Synthol is a liquid medical product brand available in France since 1920, though the nature of the product has changed through the brand's history.
1920s
Synthol was developed by Maurice Bunau-Varilla, a prominent newspaper publisher of the early twentieth century, as a tonic. He promoted it as a cure-all tonic.[1]
Chloral hydrate based formula
The brand was acquired by GlaxoSmithKline.[2] Formerly the formula consisted of chloral hydrate, menthol, veratrol, resorcinol and salicylic acid. Sold mainly as a mouthwash in a distinctive black carton, it is also packaged as a gel and spray for the treatment of muscular pain(s).
Today
Following a rupture in supply 2014–2015[3] the product returned to French pharmacies in June 2016 with the same composition, minus chloral hydrate, now banned, and with the indication "mouthwash" («bain de bouche») removed.[4]
Among the new uses of the reformulation is endorsement of the Synthol gel as an umbilical cord antiseptic.[5]
SyntholKiné
A similarly named but unrelated product named SyntholKiné was launched by Glaxo in 2015.[6]
References
- Dominique Pinsole. Le Synthol, moteur de l'histoire Le Monde diplomatique, August 2009^
- GlaxoSmithKline: Synthol Liquid – for dermal use and mouth wash (450 ml) Synthol Liquid is recommended for application to the skin, or as a supplementary treatment for mild traumas (such as cuts and bruises) or insect bites and stings. Suitable for adults and children over 7 years^
- Synthol gel / liquide rupture de stock : où le trouver ?, Nouveautés today, 19 septembre 2014^
- Le Synthol est de retour dans les pharmacies^
- Reformulated GSK mouthwash endorsed as umbilical cord antiseptic Reuters, 2016-04-29, retrieved 2023-05-09^
- Liste de produits grand public sur le site de GlaxoSmithKline^