Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
What is ichthyol ?
The pharmacopoeia states that this substance is ammonium bituminous sulfonate salt , obtained from resins (derivatives of oil shale). In medicine, drugs based on this component began to be used back in the 80s of the 19th century for the treatment of gout, rheumatism , etc. Pure ichthyol is not used; ointments and suppositories are made on its basis for use in medical practice.
Medicines containing this component have local anesthetic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and keratoplasty effects . Also, ointment and suppositories can improve blood circulation in the skin. The substance moderately irritates nerve endings, thereby reducing their sensitivity, leads to denaturation of protein molecules, and regulates normal vascular tone.
The drug is not absorbed into the systemic circulation and has only a local effect on the skin or mucous membrane.
Contraindications and side effects
The external agent is not used in case of high individual sensitivity to the active or excipient. This is the main contraindication for Ichthyol ointment. Intolerance manifests itself in the form of allergic reactions.
The drug is not used in children under 12 years of age. The instructions indicate that Ichthyol ointment should not be applied to an open wound. You should also avoid contact of undiluted product with mucous membranes.
Possible undesirable effects:
- hyperemia and edema;
- itching and burning;
- hives;
- dermatitis.
If such symptoms occur, you must stop treatment with ichthyol and wash off the remaining product.
It is recommended to conduct an allergy test first. Apply a little ichthyol to the skin behind the ear or on the wrist. The result is assessed after 15-20 minutes. Redness and itching in the application area are signs of an allergy to the drug.
Ichthammol promotes the absorption of other substances into the skin and enhances their effect. This active ingredient should not be used concomitantly with other medicinal products for external and topical use.
There is a ban on the simultaneous use of ichthyol with medications or other products containing alkaloids and iodine salts.
Use in special categories of patients
No special studies have been conducted on pregnant women, but animal experiments have shown that ichthammol does not penetrate the placenta or into breast milk, and therefore cannot harm the baby.
The use of Ichthyol ointment during pregnancy is possible if there is no risk to the fetus. Only a doctor can assess the benefit for the mother and the danger for the unborn child. The same rule applies when prescribing Ichthyol ointment during breastfeeding.
Children's skin is more sensitive, so they use a drug containing 10% active ingredient. Children over 12 years of age are allowed to use Ichthyol ointment. Some manufacturers indicate an age limit of 6 years.
Indications for use
What is Ichthyol ointment for?
The ointment has a fairly wide range of applications; it is prescribed for burns, neuralgia, arthritis, eczema, erysipelas, rheumatism, and for the treatment of acne.
The dosage form of the “suppository” is used for hemorrhoids and other inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs.
Instructions for use (method and dosage)
Ichthyol suppositories, instructions for use
For parametritis, prostatitis and metritis, suppositories are carefully inserted into the rectum. According to the instructions for use, ichthyol suppositories are prescribed in the amount of 1-2 pieces per day.
Ichthyol suppositories for hemorrhoids are recommended to be used after an enema.
The course of treatment is determined by the doctor.
Ichthyol ointment, instructions for use
Externally. The drug is applied in a thin layer to the affected areas 3 times a day.
You can put a bandage over the ointment or leave it in the fresh air.
The duration of therapy is determined by the attending physician.
Price and shelf life
The cost of the drug depends on the concentration of active ingredients, the volume of the tube or jar, and the manufacturer. The average price of Ichthyol ointment in Russian pharmacies is 32-93 rubles. The cost of Russian and Belarusian-made drugs is practically the same.
Optimal conditions for storing the drug:
- dark place;
- away from heat sources;
- temperature from 15 to 25°C;
- in original packaging.
The shelf life of Ichthyol ointment may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Usually the instructions indicate that the drug for external use retains its properties for 3 years. The shelf life of rectal suppositories is 2 years.
Analogs
Level 4 ATC code matches:
Ichthyol ointment
Antiseptol, Biosept, Vishnevsky Ointment, Bioantisept, Diamond Green, Potassium Permanganate, Manisoft, Tea Tree Oil, Methylene Blue, Fukortsin, Chlorophyllipt, Elekasol.
Reviews
Due to its wide range of applications and low cost, reviews of Ichthyol are extremely positive. The ointment is often used in the fight against acne, inflammation and abscesses . Some people are embarrassed by the unpleasant smell of the product and dry skin after use.
Reviews of Ichthyol suppositories in gynecology are also very good:
“A natural remedy at a cheap price. It was prescribed to me by a gynecologist. After using 2 packs rectally at night, the symptoms of ovarian inflammation disappeared. An ultrasound showed that the dimensions were within normal limits”;
“I have been suffering from inflammation of the appendages for several years. They treated me with everything, but after a few months I had to go to the gynecologist again to prescribe me a new medicine. The most effective drug for me was the one containing Ichthyol. These candles are not expensive, without harmful additives, I use them often.”
The remedy also helps against prostatitis:
“I have prostatitis, I’m 23 years old. When my right side starts to hurt, I put on ichthyol suppositories every other day. I started to feel better. There is an itching in the anus from the suppositories, which then goes away.”
What is ichthyol ointment used for?
Medicinal properties
After clarifying the characteristics of the active substance, it is easier to understand what Ichthyol ointment helps with. The drug belongs to the group of antiseptics and disinfectants. Ichthyol is not an antibiotic, although it exhibits antimicrobial activity against a number of bacteria and fungi.
Medicinal properties of Ichthyol ointment:
- local anesthetic;
- anti-inflammatory;
- antimicrobial;
- antiseptic;
- healing;
- antipruritic;
- keratolytic;
- keratoplasty;
- improves microcirculation.
Ichthyol is active against some pathogenic strains of staphylococcus and streptococcus responsible for skin inflammation. Depending on the concentration, the drug has a bacteriostatic or bactericidal effect: it reduces the ability to reproduce or kills bacteria.
Ichthyol accelerates the maturation of the source of inflammation: it “pulls” it to the surface, allowing the pus capsule to open, which reduces discomfort and the risk of spreading infection. The active substance suppresses sebum secretion and normalizes exfoliation.
The main advantages of using Ichthyol ointment:
- Acts on the most common pathogens of bacterial skin infections.
- Allows you to do without antibiotics and does not create resistance in bacteria.
- Active ingredient of natural origin.
- Well tolerated.
Disadvantages of the product usually include a strong odor, the ability to stain clothes and cause dry skin. The latter effect is less pronounced in drugs with ichthyol concentrations below 20%. If the content of the active ingredient is higher, then the use may cause an increase in low-grade inflammatory processes in the skin.
Indications for use
Ichthyol facial ointment contains 10% active ingredient. The product helps treat inflamed acne and cystic acne, as it draws pus closer to the surface.
Ichthyol ointment for lichen is prescribed for infiltrative-suppurative type of skin fungus. This disease is characterized by the accumulation of pus in the tissue surrounding the hair follicles.
Indications for use of Ichthyol ointment:
- pyoderma (pustular skin lesions);
- erysipelas;
- skin infections;
- furunculosis;
- eczema;
- burns.
Products with a concentration of the active substance of 10 and 20% are used for inflammation of the nail bed (felon), suppuration of the sweat glands (hidradenitis). If the ichthyol content is 20%, it is better to use the drug for deeper damage to the skin (abscesses, boils). Ichthyol is used as part of complex therapy for psoriasis.
Ichthyol price, where to buy
The approximate cost of 20% ointment with a capacity of 25 grams is 10 rubles.
The price of ichthyol suppositories depends on the pharmacy chain. So the price of Ichthyol suppositories can range from 40 to 60 rubles, 10 pieces per pack.
- Online pharmacies in RussiaRussia
- Online pharmacies in UkraineUkraine
- Online pharmacies in KazakhstanKazakhstan
ZdravCity
- Ichthyol ointment for external use.
approx. 20% of bank 25gZAO Yaroslavl f.f. 54 RUR order - Ichthyol suppositories rectal. 200 mg 10 pcs. NizhpharmAO "Nizhpharm"
93 RUR order
- Ichthyol ointment d/nar. approx. 20% 25 JSC Usolye-Sibirsky Chemical Pharmaceutical Plant
52 RUR order
- Ichthyol ointment 20% 25g Borisov plant
72 RUR order
- Ichthyol ointment d/nar. approx. 20% tube 25g No. 1Ozon LLC
124 RUR order
Pharmacy Dialogue
- Ichthyol ointment 10% 25g Tverskaya FF
35 rub. order
- Ichthyol ointment (can 10% 25g) Tula FF
37 RUR order
- Ichthyol ointment (tube 20% 25g)BZMP
79 RUR order
- Ichthyol ointment (tube 10% 25g) Ozone LLC
104 rub. order
- Ichthyol suppositories (sup. No. 10) Nizhpharm JSC
80 rub. order
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Pharmacy24
- Ichthyol 20% 25 g ointment for external use PAT "Lubnipharm", Ukraine
14 UAH. order - Ichthyol 10% 30 g ointment PAT "Khimpharmzavod" Chervona Zirka", Kharkov, Ukraine
18 UAH order
- Ichthyol Ointment 10% 30 g PRAT "Fitofarm", Ukraine
17 UAH order
- Ichthyol No. 10 candles PAT Monfarm, Ukraine
32 UAH order
- Ichthyol ointment 10% 30 g PrAT FF "Viola", Ukraine
17 UAH order
PaniPharmacy
- Ichthyol ointment Ichthyol ointment 10% 25g Ukraine, Ternopharm LLC
18 UAH order
- Ichthyol suppository Supp. with ichthyol 0.2g No. 10 Ukraine, Monfarm JSC
38 UAH order
- Ichthyol ointment Ichthyol ointment 10% 30g Ukraine, Fitofarm ChAO
21 UAH order
- Ichthyol ointment Ichthyol ointment 10% 30g Ukraine, Red Star OJSC
20 UAH order
- Ichthyol ointment Ichthyol ointment 20% 25g Ukraine, Lubnyfarm PJSC
16 UAH order
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Composition and release form
In everyday life, the ointment is often called “ichthyol.” The active ingredient is ammonium bituminous sulfonate or ichthammol. This is one active ingredient in the composition of Ichthyol ointment, containing many components.
Release form
| Tradename | Ichthammol content | Excipients |
| Ichthyol ointment | 10 or 20% | Petrolatum |
| Ichthyol, ointment | 10 or 20% | Petrolatum |
| Ichthyol, rectal suppositories | 200 mg | Witepsol |
The product for external use 10% contains 10 g. ichthammol in 90 gr. Vaseline. The ratio of active ingredient and base in the 20% preparation is 20 and 80 g. respectively.
The ointment looks like a thick dark brown mass and has a heavy odor. The drug is available in glass and plastic jars of 20, 25, 40 and 50 g, aluminum tubes of 15, 30, 40 g.
The product leaves stains on clothes and bedding.
Ichthyol is obtained by distilling bituminous shale with the remains of phytoplankton from ancient seas. The final product is rich in aromatic hydrocarbons. Contains biologically available sulfur, which is important for skin diseases.
