ItchCare 2%+0.1% Cream

ItchCare 2%+0.1% Cream Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Food Interaction and all others data.

Zinc is involved in various aspects of cellular metabolism. It has been estimated that approximately 10% of human proteins may bind zinc, in addition to hundreds of proteins that transport and traffic zinc. It is required for the catalytic activity of more than 200 enzymes, and it plays a role in immune function wound healing, protein synthesis, DNA synthesis, and cell division. Zinc is an essential element for a proper sense of taste and smell and supports normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence. It is thought to have antioxidant properties, which may be protective against accelerated aging and helps to speed up the healing process after an injury; however, studies differ as to its effectiveness. Zinc ions are effective antimicrobial agents even if administered in low concentrations .

Studies on oral zinc for specific conditions shows the following evidence in various conditions :

Colds: Evidence suggests that if zinc lozenges or syrup are taken within 24 hours after cold symptoms start, the supplement may shorten the length of colds. The use intranasal zinc has been associated with the loss of the sense of smell, in some cases long-term or permanently .

ItchCare 2%+0.1% Cream
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	ItchCare 2%+0.1% Cream
Generic	Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride + Zinc Acetate
Weight	2%+0.1%
Type	Cream
Therapeutic Class	Local Antipruritic, Topical Antihistamines
Manufacturer	Incepta Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Available Country	Bangladesh
Last Updated:	September 24, 2024 at 5:38 am

Uses

This cream is used to temporarily relieve pain and itching associated with: insect bites, minor burns, sunburn, minor skin irritations, minor cuts, scrapes, rashes due to poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac, dries the oozing and weeping of poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac.

ItchCare 2%+0.1% Cream is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Pruritus, Skin Irritation, Oozing and weeping, Pain and itching

How ItchCare 2%+0.1% Cream works

Zinc has three primary biological roles: catalytic, structural, and regulatory. The catalytic and structural role of zinc is well established, and there are various noteworthy reviews on these functions. For example, zinc is a structural constituent in numerous proteins, inclusive of growth factors, cytokines, receptors, enzymes, and transcription factors for different cellular signaling pathways. It is implicated in numerous cellular processes as a cofactor for approximately 3000 human proteins including enzymes, nuclear factors, and hormones .

Zinc promotes resistance to epithelial apoptosis through cell protection (cytoprotection) against reactive oxygen species and bacterial toxins, likely through the antioxidant activity of the cysteine-rich metallothioneins .

In HL-60 cells (promyelocytic leukemia cell line), zinc enhances the up-regulation of A20 mRNA, which, via TRAF pathway, decreases NF-kappaB activation, leading to decreased gene expression and generation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-1beta, and IL-8 .

There are several mechanisms of action of zinc on acute diarrhea. Various mechanisms are specific to the gastrointestinal system: zinc restores mucosal barrier integrity and enterocyte brush-border enzyme activity, it promotes the production of antibodies and circulating lymphocytes against intestinal pathogens, and has a direct effect on ion channels, acting as a potassium channel blocker of adenosine 3-5-cyclic monophosphate-mediated chlorine secretion. Cochrane researchers examined the evidence available up to 30 September 2016 .

Zinc deficiency in humans decreases the activity of serum thymulin (a hormone of the thymus), which is necessary for the maturation of T-helper cells. T-helper 1 (Th(1)) cytokines are decreased but T-helper 2 (Th(2)) cytokines are not affected by zinc deficiency in humans [A342417].

The change of Th(1) to Th(2) function leads to cell-mediated immune dysfunction. Because IL-2 production (Th(1) cytokine) is decreased, this causes decreased activity of natural-killer-cell (NK cell) and T cytolytic cells, normally involved in killing viruses, bacteria, and malignant cells [A3424].

In humans, zinc deficiency may lead to the generation of new CD4+ T cells, produced in the thymus. In cell culture studies (HUT-78, a Th(0) human malignant lymphoblastoid cell line), as a result of zinc deficiency, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation, phosphorylation of IkappaB, and binding of NF-kappaB to DNA are decreased and this results in decreased Th(1) cytokine production .

In another study, zinc supplementation in human subjects suppressed the gene expression and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and decreased oxidative stress markers [A3424]. In HL-60 cells (a human pro-myelocytic leukemia cell line), zinc deficiency increased the levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-8 cytokines and mRNA. In such cells, zinc was found to induce A20, a zinc finger protein that inhibited NF-kappaB activation by the tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor pathway. This process decreased gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress markers .

The exact mechanism of zinc in acne treatment is poorly understood. However, zinc is considered to act directly on microbial inflammatory equilibrium and facilitate antibiotic absorption when used in combination with other agents. Topical zinc alone as well as in combination with other agents may be efficacious because of its anti-inflammatory activity and ability to reduce P. acnes bacteria by the inhibition of P. acnes lipases and free fatty acid levels .

Dosage

ItchCare 2%+0.1% Cream dosage

Adults & children above 2 years: Apply to the affected area 3 to 4 times daily. Before application of cream, the skin should be clean, cool and dry. Should not have a hot shower or bath before applying. Apply the cream lightly on the skin until the cream disappears. It is important to include all skin surfaces, such as between the fingers and toes, under the nails and on the soles of the feet.For babies under 2 years: Initially consult with the physician, if it is recommended, apply to the face, neck, ears and scalp as well, only avoiding the area immediately around the eyes and mouth. Leave cream on for at least 8 hours, before washing off. Reapply to any area that may be washed during the 8 hours treatment time (such as after washing the hands).

Side Effects

Contact dermatitis with mild erythematous vesicular lesions and papules has occasionally been reported.

Toxicity

According to the Toxnet database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the oral LD50 for zinc is close to 3 g/kg body weight, more than 10-fold higher than cadmium and 50-fold higher than mercury .

The LD50 values of several zinc compounds (ranging from 186 to 623 mg zinc/kg/day) have been measured in rats and mice .

Precaution

For external use only. Flammable, keep away from fire or flame. Do not use on large areas of the body with any other product containing diphenhydramine, even should not be taken by mouth. Consult with the physician before use on chicken pox, on measles. When using this product, avoid contact of eyes.

Interaction

Diphenhydramine administration significantly reduces the absorption of the antituberculous agent para-aminosalicyclic acid (PAS) from the gastrointestinal tract. CNS depressants may potentiate the sedative action of Diphenhydramine. Anticholinergic drugs may potentiate Diphenhydramine’s anticholinergic side effects.

Volume of Distribution

A pharmacokinetic study was done in rats to determine the distribution and other metabolic indexes of zinc in two particle sizes. It was found that zinc particles were mainly distributed to organs including the liver, lung, and kidney within 72 hours without any significant difference being found according to particle size or rat gender .

Elimination Route

Zinc is absorbed in the small intestine by a carrier-mediated mechanism . Under regular physiologic conditions, transport processes of uptake do not saturate. The exact amount of zinc absorbed is difficult to determine because zinc is secreted into the gut. Zinc administered in aqueous solutions to fasting subjects is absorbed quite efficiently (at a rate of 60-70%), however, absorption from solid diets is less efficient and varies greatly, dependent on zinc content and diet composition .

Generally, 33% is considered to be the average zinc absorption in humans . More recent studies have determined different absorption rates for various populations based on their type of diet and phytate to zinc molar ratio. Zinc absorption is concentration dependent and increases linearly with dietary zinc up to a maximum rate [L20902].

Additionally zinc status may influence zinc absorption. Zinc-deprived humans absorb this element with increased efficiency, whereas humans on a high-zinc diet show a reduced efficiency of absorption .

Half Life

The half-life of zinc in humans is approximately 280 days .

Clearance

In one study of healthy patients, the clearance of zinc was found to be 0.63 ± 0.39 μg/min .

Elimination Route

The excretion of zinc through gastrointestinal tract accounts for approximately one-half of all zinc eliminated from the body .

Considerable amounts of zinc are secreted through both biliary and intestinal secretions, however most is reabsorbed. This is an important process in the regulation of zinc balance. Other routes of zinc excretion include both urine and surface losses (sloughed skin, hair, sweat) .

Zinc has been shown to induce intestinal metallothionein, which combines zinc and copper in the intestine and prevents their serosal surface transfer. Intestinal cells are sloughed with approximately a 6-day turnover, and the metallothionein-bound copper and zinc are lost in the stool and are thus not absorbed .

Measurements in humans of endogenous intestinal zinc have primarily been made as fecal excretion; this suggests that the amounts excreted are responsive to zinc intake, absorbed zinc and physiologic need .

In one study, elimination kinetics in rats showed that a small amount of ZnO nanoparticles was excreted via the urine, however, most of the nanoparticles were excreted via the feces .

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding use

In the absence of specific studies in pregnant women its use in pregnancy should only follow medical advice. However, teratogenic effects would not be anticipated. Although caution should be exercised in administration of diphenhydramine to nursing mothers, levels in breast milk following topical application are likely to be very low.

Contraindication

Use of cream is contraindicated in individuals with a known allergy to its components, other pyrethroids or pyrethrins.

Acute Overdose

Symptoms: Impaired consciousness; psychosis, seizures, antimuscarinic symptoms (e.g. mydriasis, tachycardia, tachyarrhythmias), resp failure, rhabdomyolysis; acute delirium with visual and auditory hallucination (topical). Management: Supportive and symptomatic treatment. Convulsions and marked CNS stimulation may be treated with IV diazepam.