HEXAMETHYLENAMINE — UROTROPIN 469 



HEXAMETHYLENAMINA.— HEXAMETHYLENAMINE 



Synonyms. Urotropin — rormin — Hexamethylentetramine, 

 Amninoform, Cystogin 



This product is formed by the action of ammonia upon formalde- 

 hyde. It occurs as colorless, odorless crystals, having a sweetish taste, 

 afterwards a bitter taste; soluble in 1,6 parts of water, and in 10 of 

 alcohol. 



Doses. H. 3 j — ij ; 4. — 8. Dog, gr. xv — ^xxx; 0.3 — 2. 



Urotropin is rapidly absorbed but produces no systemic action. 

 It appears in the urine within a few minutes after administration 

 and if the urine is acid it is partly converted into formaldehyde 

 which produces its usual antiseptic action. Urotropin has no such 

 action in alkaline urine but the effect may be obtained in man at 

 least by administration of acid sodium phosphate to acidify the 

 urine. The drug has also been found in the milk, bile, pancreatic 

 juice, cerebrospinal fluid, blood, saliva, synovial fluids, nasal and 

 bronchial secretions and pleural effusions in man. 



Therapeutics. Its uses depend upon its power to liberate 

 formaldehyde which takes place in acid solutions. It is very useful 

 in infections of the genitourinary tract if the urine is acid. Whether 

 the urine of herbivora may be made acid by administration of acid 

 sodium phosphate is questionable. The two drugs should not be 

 given at the same time as they are incompatible. The sodium salt 

 should be given some time previous to the other. 



In acid urine it may either increase the acidity until it is irritat- 

 ing or in itself is irritant, causing the usual run of symptoms of irri- 

 tation of these parts. 



There is considerable controversy over its beneficial action in 

 other conditions because although urotropin has been found in so 

 many parts of the body there is no evidence that it will be decom- 

 posed into formaldehyde. 



* Citarin (Anhydromethylendtrate of Sodium). A white crys- 

 talline powder, of pleasant acidulous taste, soluble in water, insolu- 

 ble in alcohol, frees formaldehyde in the blood. Used particularly 

 in gout. 



Doses. D. gr. x — ^xv; 0.6 — 1. 



* Helm,intal (Urotropin Anhydromethylendtrate). Fine color- 

 less crystals, slightly soluble in water, decomposed by alkalies and 

 slowly by dilute acids with freeing of formaldehyde. Uses and doses 

 similar to urotropin. 



* Tannopin (Tannon), contains tannin 87 per cent, urotropin 13 

 per cent. It is a brownish tasteless powder, insoluble in water or 



* UnoflScial. 



