Synthol (mouthwash)

Synthol

Product type	Analgesic liquid
Owner	Haleon
Country	France
Introduced	1920
Markets	Worldwide
Previous owners	GSK plc

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

1. Pinsole, Dominique (August 2009). "Le Synthol, moteur de l'histoire". Le Monde diplomatique (in French).
2. 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
3. Synthol gel / liquide rupture de stock : où le trouver ?, Nouveautés today, 19 septembre 2014
4. "Le Synthol est de retour dans les pharmacies".
5. "Reformulated GSK mouthwash endorsed as umbilical cord antiseptic". Reuters. 2016-04-29. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
6. Liste de produits grand public sur le site de GlaxoSmithKline