Dimethyl sulfoxide Intravesical and Rectiv topical

• Generic Name: dimethyl sulfoxide
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Cryoserv, Rimso-50

Dimethyl sulfoxide is a purified preparation used in the bladder to relieve the symptoms of the bladder condition called interstitial cystitis. A catheter (tube) or syringe is used to put the solution into the bladder where it is allowed to remain for about 15 minutes. Then, the solution is expelled by urinating.

Interstitial cystitis is the only human use for dimethyl sulfoxide that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Claims that dimethyl sulfoxide is effective for treating various types of arthritis, ulcers in scleroderma, muscle sprains and strains, bruises, infections of the skin, burns, wounds, and mental conditions have not been proven.

Although other preparations of dimethyl sulfoxide are available for industrial and veterinary (animal) use, they must not be used by humans, because of their unknown purity. Impurities in these preparations may cause serious unwanted effects in humans. Even if dimethyl sulfoxide is applied to the skin, it is absorbed into the body through the skin and mucous membranes.

Dimethyl sulfoxide is available only with your doctor's prescription.

• Generic Name: nitroglycerin
• Dosage Forms: rectal ointment
• Other Brand Names: Rectiv, Gonitro, Nitrolingual, NitroMist, Nitrostat, Nitro-Time, Gonitro, Minitran, Nitro TD Patch-A, Nitro-Dur, Nitro-Bid, Nitrol Appli-Kit

Intra-anal treatment of moderate to severe pain associated with chronic anal fissure.

Chronic anal fissure is thought to be related to sustained high resting anal sphincter tone and associated anodermal ischemia. Lateral internal sphincterotomy generally has been used to treat anal fissures that do not respond to conservative therapy (e.g., sitz baths, increased dietary fiber); however, minor incontinence, which may be persistent, may develop after surgery. Botulinum toxin type A injections or topical therapy with nitrates (e.g., nitroglycerin rectal ointment) or calcium-channel blocking agents (e.g., diltiazem gel, not commercially available in US) has been used to reduce anal sphincter tone and circumvent potential complications of surgery.