Mercury ointment is not one drug, but a whole series of medicines intended for the treatment of certain eye diseases. Such substances were combined into one group due to the main component of the compositions. Preparations are made from mercury or from its compounds. Yellow mercury ointment, like other varieties of the drug, is intended for external use only. Its main purpose is to combat skin parasitic diseases such as head lice, scabies and so on. Medicines of this series are excellent for the treatment of ailments in animals.
Main varieties
Mercury ointment comes in several varieties. Not so long ago, drugs such as:
- yellow mercury ointment;
- mercury white ointment;
- mercury gray ointment.
Each of these drugs has its own characteristics. The main difference is the effectiveness of mercury ointments. The composition of the drug strongly affects this factor.
Features of yellow ointment
Yellow mercury ointment has gained particular popularity among the preparations of this series. She was considered the most effective. Initially, such a drug was prepared on the basis of precipitated mercury. Currently, the drug is produced according to the classic recipe.
Additional components of the composition were petrolatum and lanolin. It is worth noting that yellow mercury ointment, the average price of which is about 100 rubles, is still used, but only in some cases, for the treatment of many eye diseases. Such a drug can be prescribed for conjunctivitis, keratitis, blepharitis and so on.
In addition to eye ailments, the drug is able to overcome skin diseases of varying complexity and specificity. In this case, the concentration of ointment in the main preparation can be from 1 to 2%. This is in the ophthalmic version of the drug. In preparations intended for the treatment of skin ailments, this indicator can be from 5 to 10%.
Description of the drug
Yellow mercury ointment for the eyes is a medicine that has an antiseptic effect. You can use the drug only externally and only for the treatment of those areas of the skin where the inflammatory process has begun. In this case, the ointment has practically no contraindications. An exception is hypersensitivity.
At the moment, such a drug is made from yellow mercury. As for the remaining components of the composition, they also comply with all standards. In the manufacture of such ointments for the eyes, strict proportions of all components are maintained. Yellow mercury ointment is released in a container that reliably protects the contents from exposure to light.
Application features
Yellow-mercury ophthalmic ointment allows you to get rid of certain diseases, but only if used correctly. Such a drug can not be combined with medicines, which include iodine and bromine salts. It is also not recommended to use such an ointment with ethylmorphine. Otherwise, the patient may experience irritation of the tissues of the organs of vision. Mercury ointment is sold along with instructions. It must be carefully read before using the drug.
How is it prescribed?
To purchase a yellow mercury ointment in a pharmacy, you must provide a prescription signed by your doctor. This is a kind of confirmation that it is possible to cure a disease of the organs of vision only with such a drug. As for the dosage, only the attending physician prescribes it. Moreover, for each disease a certain amount of drug is required. There are no general recommendations for the use of such a drug. Therefore, you can not self-medicate. After all, mercury ointment can cause an undesirable result.
Does it cause side effects
Is yellow mercury ointment dangerous? The instruction says that if used improperly, such a drug can be toxic. Therefore, you should strictly monitor the dosage. If the ointment is applied excessively to problem areas, side effects may occur, including:
- disruption of the digestive tract;
- kidney damage
- irritation on the skin;
- disruption of the nervous system.
Effective treatment with such a drug can only be guaranteed if the instructions are strictly followed.
Is it in the public domain?
On March 23, 1998, a decree was issued that excluded mercury-based drugs from the state register. However, such drugs can be used for treatment, making them to order.
It is worth noting that the ban included not only drugs that were manufactured on the basis of mercury, but also those that contain compounds of this substance or an insignificant part of it. It is for this reason that not all pharmacies can produce eye ointments to order. There are still no analogues of mercury ointment.
In conclusion
Mercury yellow ointment is not commercially available. It can be made to order and only by prescription. The finished medicine should be stored in a tightly closed container and away from sunlight. The shelf life of the ointment is no more than 5 years. After this time, the use of the drug is strictly prohibited. All doctor's recommendations regarding the method of administration and dosage must be followed with particular strictness. The mercury ointment is intended for external use only. Otherwise, side effects may occur.