Cetylpyridinium chloride 1.4mg lozenges
Cetylpyridinium is a quaternary ammonium with broad-spectrum antiseptic properties.
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1 branded products available
Part of the Merocets brand family (generic: Cetylpyridinium)
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Therapeutically similar medicines
Similarity is based on WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification and on a factual NHS dm+d therapeutic-grouping code prefix. Source data: NHS dm+d via TRUD (OGL v3.0), WHO ATC/DDD Index.
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Codes for healthcare professionals and prescribing systems
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SNOMED CT and dm+d codes from NHS TRUD (Technology Reference data Update Distribution), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. BNF code shown is the factual mapping value distributed by NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) in the dm+d supplementary file under OGL v3.0; it is not affiliated with, nor licensed from, the publishers of the British National Formulary. ATC codes from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology (whocc.no).
Active and completed clinical studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Data accessed via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Trial information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Academic studies and reviews for this medicine's active substance
Showing all 27 studies.
Reviews & meta-analyses: 6 · Randomised trials: 3 · 2004–2025
Showing all 27 studies, sorted by most relevant.
D'Amico Filippo, M. Matteo, Saracino Marco, et al.
Molecular oral microbiology, 2023
- COVID-19
- Dental Plaque
- SARS-CoV-2
INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 is a transmissible respiratory and multisystem disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Viral transmission occurs mainly through the spread of salivary droplets or aerosol from an infected subject. Studies suggest that salivary viral load is correlated with disease severity and probability of transmission. Cetylpyridinium chloride mouthwash has been found to be effective in reducing salivary viral load. The aim of this systematic review of randomized controlled trials is to evaluate the efficacy of the mouthwash ingredient cetylpyridinium chloride on salivary viral load in SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials comparing cetylpyridinium chloride mouthwash with placebo and other mouthwash ingredients in SARS-CoV-2 positive individuals were identified and evaluated. RESULTS: Six studies with a total of 301 patients that met the inclusion criteria were included. The studies reported the efficacy of cetylpyridinium chloride mouthwashes in reduction on SARS-CoV-2 salivary viral load compared to placebo and other mouthwash ingredients. CONCLUSION: Mouthwashes containing cetylpyridinium chloride are effective against salivary viral load of SARS-CoV-2 in vivo. There is also the possibility that the use of mouthwash containing cetylpyridinium chloride in SARS-CoV-2 positive subjects could reduce transmissibility and severity of COVID-19.
Abstract licence: CC BY
2023
2023
Xiaojun Mao, D. Auer, W. Buchalla, et al.
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2020
- Anti-Infective Agents, Local
- Cetylpyridinium
- Anti-Bacterial Agents
A. Pulcini, Juan Bollaín, I. Sanz-Sánchez, et al.
Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 2019
- Anti-Infective Agents, Local
- Dental Plaque
- Peri-Implantitis
Ronald Chan, Jiaguan Zhang, Colman Mcgrath, et al.
European Oral Research, 2023
Purpose: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of ultrasonic denture hygiene interventions in improving denture cleanliness among elderly individuals. Materials and methods: Sixty-six participants who had received upper metal framework removable partial dentures within the past 5 years were randomly allocated into three denture hygiene intervention groups: group 1 (mechanical cleaning with a toothbrush and ultrasonic cleaning with cetylpyridinium chloride), group 2 (mechanical cleaning with a toothbrush and ultrasonic cleaning with distilled water), and control (mechanical cleaning with a toothbrush only). Denture cleanliness was assessed at baseline and 1-month using: i) Denture Cleanliness Index (DCI) scores; ii) plaque coverage percentage; and (iii) microbiological samples for bacterial and yeast detection. Differences between groups were assessed with one-way analysis of variance and Chi-squared tests. Results: Mean DCI scores and mean percentages of plaque coverage area were significantly reduced in group 1 and group 2, compared to the control group for both cobalt chromium (CoCr) and acrylic fitting surfaces (p<0.001). No significant differences were found between groups 1 and 2 with regard to the prevalence and viable counts of yeasts or total microbial viable counts. No significant differences in the investigated clinical and microbiological parameters were observed between CoCr and acrylic surfaces following the intervention period. Conclusion: The ultrasonic cleaner was significantly more effective than mechanical cleaning in the reduction of biofilm coverage on metal framework removable partial dentures over a 1-month intervention period. Nevertheless, the adjunctive use of cetylpyridinium chloride with ultrasonic cleaning did not yield additional benefits.
Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND
Edgar J Gallardo, William S Zoughaib, Ahaan Singhal, et al.
PLoS ONE, 2025
- Anti-Bacterial Agents
- Cetylpyridinium
- Mouthwashes
Antiseptic mouthwash use is widespread due to its oral health benefits. However, its impact on systemic physiological processes, particularly nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and muscle contractility, is not fully understood. We sought to determine the effects of cetylpyridinium (antibacterial) versus sodium chloride (control) mouthwashes on salivary and breath NO markers and muscle contractile function in healthy young adults. Thirty participants (n = 15/group) completed a randomized, parallel-arm, blinded trial, comparing the two mouthwashes before and after 7 d of treatment. NO bioavailability was inferred via measurement of salivary nitrate (NO3-), nitrite (NO2-), and cyclic guanyl monophosphate (cGMP) concentrations and breath NO level. Contractile function of the knee extensor muscles was determined via isokinetic dynamometry. No changes in salivary NO3-, NO2-, or cGMP or in breath NO were observed in response to either treatment. However, cetylpyridinium mouthwash reduced the percentage of NO2- in saliva (17 ± 10% vs. 25 ± 13%; p = 0.0036). Peak torque at velocities of 0-6.28 rad/s was unaffected by mouthwash use. Calculated maximal knee extensor velocity (Vmax) and power (Pmax) were therefore also unchanged. Cetylpyridinium mouthwash reduces the relative abundance of NO2- in the oral cavity but does not significantly diminish overall NO bioavailability or impair muscle contractile function in healthy young adults.
Abstract licence: CC BY
Daniel L. Popkin, S. Zilka, M. Dimaano, et al.
Pathogens & immunity, 2017
K Nasila, K. Shijith, K MohammedShihabK
International Journal of Research, 2021
Sources: aggregated from Europe PMC (EMBL-EBI), OpenAlex, Crossref, PubMed and other open scholarly databases. Retracted articles are excluded. Study information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Pharmacology and chemical data from DrugBank
Key facts
Drug status
Approved
Major interactions
None known
Half-life
Not available
Mechanism
When incorporated into mouthwashes, toothpastes, lozenges, or mouth sprays, cety…
Food interactions
None known
Human targets
None mapped
Data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Pharmacokinetics at a glance
Absorption
1 min
Half-life
Protein binding
Volume of distribution
Metabolism
Elimination
[L2757]…
Clearance
Pharmacokinetic data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
[A24813][L2754][L2755]
[L2761]
However, such overdose symptoms are only observed in doses 70 times greater than the concentrations of cetylpyridinium chloride found in most over-the-counter cetylpyridinium chloride products .
[L2761]
How the body processes this drug — absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination
[L2758]
Additionally, it has been recorded that quaternary ammonium compounds like Cetylpyridinium chloride are generally poorly absorbed by the oral route .
[L2757]
Furthermore, although systemic absorption from the parenteral route of administration is possible, systemic effects from percutaneous absorption through intact skin is considered rare .
[L2757]
[L2760]
[L2760]
[L2760]
[L2760]
[L2757]
[L2760]
ATC D08AJ03
ATC A01AB53
ATC B05CA01
ATC R02AA06
ATC D09AA07
Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
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Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
Linked compound data from DrugBank Open Data (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Cetylpyridinium
DrugBank citations
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Structured knowledge from the free knowledge base
Linked open data from Wikidata (Q27115152), a free and open knowledge base operated by the Wikimedia Foundation. Data is available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication.