Methenamine

Methenamine (INN) or hexamine (former BAN) is a chemical compoundcomprised of methene(methylene) and an amine. It has two very different common uses: as an antibiotic(commonly the hippurate salt, methenamine hippurate), and as a solidfueltablet used for cookingwhile campingor hiking. The name hexamine is more common in non-medicinal applications.

Medicinal use

Methenamine hippurate is mainly used for the prophylaxis(prevention) of urinary tract infections, where it is hydrolysedin the acidicpH of the urineto form formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is an effective antiseptic against bacteria and fungi in vitro, but may not be effective in vivo - it has not shown to be effective for the treatment of urinary tract infections. Furthermore, certain bacteria (including Proteus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. increase urinary pH, rendering methenamine ineffective. (Rossi, 2004)

Methenamine can also be used to treat hyperhidrosiswhen applied topically. (Beers & Berkow, 1999)

Industrial use

Another important area for use of hexamine is in the production of powdery or liquid preparations of phenolic resinsand phenolic resinmoulding compounds, where hexamine is added as a hardening component. These products are used as binders, e.g. in brake and clutch linings, abrasive products, non-woven textiles, formed parts produced by moulding processes, and fireproof materials.

Hexamine is also used in corrosion inhibition, as a photochemical, in paints and lacquers, and food preservation. (Roempp, 1997; Ullmann, 1995)

References

• Beers MH, Berkow R, editors. The Merck Manual, 17th edition. Whitehouse Station (NJ): Merck Research Laboratories; 1999. ISBN 0911910-10-7
• Rossi S, editor. Australian Medicines Handbook2004. Adelaide: Australian Medicines Handbook; 2004. ISBN 0-9578521-4-2.fr:Méthénamine

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methenamine Wikipedia article Methenamine.