ATC Group: D08AG Iodine products

The World Health Organization's ATC classification organizes medical drugs based on therapeutic properties, chemical composition, and anatomy. It helps make essential medicines readily available globally and is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry.

Position of D08AG in the ATC hierarchy

Level Code Title
1 D Dermatologicals
2 D08 Antiseptics and disinfectants
3 D08A Antiseptics and disinfectants
4 D08AG Iodine products

Group D08AG contents

Code Title
D08AG01 Iodine/octylphenoxypolyglycolether
D08AG02 Povidone-iodine
D08AG03 Iodine
D08AG04 Diiodohydroxypropane

Active ingredients in D08AG

Active Ingredient Description
Iodine

Iodine is an essential trace element in the human diet, necessary for the formation of thyroid hormones and consequently it is used in iodine deficiency and thyroid disorders. It also has antimicrobial activity.

For the prophylaxis and treatment of iodine deficiency disorders it may be given as potassium or sodium iodide, iodised oil, or potassium iodate. In the pre-operative management of hyperthyroidism iodine and iodides are used with antithyroid drugs such as carbimazole, thiamazole, or propylthiouracil.

Iodine has a powerful bactericidal action. It is also active against fungi, viruses, protozoa, cysts, and spores. Iodine is used as an antiseptic and disinfectant generally as a 2% or 2.5% solution.

Povidone iodine

Povidone iodine is an iodophore that has an established use as a broad-spectrum antiseptic, mainly for the treatment of contaminated wounds and for the preoperative preparation of the skin, mucous membranes and the ocular surface. The organic complex contains approximately 10% of active available iodine. Solutions of povidone iodine gradually release iodine to exert an antimicrobial effect against bacteria, fungi, viruses, and spores. Although povidone iodine is less potent than preparations containing free iodine, it is also less toxic.

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