Indications
Butane propellant is an inactive ingredient. It is a liquefied gas used in aerosol sprays (such as medicated skin sprays, foams and some cosmetic products) to push the contents out of the can as a fine spray. It has no medical effect of its own.
How It Works
Butane is kept as a liquid under pressure inside the can. When the valve is pressed, it turns rapidly into gas and carries the medicine out as a spray. It then evaporates almost immediately from the skin, leaving the active ingredients behind.
Dosage and Administration
There is no dose for butane itself; follow the directions for the finished spray. Shake the can if instructed, hold it at the distance stated on the label (often about 15 to 20 cm) and spray briefly onto the affected area. Do not spray onto the face or near the eyes, nose or mouth.
Interactions
- No interactions with medicines are known when used as a spray propellant.
Contraindications
- Allergy to any ingredient of the spray.
- Must never be inhaled deliberately.
Side Effects
Butane evaporates quickly and can feel very cold; spraying too close or for too long on one spot may cause cold burns or skin irritation. Breathing in the spray may cause coughing, dizziness or headache.
Get urgent medical help if someone has inhaled butane on purpose or in large amounts (it can cause sudden heart rhythm problems, collapse and death), or if there is difficulty breathing, chest pain, fainting or severe skin damage.
Pregnancy and Lactation
Brief use of a spray on the skin is not expected to be harmful. Follow the advice for the active medicine in the spray, use in a ventilated area and avoid breathing in the spray.
Precautions and Warnings
- Extremely flammable: do not spray near flames, sparks, lit cigarettes or hot surfaces, and do not smoke while using.
- Pressurised container: do not puncture or burn, even when empty, and protect from sunlight and temperatures above 50°C.
- Use in a well-ventilated area and do not inhale.
- Keep away from children; deliberate sniffing of aerosols is dangerous.
Overdose
Deliberate inhalation can cause drowsiness, confusion, irregular heartbeat, suffocation and sudden death. Move the person to fresh air, keep them calm and still, and call emergency services. Prolonged spraying on skin causes cold burns; warm the area gently and seek care if it blisters.
Therapeutic Class
Inactive ingredient (aerosol propellant).
Storage
Store below 30°C in a cool place, away from sunlight, heat and flames. Do not freeze. Keep out of the reach of children.
Prepared by the Oshud Alo team from standard drug references. For information only; always follow your doctor's advice.