Transdermal drug administration is considered an effective and safe way to treat patients. It is in this way that a unique organic solvent, dimethyl sulfoxide, is introduced, which penetrates perfectly through the epithelial cells into the body. It also enhances the transfer of various active ingredients through the skin and increases their effectiveness.
Description of the drug
The drug "Dimexide" is a gel (photo is presented below), which is one of the dosage forms of the substance dimethyl sulfoxide. It has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects for the relief of pain associated with diseases of the skeleton and muscles, and fights against skin problems.
The drug "Dimexide" is made in the form of a colorless transparent gel, which may have a yellowish tint. The active substance causes a slight specific odor. Available in aluminum tubes of 30 g and 40 g, packed in cardboard boxes.
Active ingredient and dosages
On the Dimexidum preparation, gel, the instructions for use describe two dosages: with dimethyl sulfoxide 25 g each and 50 g per 100 g of the drug mixture. The remaining mass of the medication is formed by auxiliary components that allow you to maintain a gel-like structure.
How does it work
Due to the ability of dimethyl sulfoxide to actively penetrate the biological membrane of the skin and mucous membranes, the drug "Dimexide" (gel) is used externally.
The active substance from the skin quickly enters the vessels and spreads throughout the bloodstream to all organs. It is proved that after five minutes dimethyl sulfoxide is already present in the blood plasma, and the presence of a specific taste in the oral cavity indicates irritation of taste receptors with this substance.
Its action is based on the inactivation of hydroxyl radicals, increased metabolic processes in the area of inflammation, fibrinolytic properties.
Antiseptic effect is due to the ability to penetrate the shell of microorganisms and change their resistance to antibacterial agents.
Dimethyl sulfoxide has an analgesic and anesthetic effect at the site of application. This is possible due to the fact that stimulating impulses are carried out to the peripheral nerves at a slower rate.
What heals
For the drug "Dimexide" (gel), the indications for use are selected in accordance with the characteristics of its active substance. It is mainly used for the complex treatment of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoarthritis with damage to the periarticular tissue, radiculitis, systemic scleroderma, erythema nodosum, erysipelas, swelling, sprains, infiltrates during injuries and inflammatory processes, wounds trophic and burn ulcers, acne.
The drug is applied to the affected areas with eczema, furunculosis, thrombophlebitis, pyoderma.
It is used to treat dental diseases associated with inflammatory processes in the maxillofacial zone, in the salivary glands, with arthritis and osteoarthritis in the temporomandibular joint.
For the drug "Dimexide" (gel), it is possible to use for pulpitis, periodontitis, periodontitis.
Mode of application
The drug is used subcutaneously, making applications. A thin gel layer of 50% is applied to the affected skin in the area of the front of the head, and 25% of the drug is intended for the mucous membranes. Then the medication is easily rubbed over the diseased surface and left for 15 minutes. Then the remnants of the medicine are washed off with water. Application of the gel is carried out from 2 to 3 times a day, the course of treatment lasts from 10 to 15 days.
For the treatment of diffuse streptoderma and eczema with local analgesia of pain syndromes, 50% of the medicine is used, from which compresses are made on the affected area. A napkin is made of 4 layers of gauze, on which a gel is applied with a thick layer. Then it must be applied to the diseased area and held for 20 to 30 minutes. On top of the napkin is covered with a film of polyethylene and a cotton cloth.
The number of compresses ranges from 2 to 3 times a day.
For the complex treatment of thrombophlebitis , the Dimexide preparation (gel) and heparin ointment are used simultaneously 2 or 3 times a day for two weeks.
Reuse is possible only after 10 days.
Children can be prescribed only from the age of 12.
How does it interact with medicines
The drug "Dimexide" (gel), due to the ability of dimethyl sulfoxide to enhance the transfer through biological membranes of many active compounds and increase their effectiveness, improves the therapeutic effect of medicines during combination therapy.
With simultaneous use increases the rate of absorption and the action of insulin and ethyl alcohol.
It can be combined with drugs containing heparin, antibacterial compounds, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory components.
The gel is used to increase the sensitivity of microbial cells to the action of chloramphenicol, aminoglycosides, beta-lactam antibiotics, griseofulvin, rifampicin.
Dimethyl sulfoxide has a sensitizing effect on the body in relation to drugs for general and local anesthesia.
Since the drug can enhance the toxic properties of other drugs, caution should be exercised when conducting combination therapy.
Treatment features
Before using the Dimexide medication (gel), the instructions for use recommend checking the patient for drug intolerance. It is usually determined using a drug test.
The place of application of the gel is the back surface of the wrist, not only the entire surface of the skin, but a small area of it. A sign of increased hypersensitivity to the components of the drug is a sharp reddening of the skin and itching. In this case, treatment should be abandoned.
When not to use
In addition to hypersensitivity, there are a number of conditions in which the drug "Dimexide" (gel) is contraindicated.
These include inadequate activity of the kidneys and liver in a severe form, angina pectoris, heart muscle infarction, severe atherosclerosis.
For eye diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma, dimethyl sulfoxide is not prescribed.
Contraindication is pregnancy and breastfeeding, and if necessary, treatment of the child is transferred to artificial nutrition.
Undesirable consequences
The instructions attached to the drug "Dimexidum" (gel) contain information about side effects. Often this remedy does not cause undesirable consequences, but in some patients erythema, itchy dermatitis, dry skin can appear. Very rarely spasm of the bronchi develops.
One of the disadvantages of dimethyl sulfoxide is the presence of an unpleasant specific odor that stays indoors for a long time. That it is poorly tolerated by some patients, which causes nausea and vomiting.
Similar drugs
There are many similar dimethyl sulfoxide-based products on the pharmaceutical market. The drug "Dimexide" (gel), analogues of this drug have the same active substance, but different auxiliary components. Such a composition makes them interchangeable.
The Russian manufacturer of Dimexidum gel is the company Farmamed LLC, St. Petersburg. The drug for external use is available in only one dosage - 25%. It is used as an anti-inflammatory agent.
In two dosages, 25 mg and 50 mg per 1 g, there is a Belarusian Dimexidum gel. It is produced by the Republican Unitary Enterprise Belmedpreparaty.
Another similar Belarusian product is Dimexide-FT. It is produced by the company Pharmtechnology LLC in two dosages, 250 and 500 mg each. Refers to anti-inflammatory drugs that have an analgesic and pronounced antimicrobial effect.
There are a number of combination preparations that contain several active ingredients, including dimethyl sulfoxide. The pharmacotherapeutic effect of such medications may vary.
One of these drugs is the German drug Dolobene, manufactured by Merkle GmbH in the form of a gel for external use. It contains sodium heparin in a dose of 50 IU, dexpanthenol in an amount of 25 mg and 150 mg of dimethyl sulfoxide. Refers to drugs that have an antithrombotic and regenerative effect.
A multicomponent with an irritating and analgesic effect is Capsicam ointment. It contains benzyl nicotinate, nonivamide, turpentine turpentine, racemic camphor, dimethyl sulfoxide. The presence of five active components makes it possible to actively combat joint and muscle pain. Produced by the Estonian company “Tallinn Federal Law”.
Ukrainian drug “Chondrasil”, an ointment for external use, contains 50 mg of chondroitin sodium sulfate and 100 mg of dimethyl sulfoxide. Used for degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the joints and skeleton. Produced by the Kiev company PJSC Farmak.
Patient opinion
Before using the medicine for treatment, doctors advise you to familiarize yourself with the information that the instructions for use contain on the Dimexidum (gel) preparation. Reviews on the effectiveness and safety of dimethyl sulfoxide are mostly positive.
The medicine usually begins to act immediately after application to the affected area, whether it is inflammation during sprains, bruises, burns or arthrosis. Timely use of the drug will prevent the formation of a hematoma with injuries to the limbs.
If you start to gel the wounds that heal slowly or fester, then they are rapidly tightened, pus is removed.
In obstetrics, it is used in the form of compresses on the chest with stagnation of milk in the ducts. The disadvantage of this treatment is the refusal to breastfeed during therapy, since dimethyl sulfoxide can affect the development of the baby.
In cosmetology, the drug "Dimexide" is used to treat skin diseases associated with acne, furunculosis or eczema. There are recommendations for the preparation of various hair masks with the addition of dimethyl sulfoxide as a drug conductor. After several such procedures, the result will be obvious. The hair will become strong, lush, a healthy shine will appear.
Colds in which a cough is present, such as tracheitis, acute respiratory infections or bronchitis, can be treated with gel compresses. Such manipulations will be effective for getting rid of sinusitis.
But not everyone may like the smell of Dimexidum. Gel reviews are characterized as smelling too strong. Negative responses are mainly associated with the garlic taste that is present in the mouth after applying the medicine to the skin. Such a smell can cause nausea, and in hypersensitive people bronchospasm is possible. In this case, the doctor should choose another treatment.
Many patients note that the effect of Dimexidum gel is simply invaluable, the main thing is to use it correctly.