What is "macrogol"

n. Any of an industrial range of polyethylene glycols

Macrogol is the international nonproprietary name for polyethylene glycol (PEG). Macrogols are commonly used as laxatives, i.e. to treat constipation, in both children and adults.

Lower molecular weight macrogols are used as excipients in pharmaceutical products as solvents in oral liquids and soft capsules. Solid variants are used as ointment bases, tablet bindings, film coatings and lubricants.

Macrogols are also attached to biopharmaceutical drugs to slow down their degradation in the human body and increase their duration of action, as well as to reduce immunogenicity. This process is called PEGylation.

Popular types include:

• macrogol 3350
• macrogol 4000
• macrogol 6000

The number represents the average molecular mass. Combining different molecular masses provides some control over the consistency.