Products
Sodium sulfate is available in pharmacies and drugstores as open goods.
Structure
The European Pharmacopoeia contains two monographs. Glauber’s salt proper is sodium sulfate decahydrate.
| Sodium sulfate decahydrate
Glauber’s salt |
Na2SO4 – 10 H2O | Natrii sulfas decahydricus |
| Anhydrous sodium sulfate | Na2SO4 | Natrii sulfas anhydricus |
Commercially available, in addition to the two salts mentioned, is Natrii sulfas anhydricus ad usum veterinarum (for veterinary purposes). Glauber’s salt is named after Johann Rudolf Glauber (1604-1670), who fell ill in Vienna in 1624 and recovered when he drank from a spring. In the water he found the , hydrogenated sodium sulfate. He was the first to prepare sodium sulfate from common salt and sulfuric acid.
Properties
Sodium sulfate decahydrate is a white crystalline powder or colorless translucent crystals. It dissolves in water under severe cooling. It has a slightly salty taste and melts cooling on the tongue. Anhydrous sodium sulfate is a white, hygroscopic powder that dissolves readily in water, releasing heat. The illustration shows commercially available crystalline sodium sulfate decahydrate (Glauber’s salt): Storage: Keep well closed, away from light, heat and moisture. Sodium sulfate decahydrate releases some of the water of crystallization even at a temperature above 33° and dissolves in it when heated.
Preparations
- Laxative salt mixture PH (Sal purgans compositum).
- Catarrh-dissolving salt mixture PH (Sal anticatarrhale compositum).
- Sodium sulfate is also contained in the natural Carlsbad salt and Ems salt.
Effects
Sodium sulfate has laxative properties. It osmotically retains water in the intestine, increasing the fluid content of feces. The increased volume triggers the defecation stimulus.
Indications for use
In conventional medicine:
- For short-term use in constipation. For longer-term use isoosmotic ready medicines are on the market.
- For complete bowel emptying before surgical and diagnostic procedures (finished medicines).
- In poisoning as a laxative or as a local complexing antidote.
- Contained in expectorants, mouthwashes and toothpastes.
In alternative medicine:
- As a laxative for purification
- Schüssler salt No. 10 (Natrium sulfuricum) is a purgative and blood remedy and is used to purify the body in disorders of the liver and gall bladder, water retention in the body, gastrointestinal disorders and other indications.
- In homeopathy
Other uses:
- As a food additive (E 514).
- Various technical applications, including the manufacture of detergents.
Dosage
Constipation: adults 10 to 30 g of sodium sulfate dissolved in sufficient water as a single dose (400-500 ml / dose). The effect occurs within a few hours. For bowel emptying in the context of diagnostic clarifications: Use of finished medicines according to the package insert. When using hypertonic, as too concentrated solutions, water is drawn from the tissues into the intestine. Therefore, it is recommended that it be taken with sufficient water to produce a tissue isotonic or hypotonic solution.
Contraindications
- Inflammatory colonic disease, intestinal obstruction or stenosis.
- Abdominal pain of unknown origin
- Intestinal perforation
- Renal failure
- Electrolyte disturbances: Hypernatremia
Constipation may be an expression of a disease and should not be self-treated for a long time (> 2 weeks). The use in pregnancy and lactation should only take place after consultation with the gynecologist / obstetrician.
Interactions
Increased sensitivity to cardiac glycosides in hypokalemia.
Adverse effects.
Gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting occur, especially with excessive dosing. Possible with long-term use: habituation, electrolyte disturbances, dehydration (hypertonic solutions).
Pharmacokinetics
Sodium sulfate is poorly absorbed according to the literature. Nevertheless, it should be used with caution in electrolyte disturbances and low-salt diets.
