Dextrose

• BPGlucose Monohydrate
• JPGlucose Hydrate
• Ph. Eur.Glucose Monohydrate
• USP–NFDextrose

corn sugar; D-glucose; dextrose monohydrate; anhydrous dextrose; glucose; glucosum monohydricum; grape sugar; Roferose; Tabfine D-100

D-(+)-Glucopyranose monohydrate (also used in anhydrous form) · [50-99-7]

C6H12O6·H2O (anhydrous: C6H12O6) · 198.17 (monohydrate); 180.16 (anhydrous)

Diluent (filler), Tonicity-adjusting agent, Sweetening agent

Typical concentrations: — · Dosage forms: Solid, Sterile (parenteral/ophthalmic), Liquid

Used as a tablet diluent and binder, especially in chewable tablets, and directly compressible grades are available. It is a sweetener and bulking agent in oral solutions and syrups, and a tonicity agent in parenteral and other solutions, where a 5% w/v solution is approximately isotonic. It is also given therapeutically as an energy source, for example in intravenous infusions.

Colourless crystals or a white, crystalline or granular powder; odourless, with a sweet taste roughly 70–80% that of sucrose. It is available as the monohydrate and in anhydrous form.

Melting point

about 83 °C (monohydrate); about 146 °C (anhydrous α-form)

Water content

7.0–9.5% w/w (monohydrate)

Specific rotation

+52.5° to +53.3° (anhydrous basis, at equilibrium)

Osmotic behaviour

a 5% w/v solution is approximately iso-osmotic with serum

Solubility

freely soluble in water (about 1 in 1); sparingly soluble in ethanol

Stable when stored dry. Solutions can be sterilised by autoclaving, but excessive heating lowers the pH and causes yellowing (caramelisation) with formation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural; solutions are most stable at about pH 4. Store in a well-closed container in a cool, dry place.

As a reducing sugar it browns with compounds containing primary amine groups (Maillard reaction). Dextrose solutions have been reported to be incompatible with several drugs, such as cyanocobalamin, kanamycin sulfate, novobiocin sodium and warfarin sodium, so compatibility should be checked before admixture.

Produced by complete acid or enzymatic hydrolysis of starch, usually maize starch, followed by purification and crystallisation; crystallisation below about 50 °C gives the monohydrate and at higher temperature the anhydrous form.

Non-toxic when taken orally, although the sugar content matters for patients with diabetes and for dental health. Concentrated (hypertonic) solutions given intravenously can cause thrombophlebitis, and rapid infusion can cause hyperglycaemia and fluid and electrolyte disturbances.

Observe normal precautions for the quantity handled. Avoid dust; eye protection is recommended.

GRAS listed. Included in the FDA Inactive Ingredient Database (injections; oral capsules, solutions, syrups and tablets; inhalation and other routes) and in parenteral and non-parenteral medicines licensed in Europe.

Dextrates; fructose; glucose, liquid; invert sugar; maltodextrin; sucrose.

Directly compressible dextrose tablets may harden on storage, and the monohydrate can lose water when dried at higher temperatures, so drying conditions for granules should be controlled. The anhydrous form is preferred in some solid products and the monohydrate in solutions; the amount should always be calculated on the appropriate basis.