Germolene

Germolene is the brand name used on a range of antiseptic products produced by the Bayer company,[1] who purchased the brand from SmithKline Beecham (later GlaxoSmithKline) in 1999. It is manufactured for Bayer UK by the Devon based Wrafton Laboratories[2] division of US over-the counter and supermarket own-label preparation producer Perrigo.[3]

Originally a thick antiseptic ointment with a distinctive pink colour and scented with oil of wintergreen, Germolene was also reformulated as a cream, with both an ointment (pink) and cream (white) form being sold. The brand name is used on a range of over-the-counter first aid preparations, most of which contain antiseptic. There is an associated range of products specifically for the treatment of haemorrhoids.

The thick pink Germolene ointment was confirmed by Bayer as no longer being available to the UK public in July 2014.[4] As of 2015, it is only available with a doctor's prescription. Germolene cream is available to the UK public in most chemists and supermarkets.

Germolene was invented by cough mixture tycoon Sir William Henry Veno, who in 1925, fearing he had cancer of the lip, sold his Veno Drug Company to the Beechams Company.[5]

Composition

Germolene's active ingredients include phenol 1.2% (providing antiseptic, locally analgesic and antipruritic effects) and chlorhexidine digluconate 0.25%. The Germoloids line of Germolene products, intended for use on haemorrhoids, also includes zinc oxide, and the analgesic lidocaine hydrochloride.[6]

Adverse effects

Germolene cream contains the active ingredient chlorhexidine, which can rarely induce allergic reactions.[7] Symptoms of a minor allergic reaction to Germolene cream include itching, redness (erythema), dermatitis, eczema, rash, hives (urticaria), skin irritation, and blisters on the skin.[8]

In more serious cases of hypersensitivity, symptoms of anaphylaxis may occur. Such symptoms include shortness of breath, swelling of the face, hives, severe rash, and shock.[8] Germolene cream is contraindicated for patients with known hypersensitivity to chlorhexidine or any other components of the cream.

In animals

The active ingredient phenol is highly toxic if swallowed by, or applied to the skin of, small animals such as dogs, cats, rabbits and mice. Cats are particularly vulnerable to Phenol. Phenol is only hazardous to human health if ingested in very large quantities.[8]

References
  1. "Bayer Career UK and Ireland". Jobs.bayer.co.uk. 2013-12-20. Retrieved 2014-06-02.
  2. Who makes Germolene Antiseptic Cream?, Bayer UK, March 2001. Accessed: 27 January 2010.
  3. "Perrigo UK History", Perrigo UK, Undated Archived 2014-06-05 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed: 27 January 2010.
  4. "What have they done to Germolene?". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-08.
  5. "Veno Building". manchesterhistory.net. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  6. "Active Ingredients", Germoloids website, Bayer UK, Newbury, Berkshire, UK, Undated. Accessed: 23 January 2010.
  7. "Chlorhexidine allergy - Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA)". www.allergy.org.au. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  8. "Germolene Antiseptic Cream - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc)". www.medicines.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
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