Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: Voxx on 08/10/2013 16:42:48

Title: What Counters Metacresol?
Post by: Voxx on 08/10/2013 16:42:48

What food/medicine/or chemical compound counters the effects of Metacresol?

Title: Re: What Counters Metacresol?
Post by: Bored chemist on 08/10/2013 19:23:02

Which effects of m-cresol?

Title: Re: What Counters Metacresol?
Post by: CliffordK on 08/10/2013 20:24:09

Quote from: Bored chemist on 08/10/2013 19:23:02

Which effects of m-cresol?

Elephant musk (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-Cresol#Natural_occurrences)?  Perhaps attracting female elephants?

According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cresol#Health_effects), a little Cresol (not specifying the isomer) is not harmful.  However, high doses can be an irritant, with potentially serious toxic effects.

It sounds like the best way to avoid exposure is using personal protective equipment (PPE).

Apparently some bacteria metabolizes the different forms of cresol.  However, in humans, it is for the most part excreted in urine (which is one of the reason that high doses can damage the kidneys and urinary tract.  One might have skin, or GI flora that would metabolize it, but no doubt the flora would get overwhelmed with high toxic doses.

It can also be conjugated to make a glucuronide or sulfate conjugate (which I believe also requires enzymes).

Title: Re: What Counters Metacresol?
Post by: Voxx on 09/10/2013 05:00:39

I hear that Metacresol has a painful effect on diabetes patients that take insulin (with metacresol in it) in the specific area of Fibromyalgia.  Is there any study that helps with this process?

Edit:  This question is for my Grandfather.  If he waits to use his insulin for about a month (about the time it's supposed to expire, but he makes sure it's still clear as cloudy signifies bacteria) it hurts him less.  I don't know what the correlation his, but I thought I'd just ask your expertise.

Title: Re: What Counters Metacresol?
Post by: CliffordK on 09/10/2013 07:16:57

Oh... 
I didn't think of preservatives in the insulin.  I'm seeing a few notes about it on the internet, but not a lot of solutions.

I believe that there is either a skin patch test to test for m-cresol sensitivity, although it is supposed to be an irritant, so the results would need to be evaluated with care.

Do you know what type of Diabetes your grandfather has?  Type 1 (juvenile onset), or Type 2 (adult onset)?

Title: Re: What Counters Metacresol?
Post by: Voxx on 09/10/2013 17:12:53

It's type 2.

Title: Re: What Counters Metacresol?
Post by: CliffordK on 09/10/2013 19:34:05

Quote from: Voxx on 09/10/2013 17:12:53

It's type 2.

Ok,
I assume his insulin is a long acting type of insulin, perhaps ultralente insulin. 

There are a number of non-insulin treatments for Type 2 diabetes which certainly are worth trying.  However, usually the insulin is only prescribed after the other treatments have been found to be ineffective.

I believe the insulin pumps are primarily used by people with type 1 diabetes, but there is no reason why they couldn't be used with type 2 diabetes.  Instead of using a slow acting insulin, one would use a smaller dose of quick acting insulin delivered over a longer period. 

I really can't explain why the "old insulin" is less of a problem than the "new" insulin.  He may, of course, be getting a slightly lower dose of the insulin when using the older vials.

Title: Re: What Counters Metacresol?
Post by: Voxx on 12/10/2013 16:29:53

That helped a little Clifford.  :)  Anyone else have any news?