Methenamine

Methenamine in plain language

What it is

Also known as Hexamine · Hexamethylenetetramine · 1,3,5,7-TETRAAZATRICYCLO(3.3.1.1 SUP(3,7))DECANE · Aminoform · Hexamethylenamine · Hexamethylene tetramine

Show all 31 names

Hmt · Hmta · 1,3,5,7-Tetraazaadamantane · Aceto HMT · Aminoformaldehyde · Ammoform · Ammonioformaldehyde · Cystamin · Cystogen · E-239 · Formamine · Formin · Hexamethylenetetraamine · Ins NO.239 · INS-239 · Methenamin · Preparation AF · Uritone · Urotropin · Urotropine · hexamehtylenetetramine (hexamine) · hexamethlenetetramine or hexamine · hexamethylenetetramine/hexamine · hexamine (hexamethylenetriamine) · hexamine/hexamethylenetetramine

What it does

Used in cosmetics as a preservative and an antimicrobial. Methenamine is the organic amine.

• Preservative
• Antimicrobial

Is it a concern?

Minor concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is listed for cosmetic use in the EU.

What the listings say

Permitted, with conditions — Methenamine appears on published "allowed" regulatory lists rather than on a restriction list.

Methenamine is listed in Annex V of the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 (preservatives allowed in cosmetic products).

The score describes this ingredient's chemical identity — its hazard profile from published classifications and regulatory status — not the safety of any product it appears in.

• In marketed US drugs
• EU Annex V — permitted preservative
• EU permitted preservative

• EU·CosIng·Active2 entries

  • Methenamine is the organic amine that conforms to the formula: Restriction: V/30Source →
  • Cosmetics Regulation annex V / ref 30.Source →
• EU·EC·allowed_listedAnnex V of EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009: preservatives allowed in cosmetic products. Maximum concentration: 0.15%

  • Annex V of EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009: preservatives allowed in cosmetic products. Maximum concentration: 0.15%Source →
• US·EPA·commercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 225 composition records across product categories including Specialty occupational products, Batteries, Laboratory supplies. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Preservative, Catalyst, Chemical reaction regulator.

  • EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 225 composition records across product categories including Specialty occupational products, Batteries, Laboratory supplies. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Preservative, Catalyst, Chemical reaction regulator.Source →
• US·FDA·marketed drug occurrenceFDA NDC lists this ingredient in 28 active drug products and 28 total products.

  • FDA NDC lists this ingredient in 28 active drug products and 28 total products.Source →
• US·FDA·listed in openFDA substanceopenFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.

  • openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.Source →

Expert safety opinions

No expert opinion on file for Methenamine. These are the independent scientific bodies that assess ingredients like this one; we show an opinion only when a record we hold cites it.

• SCCS

  EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety

  No SCCS opinion on file.

• CIR

  Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US expert panel)

  No CIR safety assessment on file.