meglumine

Meglumine is an amino sugar derived from sorbitol, chemically known as N-methyl-D-glucamine. It is primarily used as an excipient in the pharmaceutical industry and as a component in iodinated contrast media for diagnostic imaging procedures such as CT scans and X-rays. In these applications, it forms salts with various iodinated organic compounds (e.g., diatrizoate meglumine, iothalamate meglumine) to enhance their solubility and reduce toxicity. While pharmacologically inactive on its own, it plays a crucial role in the formulation of radiopaque agents that help visualize internal body structures during medical imaging[1][2][3]. It is not itself an active therapeutic agent but may be found in combination products or used to prepare certain antiprotozoal drugs (e.g., meglumine antimoniate).

Brand names

MeglumineMéglumineMegluminaMegluminum

Other names

N-methyl-D-glucamine1-deoxy-1-methylaminosorbitol