Potassium permanganate (medical use)
Potassium permanganate is used as a medication for a number of skin conditions.[2] This includes fungal infections of the foot, impetigo, pemphigus, superficial wounds, dermatitis, and tropical ulcers.[3][2] For tropical ulcers it is used together with procaine benzylpenicillin.[2] Typically it is used in skin conditions that produce a lot of liquid.[3] It can be applied as a soaked dressing or a bath.[2]
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Clinical data | |
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Trade names | Permitabs,[1] others |
Routes of administration | Topical |
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Formula | KMnO4 |
Molar mass | 158.032 |
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Side effects may include irritation of the skin and discoloration of clothing.[2] If it is taken by mouth, toxicity and death may occur.[4] Potassium permanganate is an oxidizing agent.[5] The British National Formulary recommends that each 100 mg be dissolved in a liter of water before use.[3]
Potassium permanganate was first made in the 1600s and came into common medical use at least as early as the 1800s.[6] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the safest and most effective medicines needed in a health system.[7] The wholesale cost in the developing world is about 0.01 USD per g.[8] In the United Kingdom this amount costs the NHS about £1.33.[3]
Medical uses
Uses include for fungal infections of the foot, impetigo, pemphigus, superficial wounds, dermatitis (eczema), and tropical ulcers.[3][2] Typically it is used in skin conditions that produce a lot of liquid.[3] For tropical ulcers it is used together with procaine benzylpenicillin for two to four weeks.[2][9]
It can be used in children and adults.[9] It can be applied as a soaked dressing or a bath.[2] Petroleum jelly may be used on the nails before soaking to prevent their discoloration.[1] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not recommend its use in either the crystal or tablet form.[10]
Side effects
Topical
Side effects may include irritation of the skin and discoloration of clothing.[2] A harsh burn on a child from an undissolved tablet has been reported.[11] For treating eczema, it is recommended using for a few days at a time due to the possibility of it irritating the skin.[11] Higher concentration solutions can result in chemical burns.[12] Therefore, the British National Formulary recommends 100 mg be dissolved in a liter of water before use to form a 1:10,000 (0.01%) solution.[3][11] Wrapping the dressings soaked with potassium permanganate is not recommended.[9]
By mouth
If taken by mouth it is deemed to be very toxic.[13] Side effects may include nausea, vomiting, and shortness of breath may occur.[14] If a sufficiently large amount (about 10 grams) is eaten death may occur.[4][14]
Concentrated solutions when drunk have resulted in adult respiratory distress syndrome or swelling of the airway.[15] Recommended measures for those who have ingested potassium permanganate include gastroscopy.[15] Activated charcoal or medications to cause vomiting are not recommended.[15] While medications like ranitidine and N-acetylcysteine may be used in toxicity, evidence for this use is poor.[15]
Mechanism of action
Potassium permanganate functions as an oxidising agent.[16] Through this mechanism it results in disinfection, astringent effects, and decreased smell.[16]
History
Potassium permanganate was first made in the 1600s and came into common medical use at least as early as the 1800s.[6] During World War I Canadian soldiers were given potassium permanganate in an effort to prevent sexually transmitted infections.[17] Some have attempted to bring about an abortion by putting it in the vagina, though this is not effective.[18][19][20] Other historical uses have included as an effort to wash out the stomach in those with strychnine or picrotoxin poisoning.[21]
Society and culture
In the United States the FDA requires tablets of the medication to be sold by prescription.[10] Potassium permanganate, however, does not have FDA approved uses and therefore non medical grade potassium permanganate is sometimes used for medical use.
It is available under a number of brand names including Permasol, Koi Med Tricho-Ex, and Kalii permanganas RFF.[22] It is occasionally called "Condy's crystals".[16]
Other animals
Potassium permanganate may be used to prevent the spread of glanders among horses.[23]
References
- Burge, Susan; Wallis, Dinny (2011). Oxford Handbook of Medical Dermatology. OUP Oxford. p. 592. ISBN 9780199558322.
- World Health Organization (2009). Stuart MC, Kouimtzi M, Hill SR (eds.). WHO Model Formulary 2008. World Health Organization. pp. 295, 300. hdl:10665/44053. ISBN 9789241547659.
- British Medical Association; Royal Pharmaceutical Society (2015). British national formulary (69 ed.). p. 840. ISBN 9780857111562.
- Shai, Avi; Maibach, Howard I. (2005). Wound Healing and Ulcers of the Skin: Diagnosis and Therapy - The Practical Approach. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 265. ISBN 9783540267614. Archived from the original on 2017-09-18.
- Kasture, A. V.; Wadodkar, S. G.; Gokhale, S. B. (2008). Practical Pharmaceutical Chemistry - I. Nirali Prakashan. ISBN 9788185790442. Archived from the original on 2017-01-16.
- Stout, Meg (2013). The Complete Idiot's Guide to Aquaponic Gardening. Penguin. p. Chapter 16. ISBN 9781615643332. Archived from the original on 2017-01-16.
- World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
- "Potassium Permanganate". International Drug Price Indicator Guide. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- "WHO Model Prescribing Information: Drugs Used in Skin Diseases: Antiseptic agents: Potassium permanganate". apps.who.int. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
- "CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21". www.accessdata.fda.gov. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
- "Should potassium permanganate be used in wound care?". Nursing Times. 5 August 2003. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
- Olson, Kent R. (2011). Poisoning and Drug Overdose, Sixth Edition. McGraw Hill Professional. p. 121. ISBN 9780071716765.
- Schachner, Lawrence A.; Hansen, Ronald C. (2011). Pediatric Dermatology E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 131. ISBN 0723436657.
- Patnaik, Pradyot (2007). A Comprehensive Guide to the Hazardous Properties of Chemical Substances. John Wiley & Sons. p. 710. ISBN 9780471714583.
- Dart, Richard C. (2004). Medical Toxicology. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 904–905. ISBN 9780781728454.
- "Potassium permanganate | DermNet New Zealand". www.dermnetnz.org. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
- González-Crussi, F. (2008). A Short History of Medicine. Random House Publishing Group. p. 111. ISBN 9781588368218.
- Solinger, Rickie (2005). Pregnancy and Power: A Short History of Reproductive Politics in America. NYU Press. p. 120. ISBN 9780814741191.
- Code of Federal Regulations: Record 2: 2007-. U.S. General Services Administration, National Archives and Records Service, Office of the Federal Register. 2008. p. 178.
- "CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21". www.accessdata.fda.gov. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
- "Potassium permanganate definition | Drugs.com". Drugs.com. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
- "Potassium Permanganate - Drugs.com". Drugs.com. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
- Scott, Danny W.; Miller, William H. (2010). Equine Dermatology - E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 168. ISBN 1437709214.