Maalox

Maalox was a brand of antacid owned by Sanofi. Their main product was a flavored liquid containing aluminium hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide, which acts to neutralize or reduce stomach acid, for the purpose of relieving the symptoms of indigestion, heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and also stomach or duodenal ulcers. In large doses, it can act as a laxative. The trademark is owned by Novartis International AG, and was first produced commercially in 1949.

The acronym ‘MAALOX’ refers to the solution’s compositional elements: MAgnesium and ALuminium as OXides of hydrogen, in an anionic, aqueous hydroxide solution. This reacts with cationic, aqueous hydrochloride found in the gut, resulting in ion-exchange neutralisation of the acid base into water and/or salt.

Some may find certain Maalox medications, such as Maalox Multi-Action, to be a successful anti-diarrhea treatment due to the aluminium hydroxide content, which in normal situations has a tendency to result in constipation. Maalox may also be used to treat nausea and stomach cramps associated with dyspepsia, diarrhea, or constipation.

History
Alison Howe Price, M.D.

Maalox was developed in a collaboration between William H. Rorer, Inc., and a medical doctor and researcher specializing in gastrointestinal issues, Alison Howe Price from Philadelphia.[1] The collaboration occurred after World War II when Claude Newhart, a salesman and pharmacist for the company, had an idea that he thought might change the company's fortunes. According to the Rorer family, he suggested that instead of selling pain relievers manufactured by others, they should create their own products. Gerald Rorer, then President of Rorer, told Newhart to "go and find something." Newhart took up the challenge and contacted an old acquaintance from his student days working at a Philadelphia drugstore, Martin H. Rehfuss, who happened to be chief of medicine at Thomas Jefferson Hospital. It was Rehfuss who introduced Newhart to Price. Soon thereafter, Newhart convinced Price to become a consultant for the Fort Washington, Pennsylvania based Willam H. Rorer, Inc. In the end, Maalox became the first product the partnership produced.[2][3] Maalox eventually became the world's best selling antacid and forever changed the company's fortunes.[4]

Ingredients

Liquid

Liquid Maalox contains aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide and simethicone.

Tablets

Maalox Regular Strength chewable tablets contain 600 mg of calcium carbonate. Maalox Extra Strength + Anti-Gas tablets contain 1000 mg of calcium carbonate and 60 mg of simethicone.

Uses

Maalox is used to treat moderate dyspepsia, which includes symptoms of a burning sensation in the stomach or chest area, bloating, and/or gas pain, especially occurring after meals. It is used in combination with oxycodone to treat esophageal pain in cancer therapy patients. It is also a common component of a GI cocktail used in emergency rooms.

Maalox is used in scientific research to simulate for silt/mud/soil in water, along with other dissolved particulates. The particulate size exceeds 11 micrometres.[5]

Maalox can be used as a standalone antacid treatment or in conjunction with prescription strength medication such as proton pump inhibitors and H2 blockers.

Activists in the United States, the Czech Republic, Venezuela, and Turkey have reported using Maalox or other antacid solutions diluted with water as a home remedy for tear gas attacks.[6][7][8]

Side effects

Maalox generally doesn’t produce serious side effects in individuals who use it for less than two weeks, but some mild side effects may appear. Possible side effects of Maalox include nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and headaches. These symptoms generally go away without further treatment. It may be necessary to contact a doctor if these symptoms become severe or persist for long periods of time. Maalox has been linked to phosphate deficiencies in some individuals as a result of the aluminum binding to phosphate in the stomach. This causes the body to flush out this important chemical which can lead to a deficiency.

Pregnancy

Women who are pregnant can, with the permission of a health care provider, use this product as the aluminum content is deemed safe for the developing or nursing child. Individuals who suffer from kidney issues, however, should not take this product unless advised to do so by a doctor.

Manufacturing suspension 2012

In February 2012, Novartis Consumer Health announced that they were temporarily, voluntarily suspending operations at the Novartis Consumer Health Lincoln facility that produces Maalox as well as suspending shipments.[9]

The shutdown was a result of inspections in 2011. "Two FDA inspections that year, about five months apart, noted numerous instances of the company not addressing consumer complaints and, in some cases, ignoring them."[10] At that time, Novartis decided to stop manufacturing Maalox at their Lincoln plant and to have third parties produce it.[10] The problems at the Lincoln plant included the possibility of chipped particles from one medication being mixed into the bottles of other medications as well as 1,300 other consumer complaints.[11]

In August 2013, there was a recall of Maalox products.[12] "The recall encompasses 9 different types of its Maalox chewable tablets, including more than 3.4 million bottles of Maalox Advanced Maximum Strength Antacid & Antigas."[13] They planned to restart production on a line-by-line basis, but the Maalox line had not by then been restarted.[13]

As at 2014, Novartis's Maalox brand was to be merged, along with other consumer brands, with the consumer brands of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). This was part of a $20 billion exchange of business units between the two companies.[14]

References
  1. Holden, Robert (February 3, 2020). Upper Township and its Ten Villages. Arcadia Publishing. p. 93. ISBN 978-1467104425. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  2. Wallace, Andy. "Claude Newhart, 87; helped develop Maalox", The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, 20 May 1995, p.C7
  3. Assistant Commissioner for National and Historic Resources (1989-08-14). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form". National Park Service.
  4. Sally A. Downey (2007-08-30). "William H. Rorer III, pharmaceuticals scion". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  5. Johnson, B.; Scroggins, D.; Kamgar-Parsi, B.; Folds, D.; Belcher, E. (1 October 1993). "3-D acoustic imaging with a thin lens". Proceedings of OCEANS '93. pp. III444–III449 vol.3. doi:10.1109/OCEANS.1993.326230. ISBN 978-0-7803-1385-9. S2CID 111143404 – via IEEE Xplore.
  6. David Ferguson (2011-09-28). "'Maalox'-and-water solution used as anti-tear gas remedy by protesters". Raw Story.
  7. "Medical information from Prague 2000". Archived from the original on 2014-10-18.
  8. Ece Temelkuran (2013-06-03). "Istanbul is burning". Occupy Wall Street.
  9. "Maalox". Novartis. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  10. "Novartis to cut 300 jobs at Lincoln plant". Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  11. "Novartis plant closure contributes to Maalox shortage in Canada". Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  12. "US Decides Offshoring played role in Novartis cuts in Lincoln". Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  13. "Novartis can't get past foul-ups at consumer plant; recalls 4.4 million bottles of Maalox". Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  14. "Novartis and Glaxo Agree to Trade $20 Billion in Assets". Retrieved 24 April 2014.
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