Perillyl Alcohol: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Perillyl alcohol is a chemical found in certain plants such as lavender and citrus fruits.

People use perillyl alcohol for conditions such as various cancers, for skin damage caused by long-term sun exposure, and as a mosquito repellent, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

There isn't enough information to know how perillyl alcohol might work against cancer. Test tube research and research in animals suggest that perillyl alcohol might prevent cancer cells from growing. But there is not enough information to know if perillyl alcohol has this effect in people.

Perillyl alcohol seems to repel mosquitoes. There isn't enough information to know how perillyl alcohol might do this.

How does it work ?

There isn't enough information to know how perillyl alcohol might work against cancer. Test tube research and research in animals suggest that perillyl alcohol might prevent cancer cells from growing. But there is not enough information to know if perillyl alcohol has this effect in people.

Perillyl alcohol seems to repel mosquitoes. There isn't enough information to know how perillyl alcohol might do this.

Uses & Effectiveness

We currently have no information for Perillyl Alcohol overview.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Perillyl alcohol is POSSIBLY SAFE when used under medical supervision. But don't take perillyl alcohol on your own. Taking perillyl alcohol can cause several serious side effects including stomach upset, reflux, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, and headache. Higher doses are more likely to cause more side effects. Many people who take perillyl alcohol have to stop because they can't tolerate the side effects, even at usual doses.

There have been reports of pancreatitis, increased bilirubin (which is a measure of liver function), increased white blood cell count, and low potassium levels in people taking high doses of perillyl alcohol.

When applied to the skin: Perillyl alcohol is POSSIBLY SAFE.

When given as a nasal spray: Perillyl alcohol is POSSIBLY SAFE. It might cause a runny nose and nose irritation.

Special Precautions and Warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if perillyl alcohol is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Interactions

We currently have no information for Perillyl Alcohol overview.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of perillyl alcohol depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for perillyl alcohol. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

View References

REFERENCES:

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Stearns V, Coop A, Singh B, et al. A pilot surrogate end point biomarker trial of perillyl alcohol in breast neoplasia. Clin Cancer Res 2004;10:7583-91.

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Bailey, H. H., Levy, D., Harris, L. S., Schink, J. C., Foss, F., Beatty, P., and Wadler, S. A phase II trial of daily perillyl alcohol in patients with advanced ovarian cancer: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Study E2E96. Gynecol.Oncol. 2002;85(3):464-468.

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Zafeer MF, Firdaus F, Ahmad F, et al. Perillyl alcohol alleviates amyloid-ß peptides-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. Int J Biol Macromol. 2018;109:1029-1038.

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Nehra G, Andrews S, Rettig J, et al. Intranasal administration of the chemotherapeutic perillyl alcohol results in selective delivery to the cerebrospinal fluid in rats. Sci Rep 2021;11(1):6351.

Schönthal AH, Peereboom DM, Wagle N, et al. Phase I trial of intranasal NEO100, highly purified perillyl alcohol, in adult patients with recurrent glioblastoma. Neurooncol Adv 2021;3(1):vdab005.

Sudha Yalamarthi S, Puppala ER, Abubakar M, et al. Perillyl alcohol inhibits keratinocyte proliferation and attenuates imiquimod-induced psoriasis like skin-inflammation by modulating NF-?B and STAT3 signaling pathways. Int Immunopharmacol 2022;103:108436.

Bejeshk MA, Beik A, Aminizadeh AH, et al. Perillyl alcohol (PA) mitigates inflammatory, oxidative, and histopathological consequences of allergic asthma in rats. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 2023.

Ahmed S, Panda SR, Kwatra M, Sahu BD, Naidu V. Perillyl Alcohol Attenuates NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and Rescues Dopaminergic Neurons in Experimental In Vitro and In Vivo Models of Parkinson's Disease. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022;13(1):53-68.

CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

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