Mannitol is a drug used as an osmotic diuretic and renal vasodilator. It is administered intravenously to treat intracranial pressure and oliguria, and orally as a sweetener or laxative. It increases osmolarity in the nephron to excrete more water and reduce extracellular fluid volume, relieving pressure. However, its effectiveness as a treatment plan is questioned, and it can cause dehydration and low blood volume. Patients must have a healthy heart and avoid receiving blood shortly after taking the drug.
Mannitol is the generic name of a drug used as an osmotic diuretic and mild renal vasodilator. It is typically administered intravenously, but can also be taken orally, depending on the purpose. Intravenously, it is used to treat excessive intracranial pressure, oliguria, and to expand openings in the blood-brain barrier. Orally, this substance is used as a sweetener in confections for people with diabetes and, in higher concentrations, as a laxative for children. When called a “baby laxative,” it’s usually a slang term referring to its use in cutting methamphetamine, heroin, or other recreational drugs.
Chemically, mannitol is composed of carbon, hydrogen and multiple hydroxyl groups (C6H8(OH)6) to produce a sugar alcohol. It is prepared in a solution with water at concentrations of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25%. This substance is non-permeable, meaning it won’t pass through a cell membrane like many other drugs do. Since it is prone to making a solution acidic, baking soda can be added to adjust the pH.
As an osmotic diuretic, mannitol increases the osmolarity in the nephron of the kidney so that more water is taken from the body to be excreted. Nephrons are small units in the kidney that absorb nutrients, discharge waste, and adjust the balance of water with soluble substances in the body to create urine. Osmolarity measures the amount of solute, such as sodium, in solvent, water. If the body has too little water, the nephron will not allow much water out of the body, but if the body has too much water, it will let the water and sodium out to be excreted with other wastes such as urine. Similarly, if there is a high concentration of solute in the nephron, the body will try to achieve equilibrium by letting water in through osmosis.
Mannitol passes into the nephron and increases osmolarity so more water leaves the body. This is how the drug is used in its ability to decrease intracranial pressure (ICP), or the pressure between the skull, brain tissue, and cerebrospinal fluid. By drawing water from the body, this drug reduces the volume of extracellular fluid, relieving pressure. This treatment plan, however, has been questioned as to its effectiveness. The drug’s diuretic property also helps open up the blood-brain barrier by narrowing the cells that make up the barrier, so there are larger openings for blood to pass through.
It is important for people using this substance to be aware of its effects on sodium and water in the body so as to avoid severe dehydration and low blood volume and not aggravate pre-existing conditions such as hyponatremia. The patient must have a heart healthy enough to sustain a temporary decrease in extracellular fluid and must not receive blood within a short time of taking the drug unless absolutely necessary. If necessary, add sodium chloride to the solution to prevent pseudo-agglutination.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
