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Updated: Jan 1, 2026
Characteristics of Precipitation-formed Polyethylene Glycol Microgels Are Controlled by Molecular Weight of Reactants
Published on: December 23, 2013
Polyethylene glycol electrolyte lavage solution increases tablet dissolution of acetaminophen in an in vitro model
Sean Patrick Nordt1, Kimberly J Won2, Christian Tomaszweski3
1Chapman University, School of Pharmacy, Irvine, CA, United States of America; University of Southern California, Department of Emergency Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America; University of California, Irvine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Orange, CA, United States of America.
Introduction:
Polyethylene glycol electrolyte lavage solution (PEG-ELS) is similar to pharmaceutical solvent propylene glycol and used following acute poisonings for whole bowel irrigation (e.g., "body stuffing"). This raises concern of PEG-ELS increasing solubility following acute ingestions of non-sustained release xenobiotics in the stomach. We theorized PEG-ELS increases solubility of acetaminophen in an in vitro stomach model.
Material And Methods:
An in vitro artificial stomach with 500 mL simulated gastric fluid and either 500 mL of sodium chloride 0.9% (group A) or 500 mL of PEG-ELS (group B). Ten non-sustained release acetaminophen tablets added with concentrations 0, 15, 45 and 90 min in triplicate. Mean concentrations and mean area under the curve (AUC) (mg-min/L to 90 min).
Results:
In control group A (normal saline + simulated gastric fluid) mean acetaminophen concentrations 0, 3, 13 and 36 mg/L at 0, 15, 45 and 90 min, respectively. In group B (PEG-ELS + simulated gastric fluid) mean acetaminophen concentrations 0, 34, 109 and 136 mg/L at 0, 15, 45 and 90 min, respectively (p < 0.05). Mean AUC 0-90 1385 [95% C.I. 990.5-1779] mg-min/L in control group A compared to mean AUC 0-90 in group B (PEG-ELS) 7673 mg-min/L [95% C.I. 4832-10513] (p < 0.05).
Discussion:
Group B (PEG-ELS) with significantly higher mean acetaminophen concentrations and greater mean AUC compared to control group A (normal saline).
Conclusion:
We demonstrated increased mean acetaminophen concentrations and increased mean AUC of following exposure of PEG-ELS in an artificial stomach model.
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