Ear Wax (otic)

Ear Wax (otic) Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Food Interaction and all others data.

Ear Wax (otic), also known as urea-hydrogen peroxide, is a water-soluble, white crystalline solid compound consisting of hydrogen peroxide and urea. As it is a source of hydrogen peroxide, it can be found in disinfecting and dental bleaching products. Some adverse effects of carbamide peroxide as a dental bleaching agent include dentin sensitivity and/or gingival irritation led by unstable and reactive H+ free radicals and low pH from prolonged use. It may also alter enamel surface morphology via enamel mineral loss and surface roughening . The FDA considers carbamide peroxide to be safe in oral mucosal injury drug products as an oral wound healing agent, although there is insufficient data to establish general recognition of the effectiveness of this ingredient as an oral wound healing agent . It is available in OTC otic drugs as non-water, non-oil-based solutions used to soften, loosen and remove excessive ear wax, or cerumen.

Ear Wax (otic) releases hydrogen peroxide and free radicals upon contact with water or outer surfaces of ear and tooth. Hydrogen peroxide exerts cerumenolytic, enamel-bleaching and antiseptic actions. In vitro, the chemical stability of ceramics against bleaching agents was observed after treatment with 15% carbamide peroxide for 56 h, 16% carbamide peroxide for 126 h, 10% or 15% carbamide peroxide and 38% hydrogen peroxide for 30 minutes or 45 minutes, respectively . According to in vitro studies, high (37%) or low (10 or 16%) concentrated carbamide peroxide agents were similarly effective as oral bleaching agents . Treatment with carbamide peroxide may lead to demineralization which involves decreased mineral content of enamel calcium, phosphate, and fluoride, and alteration of the chemical, structural, and mechanical properties . Ear Wax (otic) may affect the organic components of the enamel and lead to increased susceptibility to erosion, fracture stability or decreased abrasion resistance of the treated area .

Ear Wax (otic)
Uses
Dosage
Side Effect
Precautions
Interactions
Uses during Pregnancy
Uses during Breastfeeding
Accute Overdose
Food Interaction
Half Life
Volume of Distribution
Clearance
Interaction With other Medicine
Contradiction
Storage

Trade Name	Ear Wax (otic)
Generic	Carbamide peroxide
Carbamide peroxide Other Names	Carbamide peroxide, Hydrogen peroxide carbamide, Urea dioxide, Urea hydrogen peroxide, Urea peroxide
Type
Formula	CH₆N₂O₃
Weight	Average: 94.07 Monoisotopic: 94.037842061
Protein binding	No established pharmacokinetic data.
Groups	Approved
Therapeutic Class
Manufacturer
Available Country	USA
Last Updated:	September 19, 2023 at 7:00 am

Uses

Ear Wax (otic) is a medication used to loosen ear wax, whiten teeth, and clean oral wounds.

Indicated as a dental bleaching agent.

Indicated as an oral wound healing agent in oral mucosal injuries.

Indicated as an aid in the removal of hardened ear wax.

Ear Wax (otic) is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Excess ear wax

How Ear Wax (otic) works

Ear Wax (otic) release hydrogen peroxide upon contact with teeth, which is a strong oxidizing and bleaching agent. It also release free radicals such as H+ or H3O+ . Hydrogen peroxide also acts as an antiseptic, especially in sites with relative anaerobiosis. Following otic administration, carbamide peroxide complex releases hydrogen peroxide that breaks up the hardened wax. The hydrogen peroxide component, which further breaks down into water, is also a cerumenolytic that hydrates the desquamated sheets of corneocytes, which are the major constituent of cerumen plugs . The glycerol and urea facilitates softening of the cerumen, either with or without syringing . Both hydrogen peroxide and urea mildly induce keratolysis with disintegration of the ear wax to help reduce the keratin-load in the ear debris and allow other active components to reach the skin under the debris .

Toxicity

Oral LD50 in rat is >2000 mg/kg .

Food Interaction

No interactions found.

Volume of Distribution

No established pharmacokinetic data.

Elimination Route

Upon treatment into the external auditory canal or the dental cavity, exposure to carbamide peroxide is limited to the intimate contact with the treated area without any systemic absorption.