Sage-Tips

Why was mercurochrome discontinued?

Regulations: In 1998, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declared that mercurochrome was “not generally recognized as safe and effective” as an over-the-counter antiseptic and banned its sale in the U.S.

Can you still get mercurochrome?

All Mercurochrome Sold and Manufactured in the US is made without Mercury by FDA regulations. Similar regualtion are now found around the world. This product and all mercurochrome made today is made without Mercury. Mercurochrome made with Mercury is illegal to be sold, manufacturer or distribute in or out of the US.

What happened to mercurochrome and Merthiolate?

Mercurochrome and another popular antiseptic of a generation or two ago, Merthiolate, contained mercury, that liquid metal health authorities have decided is toxic enough in large amounts to ban its general use, even enclosed in glass thermometers.

When did they remove mercury from mercurochrome?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed it from the “generally recognized as safe” into the “untested” classification to effectively halt its distribution in the United States in 1998 over fears of potential mercury poisoning.

Is mercurochrome toxic?

Poisonous Ingredient Merbromin is a combination of mercury and bromine. It is harmful if it is swallowed.

Is Mercurochrome available in Canada?

In Canada, Jean Coutu Group markets a chlorhexidine solution under the name Mercurochrome.

Did Mercurochrome contain mercury?

ANSWER:In case you don’t know, Mercurochrome is a mercury-containing compound used as an antibacterial antiseptic.

What is mercurochrome used for?

merbromin, antiseptic used to prevent infection in small cuts and abrasions. Commonly marketed as Mercurochrome, merbromin was the first of a series of antiseptics that contained mercury, a chemical element that disinfects by disrupting the metabolism of a microorganism.

Can you get mercury poisoning from mercurochrome?

Extensive skin peeling with bullous lesions, edema, and fever developed three days after mercurochrome therapy. The infant died on the ninth day. Autopsy revealed evidence of heavy metal poisoning of the kidney, excessive mercury levels in the blood, and in tissues of the brain, kidney, and liver.

Is Mercurochrome safe to use?

Due to some reports of mercury poisoning related to the use of Mercurochrome, the FDA re-classified it as a drug in 1998, meaning that someone has to prove it is safe for use before it can be sold again. As of 2014, no one has tried to do so.

Does mercurochrome antiseptic cause mass mercury poisoning?

While no one’s offered evidence of mass Mercurochrome poisoning, the medical literature contains scattered reports of mercury toxicity due to use of the antiseptic, and these days the burden of proof is on drug manufacturers to show that their products’ benefits outweigh the risks.

Are Merthiolate and mercurochrome toxic?

The mercury found in Merthiolate and Mercurochrome is toxic to both people and the environment. MedlinePlus says that mercury-containing Merthiolate can cause poisoning if applied to the body in small amounts for a long period of time.

Can mercurochrome and Merthiolate be used in a first aid kit?

Both Mercurochrome and Merthiolate (and iodine preparations, too) sting when applied to broken skin and can interfere with healing. Experts now recommend that first aid kits contain newer antibacterial creams, especially those containing bacitracins, a class of antibacterials first produced by other microorganisms.