dangers of grapefruit seed extract/was benzethonium chloride---a mercury product???

December 29, 2002

I looked up web sites about it, and found that it wasn't related to mercury.

However, it is only approved for topical use, and not internal use. It is

toxic, which is why it is used as a preservative, because it's toxic to

pathogens. So if you are absorbing it (which it seems that it would be

easily absorbed through the ear drum, since the ear drum is extremely thin,

and especially if you have inflammation in your ear) I could understand why

it might make you feel worse. I know that I'm intolerant to anything with

benzethonium in it at all, and since it is a common preservative in many

topical medical products, I have to be very cautious. Molecular formula of

benzethonium chloride is: C27H42ClNO2

Some Synonyms for benzethonium are: phemerol chloride,

benzyldimethyl[2-[2-[4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenoxy]ethoxy]ethyl]ammoni

um chloride, salanine, BZT, diapp, quatrachlor, polymine d, phemithyn,

antiseptol, disilyn, phermerol, along with various other trade names.

As a side note, I found a web site that had some interesting things

concerning benzethonium. It was about a government place that found that

many commercial grapefruit seed extracts were found to contain benzethonium.

This is especially serious, because they were not labeled as having it in

them, and grapefruit seed extracts are often taken internally to get rid of

candida, parasites, etc. (I think some people on this list might be using

grapefruit seed extract with their autistic kids for yeast control during

chelation) Since benzethonium is toxic, it should never be taken internally.

The irony is that it is used in things like artificial tears, or nasal

sprays, which I would think would allow especially easy absorption of it.

The web site about the grapefruit seed extract is:

At one time I was trying to use grapefruit seed extract, myself, but was

very intolerant to it. I suspect that this might be why I couldn't tolerate

it. Come to think of it, my reaction was pretty much the same as my reaction

to things with benzethonium in them. And I found it puzzling at the time,

because I'm not allergic to grapefruit, or citrus fruits at all. But I

couldn't tolerate the grapefruit seed extract. Now I think I know why.

lindaj@...

[ ] benzethonium chloride---a mercury product???

> I was recently prescribed some ear drops which contain benzethonium

chloride in them. The drops seem to be making my condition worse. Is

benzethonium chloride related to mercury at all?

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