Arachis Oil (Peanut Oil)
Brand names: Fleet Enema Oil (arachis oil component), arachis oil enema
Arachis (peanut) oil is used as a faecal softener, chiefly as a retention enema to soften and lubricate impacted hardened stool prior to evacuation.
ClinCalc Pro is rebuilding its dose data from primary open sources — the manufacturer SmPC (eMC), the WHO Model Formulary and other official references — under clinician review. This drug's structured dose is not yet published here. Confirm all doses against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.
Clinical monograph
How it works
It acts locally to soften and lubricate the faecal mass, easing the passage of impacted stool.
Prescribing in practice
- It is contraindicated in patients with known peanut or soya allergy because of the risk of hypersensitivity reactions.
- It is used for the relief of faecal impaction and is often warmed before administration as a retention enema to improve patient comfort.
- Exclude bowel obstruction or other contraindications to enema use before administration.
Monitoring
No laboratory monitoring is required; assess the clinical response in terms of stool softening and successful evacuation.
Counselling the patient
- Tell your healthcare team if you have any allergy to peanuts or soya.
- The enema is usually retained for a period to allow the hard stool to soften.
- Report any allergic symptoms such as rash, itching or breathing difficulty.
Evidence & guidelines
Arachis oil enemas are an established option for softening impacted faeces and are described in current prescribing references.
Reference: NICE CKS Constipation (2023); Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.