II. Indications

III. Contraindications

  1. Risk of Aspiration Pneumonia (lipoid Pneumonia)
  2. Malabsorption
  3. Age < 12 months

IV. Mechanism

  1. Lubricant Laxative
    1. Mineral Oil coats the bowel and stool with a waterproof film
    2. Decreases bowel absorption of water

V. Precautions

  1. Aspiration risk

VI. Dosing

  1. General
    1. Give chilled in juice to maximize tolerability
    2. Coadminister Multivitamin daily if used chronically
  2. Child Dose (over 18 months of age)
    1. Oral Dose
      1. Give 1 to 3 ml/kg/day divided daily to twice daily
      2. Used in maintenance of bowel regimen
      3. Maximum: 90 ml/day
    2. Rectal Dose (Mineral Oil Enema)
      1. Age 2 to 11 years: Give 30 to 60 ml per Rectum once daily
      2. Age 12 to 18 years: Give 60 to 150 ml per Rectum once daily
    3. Disimpaction
      1. Give 15-30 ml per age in years up to 240 ml/day
      2. May repeat daily for 3-4 days
  3. Adult Dose (or age > 12 years)
    1. Low Dose
      1. Take 5 to 45 ml orally in the evening
    2. High Dose
      1. Take 30 to 90 ml as needed

VII. Pharmacokinetics

  1. Onset of action
    1. Oral: 6 to 8 hours
    2. Rectal: 2 to 15 minutes

VIII. Adverse Effects

  1. Abdominal cramping
  2. Lipoid pneumonitis if aspirated
    1. Avoid bedtime dosing
  3. Anal irritation and leakage
  4. Vitamin malabsorption

X. References

  1. Olson (2020) Clinical Pharmacology, Medmaster Miami, p. 94
  2. (2023) Management of Constipation, Presc Lett, #390108

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Cost: Medications

mineral oil (on 12/21/2022 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing)
MINERAL OIL Generic OTC $0.01 per ml

Ontology: Mineral Oil (C0026156)

Definition (NCI) A mixture of liquid paraffinic, naphthenic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum in which the amount and types of aromatic hydrocarbons is dependent on the treatment process. Untreated and mildly treated mineral oils contain the highest amount of aromatic and unsaturated compounds and are primarily used as a lubricant base oil to produce further refined oil products. Exposure to these types of mineral oils can cause rapid respiration, cyanosis, tachycardia and low-grade fever. Untreated and mildly treated mineral oils are strongly associated with an increased risk of scrotal and skin cancer but can also cause gastrointestinal, rectal, bladder and certain respiratory-tract cancers. (NCI05)
Definition (NCI_NCI-GLOSS) A type of oil that is made from petroleum (mixture of oily liquids found in the earth). Mineral oil is used in laxatives, lubricants, creams, and lotions.
Definition (MSH) A mixture of liquid hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum. It is used as laxative, lubricant, ointment base, and emollient.
Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Lipid (T119)
MSH D008899
SnomedCT 111089004, 354035004, 398763008, 317567003, 48350004, 330786000
English Liquid Paraffin, Oil, Mineral, Petrolatum, Liquid, Hydrocarbon oils, Liquid paraffin [eye], Liquid paraffin [laxative], MINERAL OIL MISC. OIL, MINERAL OIL @ @ OIL, MINERAL OIL OIL, Liquid petrolatum, mineral oil (medication), laxatives mineral oil, Paraffin, Liquid, Liquid Petrolatum, Paraffinum Liquidum, White Mineral Oil, MINERAL OIL, Mineral Oil [Chemical/Ingredient], mineral oils, oil mineral, liquid petrolatum, white mineral oil, mineral oil, MINERAL OIL MISCELL OIL (ML), MINERAL OIL@@MISCELL@OIL (ML), Mineral Oil Oil, liquid paraffin, Liquid petrolatum (substance), Liquid paraffin [eye] (product), Liquid paraffin [laxative] (product), Mineral oil (product), Mineral oils, Mineral Oil (Bulk), Mineral oil, Liquid paraffin, Paraffin liquid, White mineral oil, Liquid paraffin product (product), Liquid paraffin product, Mineral oil (substance), Liquid paraffin [eye] (substance), Liquid paraffin [laxative] (substance), Liquid paraffin product (substance), Mineral Oil, PARAFFIN,LIQUID
Czech minerální olej
Spanish aceite mineral, parafina líquida, producto (producto), parafina líquida (producto), parafina líquida, producto, petrolato líquido (sustancia), parafina líquida (laxante) (producto), aceite mineral (producto), parafina líquida (laxante), parafina líquida (ocular), petrolato líquido, parafina líquida (ocular) (producto), aceite mineral blanco, parafina líquida (sustancia), parafina líquida, Aceite Mineral, Parafina Liquida, Petrolato Líquido
Finnish Parafiiniöljy
Russian MASLO VAZELINOVOE, PETROLATUM ZHIDKII, VAZELINOVOE MASLO, MINERAL'NOE MASLO, PARAFIN ZHIDKII, ВАЗЕЛИНОВОЕ МАСЛО, МАСЛО ВАЗЕЛИНОВОЕ, МИНЕРАЛЬНОЕ МАСЛО, ПАРАФИН ЖИДКИЙ, ПЕТРОЛАТУМ ЖИДКИЙ
Japanese 鉱油, 流動パラフィン, 流動ワセリン, ミネラルオイル
Italian Petrolato liquido, Paraffina liquida, Olio minerale
Swedish Mineralolja
Polish Olej mineralny, Parafina ciekła
French Huile minérale, Huile de vaseline, Huile de paraffine
German Flüssiges Paraffin, Mineralöl, Paraffin, flüssiges, Paraffinöl
Portuguese Parafina Líquida, Petrolato Líquido, Óleo Mineral

Ontology: Enema Mineral Oil (C2733624)

Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121)
English Enema Mineral Oil