Silver Nitrate
About
Silver Nitrate is a topical anti-infective, antiseptic, antibacterial, and cauterizing agent, primarily used to cauterize infected tissues around a skin wound. Cauterization is a medical practice of burning or removing a part of a body to stop bleeding and prevent infection. Silver Nitrate helps create a scab to (protective tissue covering that forms after skin damage) stop bleeding from a minor skin wound. Silver Nitrate is also used to remove warts or skin tags and treat skin ulcers and mouth sores.
Silver Nitrate contains 'Silver Nitrate,' which is an antiseptic and antibacterial agent that works by inhibiting the growth of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Free silver ions of silver nitrate precipitate bacterial proteins by combining with chloride in tissue to form silver chloride. It coagulates cellular protein to form an eschar (dead tissue that sheds or falls off from the skin wound).
Silver Nitrate is for external use only. Silver Nitrate has common side effects like a burning sensation, skin staining, and irritation at the application site. These side effects gradually resolve during the treatment and do not require medical attention.
Silver Nitrate is not used to treat genital warts. Silver Nitrate should be used with caution in electrolyte imbalance like hyponatremia (low sodium levels in the blood) and hypochloremia (low chloride levels in the blood). Silver Nitrate can be caustic (able to burn) and irritates when applied to the skin and mucous membranes. Silver Nitrate can easily stain skin, utensils, clothing and linens, hence advised to handle it carefully. Please consult your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to conceive before using Silver Nitrate since it may affect the unborn baby.
Uses of Silver Nitrate
Medicinal Benefits
Silver Nitrate is a topical anti-infective, antiseptic, antibacterial, and cauterizing agent. It is used to cauterize (burning or removing a part of a body) infected tissues around a skin wound. It creates a scab to (protective tissue covering that forms after skin damage) stop bleeding from a minor skin wound. It is also used to remove warts or skin tags. Silver Nitrate contains 'Silver Nitrate,' and inhibits the growth of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Free silver ions of Silver Nitrate precipitate bacterial proteins by combining with chloride in tissue to form silver chloride. It coagulates cellular protein to form an eschar (dead tissue that sheds or falls off from the skin wound).
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Silver Nitrate
- Burning sensation
- Skin staining
- Irritation at the application site
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Silver Nitrate is strictly for external use only. It is not used to treat genital warts. When used for longer periods and applied as a wet dressing, silver nitrate can cause electrolyte imbalance like hyponatremia and hypochloremia. Let your doctor know if you have any allergic reactions to Silver Nitrate before starting. Silver Nitrate is caustic (able to burn) and irritates when applied to the skin and mucous membranes. Silver Nitrate can easily stain skin, utensils, clothing and linens, hence advised to handle it carefully. Please consult your doctor if you are a pregnant or breastfeeding woman.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Silver Nitrate may interact with local anaesthetics (benoxinate, benzocaine) and food preservative/anti-hypertensive agent (sodium nitrite).
Drug-Food Interaction: No interactions were found.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Before using Silver Nitrate, let your doctor know if have any allergic reactions to Silver Nitrate, liver and kidney problems.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionNo interactions were found/established. Please consult your doctor for more information.
Pregnancy
cautionPlease consult your doctor before using Silver Nitrate if you are pregnant or planning to conceive.
Breast Feeding
cautionThere is limited data on how Silver Nitrate affects breastfeeding infant. Please consult your doctor before using Silver Nitrate if you are breastfeeding.
Driving
not applicableSilver Nitrate is generally safe to use and does not interfere with your driving ability.
Liver
cautionLet your doctor know if you have any history of liver diseases before using Silver Nitrate.
Kidney
cautionLet your doctor know if you have any history of kidney diseases before using Silver Nitrate.
Children
cautionThe doctor will recommend Silver Nitrate depending on your child's severity of infection or wounds.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Use mild soap while taking baths and prefer warm baths.
- Avoid harsh products on your skin.
- Do not scratch or pick your skin to avoid getting the affected area infected.
- Manage stress, eat healthily, drink plenty of water, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep.
- Do not walk barefoot at places like gym showers to prevent infections.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Skin wound: A skin wound is a damage to the surface of the skin. It is the loss of linkage of epithelium with or without losing the connective tissue. Some types of wounds are cuts, scrapes, scratches, and punctured skin. The wounds can be treated with topical anti-infective agents and sometimes left open to be healed (minor wounds) where the connective tissue is restored, followed by regrowth of epithelium.
Wart: A wart is a small, fleshy bump on the skin or mucous membrane that can appear anywhere on the body. Various strains of human papillomavirus cause warts. Warts can spread from one body part to another and from person to person. Treatment includes topical peeling agents and medical procedures like cauterization, tissue scraping, cryotherapy or freezing therapy, and laser treatment.
FAQs
Silver Nitrate contains 'Silver Nitrate,' an antiseptic and antibacterial agent that works by inhibiting the growth of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.
Silver Nitrate is for external use only. Do not swallow the medicine. Please read the instructions leaflet of Silver Nitrate carefully before using. Your doctor will decide on the dose and duration based on your condition.
Silver Nitrate should be used with proper caution and doctor consultation if you have any heart, liver, and kidney diseases. Silver Nitrate is not used to treat genital warts.
When used for longer periods and applied as a wet dressing, Silver nitrate can cause electrolyte imbalance like hyponatremia (low sodium levels in the blood) and hypochloremia (low chloride levels in the blood).
When ingested, Silver Nitrate can be toxic to the gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system. It is advised to immediately use common salt solutions, milk (or white of egg and water), and soap in water as a gastric lavage (cleaning out the contents of the stomach) and seek medical attention.
