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benzalkonium (Zephiran, Sterinol)

Indications: 1) pre-operative disinfection of intact skin 2) treatment of superficial injuries 3) benzalkonium chloride is used as a preservative in glaucoma ophthalmics Dosage: (dilution) 1) pre-operative disinfection: 1:2000-10,000 2) eye irrigation: 1:5000-10,000 3) vaginal douche/irrigation: 1:2000-5000 4) bladder/urethral irrigation: 1:5000-20,000 5) retention irrigation: 1:20,000-40,000 6) denuded areas: 1:2000-5000 7) infected deep wound irrigation: 1:3000-20,000 Solution: 8 oz. 1:750. Adverse effects: - ophthalmic preservatove benzalkonium chloride can cause ocular surface injury such as corneal epithelial damage & conjunctival redness Mechanism of action: 1) germicidal for many bacteria & fungi 2) generally NOT active against a) Mycobacterium tuberculosis b) Pseudomonas aeruginosa c) spore-forming organisms 3) ophthalmic preservatove benzalkonium chloride acts as a penetration enhancer, promoting the penetration of active ingredients into the eye [2]

Interactions

drug interactions

Related

dorzolamide (Trusopt)

General

antifungal agent other antibiotic

Properties

Database Correlations

PUBCHEM correlations

References

  1. Drug Information & Medication Formulary, Veterans Affairs, Central California Health Care System, 1st ed., Ravnan et al eds, 1998
  2. Karp J Preservative-Free Glaucoma Drops Improve IOP and Eye Health. Medscape. Feb 28, 2025 https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/preservative-free-glaucoma-drops-improve-iop-and-eye-health-2025a100053c

Component-of

allantoin/benzalkonium allantoin/benzalkonium/benzyl alcohol ammonium chloride/benzalkonium/chlorhexidine benzalkonium/benzethonium benzalkonium/benzocaine benzalkonium/benzocaine/camphor benzalkonium/benzocaine/diethylcarbamazine benzalkonium/benzocaine/zinc chloride benzalkonium/biguanide benzalkonium/camphor benzalkonium/chlorhexidine benzalkonium/chloroxylenol benzalkonium/chloroxylenol/cortisol/pramoxine benzalkonium/hexylresorcinol/zinc chloride benzalkonium/lidocaine benzalkonium/menthol benzalkonium/menthol/white petrolatum benzalkonium/piperonyl butoxide/pyrethrin benzalkonium/pramoxine benzocaine/benzalkonium chloride/butyl aminobenzoate/tetracaine (Cetacaine) latanoprost (Xalatan) tyloxapol (Enuclene)