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DERMATOLOGICALS › ANTIBIOTICS AND CHEMOTHERAPEUTICS FOR DERMATOLOGICAL USE › CHEMOTHERAPEUTICS FOR TOPICAL USE › Antivirals
idoxuridine
D06BB01
Forms & Strengths
- Ophthalmic solution 0.1%
- Ophthalmic ointment 0.5%
- Topical solution 0.5%
Adult Dosing
- Ophthalmic solution: Instill 1 drop in the affected eye every hour during the day and every 2 hours at night until improvement
- Ophthalmic ointment: Apply small amount to conjunctival sac qid (every 4 hours during the day and at bedtime)
- Topical solution: Apply to skin lesions qid for 4 days
Pediatric Dosing
- Neonates and children: Same as adult dosing for ophthalmic use when indicated for herpes simplex keratitis
- Safety and efficacy in pediatric patients for topical cutaneous use are not well established
Indications
- Treatment of herpes simplex keratitis
- Herpetic keratitis caused by herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2
Mechanism of Action
- Pyrimidine analogue structurally similar to thymidine
- Incorporates into viral DNA during replication, resulting in faulty DNA strands and impaired viral proliferation
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to idoxuridine or any component of the formulation
- Concurrent use of boric acid containing eye drops
Adverse Reactions
- Local irritation, burning, or stinging upon instillation
- Visual blurring
- Photophobia
- Allergic reactions, pruritus, edema of the eyelids
- Corneal clouding and punctate keratopathy with prolonged use
Drug Interactions
- Boric acid: Precipitation may occur if administered concurrently with eye drops containing boric acid
- Corticosteroids: Concurrent use of topical corticosteroids may exacerbate viral infections and is generally contraindicated in active herpetic keratitis
Curated Content: Needs Vetting Before Put to Clinical Use