Category

General Application:

used in pharmaceutical formulations as an antimicrobial preservative in applications similar to other cationic surfactants, such as cetrimide. In ophthalmic preparations, benzalkonium chloride is one of the most widely used preservatives, at a concentration of 0.01–0.02% w/v. Often it is used in combination with other preservatives or excipients, particularly 0.1% w/v disodium edetate, to enhance its antimicrobial activity against strains of Pseudomonas. In nasal, and optic formulations a concentration of 0.002–0.02% w/v is used, sometimes in combination with 0.002–0.005% w/v thimerosal. Benzalkonium chloride 0.01% w/v is also employed as a preservative in small-volume parenteral products. Benzalkonium chloride was also shown to enhance the topical penetration of lorazepam. Benzalkonium chloride is additionally used as a preservative in cosmetics