Therapeutic Indication:
Wound treatment (Infections in acute, chronic wounds and surgical wound) and Burns.
Recommended Usage:
Apply twice daily or as directed by the physician.
Mechanism of Action:
Povidone-iodine, a complex of iodine, the bactericidal component, with polyvinylpyrrolidone (povidone), a synthetic polymer. This complex exerts its antiseptic effect of iodine by slowly releasing it and kill or prevent the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa and bacterial spores.
Ointment bases provide an advantage of chemically being more stable then liquid dosage forms. It also facilitates application directly to the affected part and avoid exposure of other parts of body. It is also suitable for patients who find it difficult to take drugs by oral route. It has an extra advantage of bypassing the liver thereby enhancing the bioavailability.
The effective drug combination in topical ointment formulation provides an advantage of convenience and easy application, site specification and improving patient compliance. The effect is achieved with lower dose and avoidance of side effects associated with oral formulation.
Contraindications:
Hypersensitivity to iodine, thyroid diseases, renal failure, burns covering large surfaces (more than 20% of the body surface), pregnancy, nursing, neonates younger than 6 months.
Warning & Precautions:
Use of topical iodine is not recommended for newborn infants because it may cause skin and thyroid problems.
The medicinal combination should not be used in eyes, vagina.
Check with your doctor if the skin problem for which you are using topical iodine becomes worse, or if you develop a constant irritation such as itching or burning that was not present before you started using iodine.
Iodine can stain your skin and clothing. Alcohol may be used to remove iodine stain on the skin. Stains on clothing can be removed by washing and rinsing them in ammonia diluted with water. Stains on starched linens can be removed by washing them in soap and water.
Drug Interactions:
It should not be used with vitamins, minerals, herbal products, especially a blood thinner such as warfarin
Pregnancy & Lactation:
If you become pregnant while taking povidone/iodine cream, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using povidone/iodine cream during pregnancy. It is unknown if povidone/iodine cream is excreted in breast milk.
Undesirable Side Effects:
Rare side effects include Blistering, crusting, irritation, itching, or reddening of skin. Although well tolerated, lesser known side effects may include mild burning or stinging when the medication is applied scaly or itchy skin.
Pharmacology:
Elemental iodine has a very broad antimicrobial spectrum: bacteria, viruses, bacterial endospores, fungi and protozoas are destroyed through oxidative interaction and direct iodination of biological macromolecules. However, there have been reports of certain resistant germs (such as methicillin – resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Povidone-iodine (synonym: PVP iodine) is an iodophor, i.e. it is a labile complex of iodine with the polyvinylpyrrolidone polymer, from which iodine is continually delivered. Only this free iodine has antimicrobial activity. In iodophors there is a complex relationship between the concentration of the solution and the concentration of free iodine, so that e.g. through the dilution of a 10% solution with a rate of 1:10 more free iodine is released from the complex and the antimicrobial activity is increased.
Pharmacodynamics:
The drug combination is well tolerated in various skin infections and is time tested agents.
Pharmacokinetics:
| Bioavailability | Peak plasma level | Plasma half-life | Active metabolites | Elimination |
| variable | partially high | - | - | (iodine) | predominantly renal |
Shelf Life:
2 years
The preparation should not be used after the expiry date.
Storage:
Store below 30°C. Protect from light & moisture. Keep it out of reach of children