Why is mercurochrome not sold anymore?

Regulations: In 1998, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declared that mercurochrome was “not generally recognized as safe and effective” as an over-the-counter antiseptic and banned its sale in the U.S.

Can you still get mercurochrome?

No one did, and the FDA forbade the sale of Mercurochrome across state lines, which effectively killed the product. Mercurochrome will probably never be tested because there are more effective antiseptics, such as Merthiolate and metaphen.

Is mercurochrome dangerous?

Mercurochrome and another popular antiseptic of a generation or two ago, Merthiolate, contained mercury, that liquid metal health authorities have decided is toxic enough in large amounts to ban its general use, even enclosed in glass thermometers.

Does Walmart sell mercurochrome?

Mercurochrome Colorless Antiseptic 100ml – Walmart.com – Walmart.com.

Is iodine and mercurochrome the same thing?

Iodine is elemental iodine and is used in an alcohol solution (known as tincture of iodine). Mercurochrome is a trade name for merbromin which is an organic compound containing mercury and bromine.

Do they still sell iodine?

Today, you can still purchase and use iodine at home to help treat minor cuts and scrapes. Before using iodine, try to clean the wound with water.

When did they stop putting mercury in mercurochrome?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed it from the “generally recognized as safe” into the “untested” classification to effectively halt its distribution in the United States in 1998 over fears of potential mercury poisoning.

Why is mercurochrome called Monkey?

Its antiseptic qualities were discovered in 1918 by Hugh H. Young, a physician at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The chemical soon became popular among parents and physicians for everyday antiseptic uses, including minor schoolyard injuries. Some people referred to it as “monkey blood,” referring to its deep red color.

What is substitute for mercurochrome?

Within the United States, products such as Humco Mercuroclear (“Aqueous solution of benzalkonium chloride and lidocaine hydrochloride”) play on the brand recognition history of Mercurochrome but substitute other ingredients with similar properties.

What was in mercurochrome?

A. Mercurochrome is a trade name for merbromin, a compound containing mercury and bromine. Merthiolate is a trade name for thimerosal, a compound containing mercury and sodium. Both Mercurochrome and Merthiolate (and iodine preparations, too) sting when applied to broken skin and can interfere with healing.

Do they still use iodine?

In the US, iodized salt is not required, but it is widely available. Researchers estimate that iodized salt is used regularly by about half the US population. Iodine is taken by mouth to prevent and treat iodine deficiency and its consequences, including goiter and some thyroid disorders.

Why can you not buy iodine anymore?

Iodine, for many years used by walkers and mountaineers to disinfect water, will be banned in the European Union from autumn. The main risks from drinking untreated water come from bacteria, viruses and parasites such as giardia and cryptosporidium.

Where can I buy a bottle of Mercurochrome?

A bottle of Mercurochrome™. Mercurochrome™ is a product which was once widely marketed for use as a topical antiseptic. Thanks to changes in the way the US Food and Drug Administration regards Mercurochrome™, the product is not readily available in the United States today, although it can be found in many other regions of the world.

Why was Mercurochrome banned from over the counter?

Cecil Adams on The Straight Dope says that Mercurochrome was banned from being sold over-the-counter in 1998 by the FDA. Due to some reports of mercury poisoning related to the use of Mercurochrome, the FDA re-classified it as a drug in 1998, meaning that someone has to prove it is safe for use before it can be sold again.

Why was Mercurochrome classified as a new drug?

Hearing little, the FDA classified the antiseptic as a “new drug,” meaning that anyone proposing to sell it nationwide had to submit it to the same rigorous approval process required of a drug invented last month. (This took place in 1998 — nobody’s going to accuse the FDA of rushing to judgment.)

When did Mercurochrome get its GRAS status?

The FDA initially proposed clipping Mercurochrome’s GRAS status in 1982 and asked for comment. Hearing little, the FDA classified the antiseptic as a “new drug,” meaning that anyone proposing to sell it nationwide had to submit it to the same rigorous approval process required of a drug invented last month.

Is Mercurochrome still available?

Mercurochrome™ is a product which was once widely marketed for use as a topical antiseptic. Thanks to changes in the way the US Food and Drug Administration regards Mercurochrome™, the product is not readily available in the United States today, although it can be found in many other regions of the world.

Was Mercurochrome dangerous?

There are two issues with Mercurochrome™ and other merbromin products. The first is that they contain mercury, a metal which is known to be poisonous. Although no one has definitively linked Mercurochrome™ to mercury poisoning, presumably because the metal is only present in trace amounts,…