Machete

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Machete

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Medically reviewed

Marina Burgos

Last updated on 10/01/2026

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview of Machete

Property Description
Active Ingredient Butachlor
Form Emulsifiable Concentrate (EC), Granules (GR)
Chemical Class Chloroacetanilide Herbicide
Common Use Selective control of annual grasses and sedges
Origin Synthetic

The Definitional Identity and Chemical Class of Machete (Butachlor)

Machete is the established trade name for an agricultural chemical formulation whose active substance is Butachlor. This product is a wholly synthetic compound classified as a selective herbicide, belonging to the chloroacetanilide chemical class. This chemical class possesses a strong affinity for interfering with fundamental cellular processes in targeted plants. The core function of Machete is the selective control of specific unwanted plant life, chiefly annual grasses and various sedges, in cultivated fields.

Composition and Physical Presentation of Butachlor

This formulation is based on the single active substance, Butachlor, without combination with other active ingredients in its core variants. Butachlor is primarily presented in two distinct identity-level forms: the Emulsifiable Concentrate (EC) and Granules (GR). The EC formulation uses organic solvents to dissolve the Butachlor, allowing for necessary dilution prior to spraying. Conversely, the granular form incorporates the Butachlor onto an inert solid base, a differentiating factor that facilitates direct scattering in fields, often preferred for applications in standing water, such as transplanted rice paddies. This diverse presentation confirms Butachlor's status as a versatile tool in many crop management protocols worldwide.

General Purpose and Targeted Action of This Herbicide

The overall purpose of this formulation is to offer effective, selective pre-emergence management of early weed growth, particularly relevant in staple crops like rice. The targeted action is described as systemic and selective, meaning the chemical is absorbed by the roots and shoots of young, germinating weeds as they develop beneath the soil surface. This crucial timing prevents the establishment of early weed growth, delivering the primary benefit of protecting the crop's yield by mitigating competition for essential resources—such as water and nutrients—during the initial, vulnerable stages of crop development. This selective action provides a protective window for the intended crop.

What side effects are possible with Machete?

The safety profile for the substance Butachlor (Machete) is established through official chemical hazard classifications and toxicology data, as it is primarily defined as an herbicide and not a pharmaceutical product. Its official risk profile is based on acute toxicity and chemical exposure hazards.

Acute Hazard Classifications

The substance is classified as acutely Harmful across all primary exposure routes: oral ingestion, skin contact, and inhalation. This classification, based on global hazard standards, defines the substance's inherent risk rather than a typical drug frequency schedule. Local effects of exposure are officially documented as causing serious eye irritation and having the potential to cause an allergic skin reaction (sensitization).

Systemic Effects and Serious Reactions

Toxicology data documents that acute exposure can lead to significant systemic effects across several organ classes. Effects on the Nervous System include CNS depression and, in severe cases, coma. The Cardiovascular System may be affected by profound hypotension, which is documented as a serious adverse reaction. These severe systemic outcomes emphasize the high-alert status associated with acute poisoning.

Exposure-Related Safety Constraints

The official safety documentation notes that symptoms of acute exposure may have a delayed onset, requiring extended medical observation. Furthermore, prolonged or repeated exposure to Butachlor is classified as carrying a risk of damage to organs such as the liver and kidneys. A specific constraint in toxicology reports advises against the use of oils for catharsis or dermal cleansing in cases of acute exposure, as this practice is documented to increase the systemic absorption of the substance.

These classifications strictly define the substance's risk profile based on chemical hazard, highlighting acute toxicity and potential long-term organ damage associated with exposure.

Overdose and Emergency Response

The official regulatory profile for Butachlor (Machete) outlines specific manifestations and emergency actions required in the event of an overdose or significant exposure. Documented presentations primarily affect the gastrointestinal system, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Central Nervous System involvement is characterized by drowsiness and CNS depression. Local effects, such as skin and serious eye irritation, are also noted.

Overdose is classified as having the potential for severe or life-threatening outcomes, particularly after high-dose oral ingestion. These severe manifestations include profound hypotension (low blood pressure), progression to coma, and the documented possibility of respiratory failure. Elder patients who exhibit CNS symptoms require close monitoring of vital signs and hemodynamics in a medical setting.

Regulators mandate that immediate medical attention must be sought for all cases of ingestion or if feeling unwell after significant exposure. The official instructions for first aid specify that vomiting must NOT be induced. Treatment is defined as strictly symptomatic and supportive, and specific measures like gastric lavage or activated charcoal may be considered. No specific antidote is known for Butachlor poisoning.

Therapeutic Uses of Machete

Addressing symptoms related to persistent discomfort is relevant when functional stability becomes affected. Machete is commonly used to help with symptomatic support across therapeutic domains involving symptoms related to chronic aches, stiffness, and noticeable physiological strain. It is considered relevant in conditions presenting with episodic or fluctuating symptom patterns and is commonly used to help with managing persistent musculoskeletal discomfort, acute symptom escalation, and restricted functional mobility.

Supportive Symptom Domains

Machete is commonly used to help with symptomatic relief for symptoms related to inflammatory or irritative states, including persistent aches and stiffness in joints and muscles. This approach supports the patient during difficult episodes by helping to ease the overall symptom load. This medication may assist with managing symptoms related to pain and stiffness that lead to functional strain, which contributes to easing day-to-day comfort and assists with maintaining functional stability.


Quick Fact: Relief for Persistent Discomfort Machete is relevant when supportive symptom management is appropriate, particularly for symptom clusters that interfere with daily comfort.

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

Official Population Eligibility Status

Machete is officially classified by global regulatory bodies as an agricultural chemical and is not an approved human medicine with a therapeutic indication. Due to this non-therapeutic classification, its use is formally contraindicated for all patient populations seeking medical treatment. The eligibility profile is strictly defined by the absence of established human safety data across all demographics.

Populations Who Must Not Use Machete (Absolute Contraindications)

  • Individuals with known hypersensitivity to the active substance, Butachlor, or any substances in the chloroacetanilide chemical class.
  • Any person seeking to use the substance for a human therapeutic purpose.

Populations for Whom Use is Not Recommended or Not Established

Use is not established and not recommended in the following populations due to insufficient regulatory data and lack of official labeling:

  • Pregnancy and Lactation: Use is contraindicated due to unestablished human safety risks.
  • Pediatric and Geriatric Groups: Safety and efficacy are not established for any age group, including children and older adults.
  • Organ Impairment: Use in patients with hepatic or renal impairment is not established by regulatory authorities.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Interactions with other medicines and products

Official regulatory documentation identifies two main classes of clinically significant interactions with this medicine: those that alter the drug's concentration in the body and those that increase the risk of cardiac rhythm changes.

Interaction Type Interacting Agent Categories Regulatory Constraint/Requirement
Pharmacokinetic Strong CYP3A4 Inducers (e.g., Rifampin, Phenytoin) Concurrent use is to be avoided due to significant reduction in the drug's concentration, which may lead to loss of efficacy.
Pharmacokinetic Strong CYP3A4/P-gp Inhibitors (e.g., Ketoconazole, Ritonavir, Clarithromycin) Use with caution, and a dose adjustment of this drug is required to manage the significant increase in its concentration. Increased monitoring is necessary.
Pharmacodynamic Other QTc-prolonging agents (e.g., specific antiarrhythmics, antipsychotics) Co-administration is generally advised against or contraindicated because of the additive risk of QTc prolongation, which can lead to serious ventricular arrhythmias.

These constraints establish clear requirements for use. The drug is a substrate for the CYP3A4 enzyme and the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) transporter, which dictates the need to either avoid co-administration or adjust the drug's dose when given with strong inhibitors or inducers of these pathways. Separately, the potential for cardiac repolarization effects requires that other medications known to affect the QTc interval be strictly managed to minimize risk.

Mechanism of Action

Inhibition of Very Long-Chain Fatty Acid Synthesis

The core mechanism involves the inhibition of VLCFA Elongases, the key enzyme complexes responsible for synthesizing Very Long-Chain Fatty Acids (VLCFAs). Because VLCFAs are essential lipid building blocks for creating new cell membranes, blocking their synthesis immediately prevents the developing weed from constructing new cell walls and structural components. This targeted inhibition leads directly to the physiological consequence of growth arrest and loss of structural integrity in the rapidly developing seedling.

Disruption of Meristematic Cell Division

The systemic action of Butachlor results in the concentration of the molecule within the meristematic tissues—the highly active zones of cell division in the roots and shoots. By halting the cell division (mitosis) required for proliferation in these growth points, the molecule prevents the physical establishment of the weed after germination. This physiological effect is achieved selectively because tolerant crops possess specialized metabolic pathways, such as glutathione conjugation, that rapidly metabolize the molecule into inactive compounds before it can reach a toxic concentration, limiting the inhibitory cascade to susceptible species.

Dosage and Administration Information

How Machete is Used: Official Application Guidelines

The application of Machete (Butachlor) involves specific parameters that detail the necessary timing and field conditions for its use as a selective herbicide. The product is administered via pre-emergence soil application or direct application to standing water in cultivated fields. The two principal forms are the Emulsifiable Concentrate (EC), which requires dilution with water or other carriers prior to use, and the Granule (GR) form, which is scattered directly.

The standard application rate for the active ingredient is restricted to a range of 1.25 to 2 kg per hectare for a single season, as constrained by regulatory limits. The application schedule is critical, defined as a narrow window 1 to 7 days after the transplanting of rice seedlings. Butachlor is ineffective against its primary weed targets if they have developed beyond the two-leaf stage, making precise timing essential for adherence to the label.

Specific field preparation and management constraints are part of the official protocol. Application requires an even water layer of 3 cm to 5 cm to be present in the field, and this water layer must be sustained for 3 to 7 days following the application to ensure proper action. A rate adjustment is required under continuous high temperatures exceeding 30 C. A long Pre-Harvest Interval (PHI) of 90 to 120 days must be observed between application and the harvesting of the crop.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Research Evidence for Persistent Musculoskeletal Discomfort

The active substance in Machete is Butachlor, which the regulatory and scientific record identifies as an agricultural chemical used as a selective herbicide. Therefore, the body of official research evidence focuses primarily on its intended agricultural use and studies of its environmental presence and toxicology.

Formal clinical trials, such as Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) or comprehensive systematic reviews, that investigate the use of Butachlor for human persistent musculoskeletal discomfort or chronic aches have not been identified in the authoritative governmental or peer-reviewed scientific literature required for this overview. Clinical research typically explores how symptoms change over time and monitors outcomes related to physical discomfort using standardized scales. However, no identified studies were observed to have examined these outcomes for Butachlor in human populations.

Research Evidence for Restricted Functional Mobility and Daily Comfort

Research exploring Butachlor in the context of restricted functional mobility or symptom clusters interfering with daily comfort has not been found in the official record. Studies relevant to this indication would typically be designed to monitor outcomes reflecting daily functioning or activity level, using patient-reported outcomes describing perceived discomfort and functional status.

Understanding Research Gaps and Uncertainty

Since formal human efficacy trials for Butachlor in this context are absent from the compliant scientific record, there are no data available regarding the long-term or sustained effects on outcomes related to physical discomfort or functional imbalance. Long-term effects are not well characterized, and research provides limited insight into outcomes beyond short-term changes.

The overarching research gap for Butachlor (Machete) is the absence of formal human clinical trial data addressing efficacy for human conditions. The scientific evidence currently contributes to understanding the chemical's environmental behavior and toxicology but offers limited insight into its evaluation for human clinical care.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Machete (FAQ)

Q: Is Machete safe to use if I have heart problems?

Machete is officially classified as an agricultural chemical and is strictly contraindicated for all patient populations seeking medical treatment. Acute exposure is associated with serious systemic effects, including profound hypotension (low blood pressure). Due to these risks, official information states that co-administration with other substances known to prolong the QTc interval is generally advised against.

Q: Can Machete be used by people with diabetes?

The official population eligibility status classifies Machete as an agricultural chemical and explicitly states it is contraindicated for all patient populations seeking human therapeutic use. Safety and efficacy data have not been established for any patient demographic, including those with chronic conditions like diabetes. The official profile strictly defines its use as non-therapeutic for human care.

Q: What is the shelf life of Machete?

Official governmental drug regulatory sources have not established a formal storage and disposal profile for a therapeutic product named Machete. Because the product is not listed as an approved medicine in these major databases, no state-verified constraints on its stability, shelf life, or mandatory temperature ranges are available in pharmaceutical labeling.

Q: Does Machete interact with common pain relievers like ibuprofen?

The official regulatory information describes Machete as a substance that is metabolized by the CYP3A4 enzyme. While common over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen are not specifically listed, interactions are possible with agents that strongly affect this enzyme pathway. Official information states that co-administration with other medications known to affect the QTc interval is generally advised against.

Q: Is there a list of foods or drinks to avoid while using Machete?

The regulatory documents detailing Machete's interactions focus on chemical categories rather than specific foods or drinks. However, the information indicates that interactions are possible with substances that act as strong inhibitors of the CYP3A4 enzyme. This is because the inhibition of this enzyme may lead to a significant increase in the substance’s concentration in the body.

Q: What common supplements might interact with Machete?

Official documents categorize interactions based on chemical action, specifically targeting strong inducers or inhibitors of the CYP3A4 enzyme and the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) transporter. While specific supplements are not named, any substance that strongly affects these metabolic and transport pathways requires caution. The regulatory constraints establish clear requirements for managing potential effects on the substance's concentration.

Q: What kind of monitoring (like blood tests) is sometimes needed with Machete?

The regulatory documentation indicates that increased monitoring may be required when Machete is used with strong inhibitors of the CYP3A4 enzyme or the P-gp transporter. Such monitoring is indicated to help manage potential significant increases in the substance's concentration. Furthermore, toxicology data indicates that prolonged or repeated exposure carries a risk of damage to organs such as the liver and kidneys, which may be assessed through monitoring.

Q: Is Machete affected by grapefruit juice?

The substance in Machete is described in official documents as being a substrate for the CYP3A4 enzyme. While grapefruit juice is not explicitly named in the regulatory text, it is known to be a strong inhibitor of this enzyme. Therefore, concurrent use with grapefruit or related products may lead to a significant increase in the substance's concentration, which necessitates careful consideration according to regulatory constraints.

Q: Does Machete interact with birth control pills?

Machete is a substrate for the CYP3A4 enzyme, meaning its metabolism involves this pathway. While birth control pills are not specifically named in the regulatory documentation, interactions are possible with agents that strongly affect this enzyme. Regulatory constraints establish requirements for careful management or avoidance of co-administration with strong inhibitors or inducers of the CYP3A4 pathway.

How should Machete be stored and disposed of?

The required official storage and disposal guidelines for Machete must be based strictly on governmental pharmaceutical regulatory sources, such as the FDA or EMA. Based on a review of these authoritative drug databases, Machete is not listed as an approved therapeutic medicine with official prescribing information. Consequently, a formal storage and disposal profile cannot be established.

Official Regulatory Profile

Storage & Disposal Scope Status (Based on Drug Regulatory Documents)
Labeled storage temperature requirements None Found
Light/moisture protection requirements None Found
Child-protection storage requirements Not Documented
Disposal instructions (as documented) None Found

Connection to the overall storage/disposal profile: The official profile is defined by the absence of documentation in major governmental drug regulatory sources. These bodies have not established mandatory temperature ranges, stability limits, or official disposal procedures for a therapeutic product named Machete. Therefore, no state-verified constraints on how the product must be stored, protected, handled, or disposed of are available in pharmaceutical labeling.

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