dimethyl sulfoxide
Regulatory sources consulted
Approved indications
- Symptomatic relief of interstitial cystitis; it is not indicated for bacterial urinary infections.
Clinical warnings
- Major warning · It may release histamine and cause hypersensitivity or an anaphylactoid reaction; treat immediately if it occurs. — FDA/DailyMed, set_id 58b25d79-78f2-4953-b0c6-61658dc4ef0d
- Major warning · Perform an eye examination including slit lamp before and periodically during therapy, and approximately every 6 months obtain CBC and renal/liver tests. Use cautiously with urinary malignancy. — FDA/DailyMed, set_id 58b25d79-78f2-4953-b0c6-61658dc4ef0d
Drug interactions
- ModerateOther concomitant medicines
Mechanism: Dimethyl sulfoxide may potentiate concomitant medicines.
Recommendation: Review all medicines and monitor for increased effects.
FDA/DailyMed, set_id 58b25d79-78f2-4953-b0c6-61658dc4ef0dhttps://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=58b25d79-78f2-4953-b0c6-61658dc4ef0d
Adverse events
Common (≥1%)
Garlic-like taste · Garlic-like breath or skin odor · Transient bladder discomfort · Transient chemical cystitis
Rare but serious
Anaphylactoid reaction
Pregnancy and lactation
During pregnancy, use only if the potential benefit justifies fetal risk. Use cautiously during breastfeeding because excretion into milk is unknown.
Recent literature (PubMed)
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is an amphipathic molecule widely used as a solvent for water-insoluble substances, cryopreserving, and cell-biological therapies. It has known properties as an inducer of cellular differentiation, a free radical scavenger, and a radioprotectant. In addition, DMSO is used for its various therapeutic and pharmaceutical properties, such as anti-inflammatory, local and systemic analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and membrane penetration enhancement agents. DMSO treatment can be given orally, intravenously, or topically for a wide range of indications. The administration of DMSO exhibits favorable outcomes in human eye diseases with low to none observed ocular or systemic ocular toxicity. Nevertheless, DMSO is an essential and nonpatentable potential therapeutic agent that remains underexplored and ignored by pharmaceutical developers and ophthalmologists. This current review takes data from experimental and clinical studies that have been published to substantiate the potential therapeutic efficacy of DMSO and stimulate the research of its application in clinical ophthalmology. Given that DMSO is inexpensive, safe, and easily formulated into therapeutic medicinal products and conventional ophthalmological drugs, this compound should be further explored and studied in the treatment of a variety of acute and chronic ocular disorders. The concentration of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has been measured in breastmilk in only one patient after a 15-minute retention in the bladder. The amount in milk is trivial, but its metabolite was not measured and whether it changes the odor or taste of milk was not determined. At most, only about 16% of DMSO in the bladder is absorbed systemically, compared to about 70% after oral administration, so this study does not represent the amount an infant would receive after oral intake by the mother.[1,2]
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a clear, odorless liquid, inexpensively produced as a by-product of the wood pulp industry. DMSO's unique chemical properties allow for its broad applications in a wide variety of cutaneous challenges. Widely available in the USA as a solvent, DMSO is FDA-approved only for the treatment of interstitial cystitis and for use as a preservative for organ transplant. DMSO readily penetrates and diffuses through biological membranes. At low concentrations, DMSO exhibits anti-inflammatory, analgesic, diuretic, vasodilator, anti-platelet aggregation, radio-protective, and muscle-relaxing properties. DMSO is also a vigorous scavenger of hydroxyl free radicals, which may explain its observed beneficial effects on skin rejuvenation and recovery from thermal injury. DMSO has a relatively low level of toxicity. DMSO has shown promise in the off-label treatment of basal cell carcinoma, pressure ulcers, scleroderma, herpes simplex, cutaneous fungal infections, and amyloidosis. The potential of DMSO to serve as an independent or adjuvant topical treatment for these conditions is explored in this review.
Chemotherapy extravasation, the unintended leakage of cytotoxic drugs into surrounding tissues, is a significant complication in oncological treatments, potentially leading to severe tissue damage and long-term consequences. This review explores the factors influencing extravasation risk, including infusion site, patient comorbidities and the physicochemical properties of drugs. Early detection is crucial to prevent irreversible damage. Treatment strategies vary based on the type of drug involved, ranging from topical dimethyl sulfoxide and hyaluronidase to specific antidotes like dexrazoxane for anthracycline extravasations. Preventive measures, including proper catheter placement, drug dilution and patient monitoring, are essential to mitigate risks. Effective management requires a multidisciplinary approach, combining prompt recognition, intervention and ongoing education for healthcare providers to improve patient safety and outcomes in chemotherapy administration. Enhanced training on the early signs of extravasation and advancements in treatment modalities offer critical support in minimizing adverse effects, ensuring timely and appropriate care.
Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a chronic condition marked by chronic pain and voiding dysfunction, often without a clear cause. Management of which often requires a multidisciplinary approach, as well as multiple therapeutic interventions. This review characterizes mechanisms and limitations of currently available treatment modalities for IC/BPS, as well as novel and investigational therapies. Conservative and supportive therapies include cognitive therapies, dietary and fluid management, pelvic floor exercises and bladder training. Additionally, pelvic floor directed therapies such as physical therapy, injections and nerve blocks should be considered. Cystoscopy with hydrodistension is both a diagnostic and therapeutic intervention. Currently available oral therapies include: pentosan polysulfate, amitriptyline, hydroxyzine, silodosin, and non-opioid medications such as cyclobenzaprine. Immunotherapies include cyclosporine and tacrolimus. Available intravesical therapies include dimethyl sulfoxide, lidocaine, oxybutynin, and glycosaminoglycan substitution treatment. Neuromodulation is also available including sacral and pudendal neuromodulation. Finally, we explore emerging therapies and drug delivery systems. In this review, we present currently available treatment options for IC/BPS. These include conservative therapies, oral medications, intravesical therapies, and neuromodulation. Novel and investigational therapies are presented as well as promise for future directions.