Chlorhexidine (topical application route)
Available brands
Betasept, Biopatch w/Chlorhexidine Gluconate, Chlorostat, Dyna-Hex, Dyna-Hex2, Hibiclens, Hibistat, Operand Chg Surgical Scrub Brush, Operand Chlorhexidine Gluconate, Operand Closed Loop Chg Scrub, Stanhexidine Solution, Stanley Chlorhexidine Tinted, Stanley Chlorhexidine Untinted
About this medication
Chlorhexidine belongs to a group of medicines called antiseptic antibacterial agents. It is used to clean the skin after an injury, before surgery, or before an injection. Chlorhexidine is also used to clean the hands before a procedure. It works by killing or preventing the growth of bacteria on the skin. This product is available in the following dosage forms:
Before using this medication
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered: Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully. Because of chlorhexidine's potential for causing excessive skin irritation and the risk of increased absorption through the skin, use in children less than 2 months of age is not recommended. No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of chlorhexidine in geriatric patients. Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine. Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco. The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
How to use this medication
Some of the chlorhexidine products will be used in a hospital or clinic setting. The medicine will be applied by a nurse or other trained health professional. You may be instructed to use this medicine at home.It is very important that you use this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not use more of it, do not use it more often, and do not use it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may cause irritation of the skin. Different forms of the medicine are used in different ways. Be sure you understand the directions for the product you are given before you use it. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. Follow your doctor's instructions about how to clean and care for your skin before and after you use this medicine. Make sure you understand all of the directions, and ask questions if you find something is not clear. Chlorhexidine should only be used on the skin. Do not swallow it or get it in the eyes, ears, mouth, or nose. Do not use it on the genital area (sex organs) or anal area. If it does get on these areas, rinse it off right away. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. Keep out of the reach of children. Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing. TheChloraprep®andHibistat®products contain large amounts of alcohol (70%) and are flammable. Do not store them near a flame, heater, or electrical device.
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