[Sorbitol supply and sales] The role and precautions of sorbitol in medical treatment

Sorbitol, also known as sorbitol. It is white hygroscopic powder or crystalline powder, flakes or granules, odorless. Depending on the crystallization conditions, the melting point changes in the range of 88~102℃, and the relative density is about 1.49. Easily soluble in water (1g dissolves in about 0.45mL water), slightly soluble in ethanol and acetic acid. It has a refreshing sweetness, the sweetness is about half that of sucrose, and its caloric value is similar to that of sucrose. According to the understanding of sorbitol supply: in the food industry, sorbitol liquid with a content of 69~71% is mostly used. Sorbitol liquid is a clear, colorless, syrupy liquid with a sweet taste, neutral to litmus, and miscible with water, glycerin and propylene glycol. Can be used as nutritive sweetener, humectant, chelating agent and stabilizer.

Sorbitol’s role in medical treatment and precautions:

Sorbitol is an isomer of mannitol and has similar effects to mannitol But weaker. After intravenous injection of the solution (25%), except for a small part that is converted into sugar, most of it is excreted by the kidneys in its original form. Due to the formation of blood hypertonicity, surrounding tissues and brain parenchyma are dehydrated, and edema fluid is excreted in the urine with the drug, thereby reducing intracranial pressure and eliminating edema. The peak effect occurs 2 hours after injection, which obviously gradually calms down the cerebral edema, disappears the tension, and decreases the cerebrospinal fluid pressure. Suitable for treating cerebral edema and glaucoma. It can also be used for edema and oliguria with normal heart and kidney function.

Usage and dosage: Intravenous infusion: 250-500ml of 25% solution once, 1~2/kg for children, inject within 20~30 minutes. To eliminate cerebral edema, the injection is repeated every 6 to 12 hours.

Adverse reactions and precautions:

(1) Injecting too fast can cause headache, dizziness, blurred vision and pain. Be careful not to leak the medicine out of the blood vessels to avoid causing phlebitis.

(2) Hematuria may sometimes occur.

(3) Use with caution in patients with cardiac insufficiency or frailty.