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Polyethylene Glycol

Meaning

Polyethylene Glycol, commonly abbreviated as PEG, is a non-toxic, synthetic polyether compound with a wide range of molecular weights, used extensively in medicine, pharmaceutical formulation, and cosmetic products. Clinically, it functions as an excipient in drug delivery systems, a solubilizer for poorly soluble compounds, and a common osmotic laxative to treat constipation. In hormonal health, specific, high-molecular-weight forms of PEG are sometimes used in compounding pharmacies to alter the absorption and half-life of bio-identical hormones for transdermal or mucosal delivery.