Munari¤;
Belgium: Alopate; Kaopectate¤; Neutroses¤;
Brazil: Atalin; Digastril; Eviprostat; Gastrobene; Kal Sept¤; Kaomagma; Kaopectate¤; Kaopectin; Kaostase Suspension¤; Kaostase¤; Neutracido¤; Pectalin¤; Pectimax¤; Plexo Enterin¤;
Canada: Bebia¤; Diarex¤; Donnagel-MB¤; Donnagel-PG¤; Donnagel¤; Kaomycin¤;
Chile: Furazolidona;
France: Anti-H¤; Antiphlogistine; Anusol a l’Hydrocortisone¤; Argeal; Bebia¤; Carbonaphtine Pectinee¤; Gastropax; Gelogastrine¤; Kaobrol¤; Kaologeais; Kaomuth sans Bismuth¤; Kaomuth; Karayal; Keracnyl; Neutroses; Norquinol¤; Pectipar¤;
Germany: Aruto-Magenpulver-forte¤; Aruto-Magenpulver¤; Dystomin E¤; Kaopectate N¤; Kaoprompt-H; Katulcin¤; Kontabletten¤; Noventerol¤; Pektan N¤; rohasal¤;
Greece: Fissan-Pate¤; Kaopectate¤; Hong Kong: Calamine-D; Uni-Kaotin; Hungary: Bolus Adstringens; Bolus Laxans; Ireland: Kaopectate¤; Pekolin¤; Israel: Digestif-Ara¤; Kaopectin; Kapectin Forte; Zincod;
Italy: Anacidase¤; Carbotiol¤; Gastrosanol¤; Katoxyn; Magnesia Bisurata¤; Neo Zeta-Foot¤; Neutrose S Pellegrino; Streptomagma; Zeta-Foot¤;
Malaysia: Beakopectin¤; Kaopectate¤; Mexico: Ameban; Caopecfar; Colfur; Contefur¤; Coralzul; Dibapec Compuesto; Estibal; Facetin-D; Farpectol; Furoxona CP; Fuzotyl¤; Hidromagma¤; Isocar; K-Omistron; Kaomycin; Kaopectate; Kediar; Lactopectin; Neo-Kap; Neoxil; Olam; Optazol; Quimefuran; Suyodil; Tapzol con Neomicina¤; Tapzol¤; Treda; Trilor¤; Yodozona;
South Africa: Betapect; Bipectinol; Biskapect; Bolus Eucalypti Comp; Chloropect; Collodene; Collodyne¤; Diastat¤; Enterolyte; Gastropect; Kao¤; Kaomagma¤; Kaomycin¤; Kaoneo¤; Kaopectin¤; Kaostatex; Medipect¤; Neopec¤; Pectin-K; Pectolin¤; Pectrolyte; Peterpect¤; Plastolin Poultice¤; SB Diarrhoea Mixture;
Singapore: Kaomix; Kaopectate¤;
Spain: Balsamo BOI¤; Curumbil¤; Estreptokectil¤; Kaopectate¤;
Switzerland: Argent¤; Cicafissan; Decongestine¤; Fissan; Gyrosan; Kaomycine¤; Kaopectate¤; Neo-Decongestine; Neutroses; Padma-Lax; Phlogantin;
Thailand: Alkamine; Alupep; Antacil; Cenopec; Coccila; Coccila; Di-Su-Frone¤; Difuran; Diolin¤; Disento PF; Disento; Droximag¤; Furasian; Furopectin¤; Kaopectal-N¤; Kaopectal; Kaopectate¤; Med-Kafuzone¤;
United Arab Emirates: Kaptin;
United Kingdom: Codella¤; Collis Browne’s; De Witt’s Antacid; Enterosan¤; Junior Kao-C; Kaodene¤; Kaopectate¤; KLN; Moorland; Noratex¤; Opazimes; Thovaline¤;
United States: Donnagel-PG¤; K-C; Kao-Paverin; Kao-Spen; Kaodene Non-Narcotic; Mexsana;
Venezuela: Kaopecon; Kaopectate; Klincosal; Parepectolin; Pec-Kao; Sendafur
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