Tyloxapol Explained

Tyloxapol is a nonionic liquid polymer of the alkyl aryl polyether alcohol type. It is used as a surfactant to aid liquefaction and removal of mucopurulent (containing mucus and pus) bronchopulmonary secretions,^{[1] [2]} administered by inhalation through a nebulizer^[3] or with a stream of oxygen.

With intraperitoneal injection, tyloxapol also blocks plasma lipolytic activity, and thus the breakdown of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. This mechanism is used to induce experimental hyperlipidemia in animals.^[4]

Tyloxapol is the main active ingredient of the medical device Tacholiquin. Tacholiquin is an expectorant designated for inhalation and instillation reaching the upper and lower airways.Other brand names of pharmaceutical products containing Tyloxapol are Exosurf and Alevaire.

Notes and References

1. Sehgal SS, Ewing CK, Richards T, Taeusch HW . Modified bovine surfactant (Survanta) versus a protein-free surfactant (Exosurf) in the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants: a pilot study . Journal of the National Medical Association . 86 . 1 . 46–52 . January 1994 . 8151722 . 2607653 .
2. Rubin BK, Ramirez O, King M . Mucus rheology and transport in neonatal respiratory distress syndrome and the effect of surfactant therapy . Chest . 101 . 4 . 1080–5 . April 1992 . 1555424 . 10.1378/chest.101.4.1080 .
3. Web site: Drugs.com . Tyloxapol definition .
4. Kourounakis AP, Victoratos P, Peroulis N, Stefanou N, Yiangou M, Hadjipetrou L, Kourounakis PN . Experimental hyperlipidemia and the effect of NSAIDs . Experimental and Molecular Pathology . 73 . 2 . 135–8 . October 2002 . 12231215 . 10.1006/exmp.2002.2449 .