Expert: Michael Anisfeld - 9/17/2004

Question
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Followup To
Question -
For years I have been using Betadine Surgical Scrub for washing myself as I am prone to skin infections. For well over a year I have not been able to find this product snd I contacted many drugstores. It has been an ots product. Now I am wondering if it was recalled and if so, why? Yesterday, I was able to locate this product online at a website for pets and farm animals. Is it safe for animals only? Thanks.

Patricia
Answer -
Dear Patricia:

"Betadine" is the commercial name for Povidone Iodide Solution - Betadine being a 7.5% solution manufactured by Purdue Frederick.

If you check on the internet for "Povidone Iodide", you will find many sites offering it for sale.

I hope this helps,
Michael Anisfeld

Hello Michael,

What I am looking for is the Betadine or Povidene Surgical SCRUB
NOT the SOLUTION. It has not been difficult to find the Solution but finding the Scrub has been impossible. You didn't answer my question as to whether the SCRUB was recalled for some reason and why. Is it safe to use?

Coedially,

Patricia Schwarz

Answer
Sorry - I'm too much of a pharmacist, and I missed the obvious.

The scrub is a 4% soultion, the solution is 7.5% solution. The difference between the two is - one is straight liquid (the 7.5%), the other is in a foamy base.

Your choices are:
a. buy the animal product and use it on yourself - its the same exact formulation as the "old" human use

b. buy the slution and mix it half-and-half with soap solution, hence making your own scrub.

If the product had been unsafe for human use, FDA would have withdrawn all versions - scrub and solution - from the market.

I hope this helps.
Michael Anisfeld