Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Safety of Vicks Vaporub

Content
Menthol, camphor, turpentine oil and eucalyptus oil
Posology and method of administration
Adults:

  • Rub Vaporub liberally on the chest, throat and back. Rub in well over the whole area and leave nightclothes loose for easy inhalation.
  • Melt two teaspoons of Vaporub in very hot water and inhale the vapours.

Children (infants and babies over 2 years):

  • Apply lightly to chest and back. Rub gently and leave clothes loose for easy inhalation.

Contraindications

  • Hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients.
  • Do not administer to children < 2 years.
  • Do not use as an inhalation for children < 12 years.

Special warnings and precautions

  • The following patient groups should use with caution or consult a doctor before use;
  • History of airway disease or pronounced hypersensitivity of the airways / asthma
  • Keep out of reach and sight of children.
  • If symptoms persist, consult your doctor

Topical:

  • Do not apply to broken skin, wounds or mucous membranes.
  • Do not swallow or apply directly onto the nostrils, eyes, mouth or face.
  • For external use only
  • Do not bandage tightly. Do not use with heat wrap or any kind of heat.

Inhalation:

  • Do not use boiling water to prepare inhalations.
  • Do not heat or re-heat the mixture in a microwave.

Overdose

  • Over dosage may result in skin irritation.

Misuse:

  • Swallowing of the ointment might cause gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhoea. Treatment is symptomatic.
  • After significant accidental consumption, acute poisoning was observed after significant accidental consumption, with nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and headache, vertigo, feeling hot / flushing, convulsions, respiratory depression and coma.
  • In case of accidental ingestion seek medical assistance.
  • Patients with severe gastrointestinal or neurological symptoms of poisoning should be observed and treated symptomatically. Do not induce vomiting.

Evidence of benefit

  • children treated with Vapor Rub were significantly more able to sleep than were children randomized to receive petrolatum or no treatment.
  • Researchers wrote, “Combinations of aromatic oils in a petrolatum base have been used for generations, but this study demonstrates that this therapy is indeed effective.”

Evidence of Harm

  • Test tube results showed Vicks VapoRub exposure increased mucus secretion in the animals' airways, whether the tracheas were normal or inflamed to simulate a person with a chest infection.
  • Vicks appeared to increase mucus production, increase fluids in the lungs and make airways less clear, causing worsened breathing in patients. 
  • In particular, application of Vicks Vapor Rub ointment into the nasal passages can result in respiratory distress and lung problems, such as pneumonia

References:

  1. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/20328
  2. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2010/11/08/peds.2010-1601.abstract
  3. http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/avoid-applying-vicks-vaporub-to-babies-pediatricians-say-1.845457

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