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Oral DMSO Treatment: Examining the Health Benefits, Side Effects, Uses, and Precautions

What are the health benefits of oral DMSO treatment? What are the potential side effects? When is DMSO used, and what dosage is recommended? What precautions should be taken with DMSO?

Examining the Health Benefits of Oral DMSO Treatment

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a versatile compound that has been explored for its potential therapeutic applications. One area of interest is the use of oral DMSO treatment. What are the potential health benefits associated with this approach?

Investigating the Side Effects of Oral DMSO

While DMSO may offer certain health benefits, it’s important to understand the potential side effects that can occur with oral DMSO treatment. What are the most commonly reported side effects, and how can they be managed?

Exploring the Uses of Oral DMSO

DMSO has been investigated for use in a variety of medical conditions. In what specific situations or applications is oral DMSO treatment utilized, and what evidence supports its use?

Determining the Appropriate Dosage for Oral DMSO

When considering oral DMSO treatment, it’s crucial to understand the recommended dosage. What factors influence the appropriate dosage, and what guidelines are typically followed?

Precautions and Considerations with Oral DMSO

As with any medication or treatment, there are important precautions to consider when using oral DMSO. What are the key safety concerns, and how can individuals ensure the safe and responsible use of DMSO?

Understanding the Limitations of Oral DMSO Research

While there is ongoing research on the potential benefits of oral DMSO, it’s important to recognize the limitations of the current evidence. What are the areas where more study is needed to fully understand the efficacy and safety of this treatment approach?

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Oral DMSO in Clinical Settings

Ultimately, the true measure of oral DMSO’s effectiveness lies in its real-world application and outcomes. What do clinical studies and case reports reveal about the practical application and success of this treatment approach?

Oral DMSO treatment is a topic of ongoing research and discussion in the medical community. By understanding the potential benefits, side effects, uses, dosage recommendations, and precautions, individuals can make informed decisions about the responsible and appropriate use of this compound. As with any medical intervention, it’s crucial to consult with healthcare professionals and carefully weigh the risks and benefits before pursuing oral DMSO treatment.

Is Oral DMSO Effective for Treating Lipoid Proteinosis?

One specific condition that has been explored in relation to oral DMSO treatment is lipoid proteinosis, a rare genetic disorder. What does the available research say about the effectiveness of DMSO in managing the symptoms and progression of lipoid proteinosis?

A case report published in 1997 examined the use of long-term oral DMSO (60 mg/kg/day) in three patients with lipoid proteinosis. The researchers found that after an average treatment time of 3 years, the DMSO therapy did not produce any beneficial effects on the patients’ skin, mucosal lesions, or hoarseness. In fact, one patient even experienced disease progression, with worsening hoarseness and the onset of dyspnea, requiring surgical intervention.

This study suggests that long-term oral DMSO treatment may not be an effective therapy for managing the symptoms and course of lipoid proteinosis. The researchers concluded that the three patients they observed failed to show any beneficial response to the DMSO treatment.

It’s important to note that this is a single case report, and the efficacy of DMSO in lipoid proteinosis may vary based on individual circumstances and disease severity. However, this study highlights the need for further research to fully understand the potential role, if any, of oral DMSO in the management of this rare genetic disorder.

Exploring Alternative Treatments for Lipoid Proteinosis

Given the limited evidence supporting the use of oral DMSO for lipoid proteinosis, it’s worth exploring other potential treatment approaches for this condition. What alternative therapies or management strategies have been investigated, and what are the current recommendations for the care of individuals with lipoid proteinosis?

While the search for effective treatments for lipoid proteinosis continues, it’s clear that the use of oral DMSO does not appear to be a reliable or consistent solution based on the available research. Patients and healthcare providers must carefully weigh the potential risks and benefits of any proposed treatment, and pursue a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to managing this rare and complex condition.

[Oral DMSO therapy in 3 patients with lipoidproteinosis. Results of long-term therapy]

Case Reports

. 1997 Jul;48(7):477-81.

doi: 10.1007/s001050050613.

[Article in

German]

E Ozkaya-Bayazit 
1
, G Ozarmağan, C Baykal, T Uluğ

Affiliations

Affiliation

  • 1 Dermatologische Abteilung, Medizinischen Fakultät Istanbul der Universität, Istanbul.
  • PMID:

    9333627

  • DOI:

    10.1007/s001050050613

Case Reports

[Article in

German]

E Ozkaya-Bayazit et al.

Hautarzt.

1997 Jul.

. 1997 Jul;48(7):477-81.

doi: 10.1007/s001050050613.

Authors

E Ozkaya-Bayazit 
1
, G Ozarmağan, C Baykal, T Uluğ

Affiliation

  • 1 Dermatologische Abteilung, Medizinischen Fakultät Istanbul der Universität, Istanbul.
  • PMID:

    9333627

  • DOI:

    10.1007/s001050050613

Abstract

Lipoid proteinosis is a rare autosomal recessive disorder with a chronic, benign course. There is no generally accepted systemic therapy apart from the experimental oral use of dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and etretinate in two single cases. We treated two sisters and an unrelated man with lipoid proteinosis with longterm oral DMSO (60 mg/kg/d). At the end of an average treatment time of 3 years, DMSO was withdrawn because it produced no beneficial effects with regard to their skin, mucosal lesions or hoarseness. Additionally, one patient showed progression of her disease with worsening hoarseness and onset of dyspnea, requiring surgical removal of vocal cord infiltrates. Three patients with lipoid proteinosis failed to show any beneficial response to long term treatment with DMSO.

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  • [Lipoid proteinosis in 2 sisters].

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DMSO (Dimethyl Sulfoxide): Uses, Benefits, Risks, and More

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Medically reviewed by Angelica Balingit, MD — By Jessica DiGiacinto and Joe Bowman — Updated on May 16, 2023

DMSO is a colorless chemical solvent that may have many medical uses but is currently only approved by the FDA to treat interstitial cystitis.

The story of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is an unusual one. This by-product of the paper making process was discovered in Germany in the late 19th century. It’s a colorless liquid that gained notoriety for its ability to penetrate the skin and other biological membranes.

Scientists discovered that they could use DMSO as a transportation device to pass small molecules through skin in the 1960s. Since then, scientists have researched the potential benefits and risks of using DMSO to treat a variety of conditions. This research is ongoing.

DMSO was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)to treat interstitial cystitis (a chronic bladder issue) under the brand name RIMSO-50.

The compound has no other approved uses, but it’s been purported to be a treatment for:

  • arthritis
  • cancer
  • chemotherapy side effects
  • general pain

Because it absorbs easily into the skin, it’s also been studied as a vehicle for administering topical drugs.

In the late 70s, the FDA approved DMSO to help treat interstitial cystitis. It remains the only FDA-approved bladder installation (or bladder wash) for this condition. For individuals living with interstitial cystitis, DMSO has been shown to:

  • ease pain due to the condition
  • help relax the bladder
  • increase bladder capacity

When it comes to off-label uses, DMSO is often employed as an alternative treatment to reduce inflammation and pain.

Because it absorbs easily into the skin, DMSO may be a beneficial alternative to other pain medications. However, further investigation into this area is needed before any conclusions can be drawn.

DMSO has also been touted for its ability to reduce the amount of leakage during chemotherapy administration, but more studies, and real-world usage, need to be done before it can be labeled as a trusted method.

Additionally, there has been some research into DMSO’s benefits when it comes to inhibiting cancer cells. A 2020 study published in the Journal of Medical Discovery found evidence of benefit. However, research is just beginning in this area, so many more studies need to be done before any conclusions can be made.

While many of the reported side effects of taking DMSO are mild, the amount of DMSO someone takes is directly correlated to the severity of the reaction.

One common side effect is the taste of garlic in the mouth and throat.

More severe side effects include:

  • headache
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • stomach ache
  • diarrhea
  • fever
  • chills
  • a lowered heart rate
  • itching
  • rash
  • rough or thickened skin

Risks

Because it’s seen as a more alternative treatment, DMSO is easy to find and buy online. However, buying this product and using it without a healthcare professional’s supervision could increase the likelihood of overuse.

DMSO may also increase the effect of a few medications, which could produce serious reactions in some people. A few medications DMSO may affect include:

  • sedatives
  • blood thinners
  • steroids

DMSO can be administered

  • topically, via a gel or solution
  • as a bladder wash, via a catheter (for interstitial cystitis)

As with any alternative treatment, it’s always advised to talk with a doctor before deciding to purchase any product that contains DMSO. Dosage is directly connected to the severity of possible side effects.

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a chemical solvent that is sometimes used to help reduce inflammation and pain, and may also be beneficial in reducing leakage during chemotherapy treatment.

It has been FDA approved to treat only one condition: interstitial cystitis.

Because of possible interactions with other common medications, and lack of definitive research into its benefits, DMSO should not be used without medical supervision.

Last medically reviewed on February 1, 2022

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

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Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Current Version

May 16, 2023

Written By

Jessica DiGiacinto, Joe Bowman

Edited By

Jessica DiGiacinto

Copy Edited By

Delores Smith-Johnson

Feb 1, 2022

Medically Reviewed By

Angelica Balingit, MD

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Medically reviewed by Angelica Balingit, MD — By Jessica DiGiacinto and Joe Bowman — Updated on May 16, 2023

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Efficacy of some antiviral agents against COVID-19: in vitro studies

Efficacy of some antiviral agents against COVID-19: in vitro studies

Authors: Xi Wang, Ruiyuan Cao, Huanyu Zhang, Jia Liu, Mingyue Xu, Hengrui Hu, Yufeng Li, Lei Zhao, Wei Li, Xiulian Sun, Xinglou Yang, Zhengli Shi, Fei Deng, Zhihong Hu, Wu Zhong, Manli Wang2020, the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) disease COVID-19 rapidly spread to more than 200 countries, infected more than 1. 5 million people, and caused 92,798 deaths (data as of April 10, 2020). of the year). The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 pandemic on March 11 and called for accelerated development of diagnostic procedures, vaccines and drugs to combat this new disease. In addition to the novel coronavirus infection, influenza viral infections have been a persistent threat to global public health for many years. In the United States only, as estimated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), during the 2019 winter season-2020, there were at least 39 million cases, 400,000 hospitalizations, and 24,000 influenza deaths (https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm). Considering that the current circulation of SARS-CoV-2 is accompanied by other influenza viral infections, the study of available and effective drugs for the treatment of both diseases is of great interest.

Indeed, in the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, some influenza drugs (eg, oseltamivir) were used to treat patients with COVID-19[12]. We previously reported that favipiravir (T705), an anti-influenza drug approved in Japan and China, showed some efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 in in vitro studies [3]. In addition, umifenovir, an anti-influenza drug with the main antiviral component hemagglutinin (HA), is being used in a clinical trial against COVID-19 (ChiCTR2000029573) and has recently been added to the COVID-19 Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines (sixth and seventh editions) in China. A recent retrospective study showed that treatment with umifenovir increased the number of recoveries and reduced mortality rates in patients with COVID-19[4]. However, to the best of our knowledge, no systematic analysis of the efficacy of influenza drugs against SARS-CoV-2 has been performed.

In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of six currently available and licensed influenza drugs in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2. These drugs include umifenovir, baloxavir, laninamivir, oseltamivir, peramivir, and zanamivir [5, 6]. M2 inhibitors (amantadine and rimantadine) are not included in this study as they were not recommended by the WHO for the treatment of influenza due to drug resistance. In a first step, the cytotoxicity of compounds in the African green monkey kidney cell line Vero E6 (ATCC-1586) was measured using the standard kit-8 (CCK8) cell scoring method. Cells were then infected with SARS-CoV-2 with a MOI of 0.05 in the presence of test compound or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) control. Dose-response lines were constructed by quantifying the copy number of viral RNA in the infected cell supernatant 48 hours after infection (p. i.). As shown in Figure 1A, umifenovir effectively inhibited viral infection in in vitro studies; The 50% maximum effective concentration (EC 50 ) and 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC 50 ) of umifenovir were 4.11 (3.55-4.73) and 31.79(29.89-33.81) µm, respectively, and the selectivity index (SI = CC50/EC50) is 7.73. Baloxavir partially inhibited SARS-CoV-2 infection (~29%) at a high concentration of 50 μM (Figure 1A). In contrast, laninamivir, oseltamivir, peramivir, and zanamivir did not inhibit SARS-CoV-2 even at the highest drug concentrations (Figure 1A). The antiviral activity of the compounds was also assessed by observing cytopathic effects (CPE) and immunofluorescent staining of infected cells. As shown in Supplementary Figure S1, 48 hours post-infection, only in umifenovir-treated cells but not the other five drugs, viral genome expression and observed cytopathic effect (CPE) to SARS-CoV-2 were significantly reduced. It should be noted that we have also tested some human lung cell lines, such as MRC-5 human embryonic lung fibroblasts and the Calu-3 lung cancer cell line, however, they were not very efficient for SARS-CoV-2 replication and therefore were not used for this. research.

In addition to the influenza virus, umifenovir has been reported to inhibit a wide range of viruses by interfering with several steps in the viral replication cycle [7]. The effect of umifenovir on the stage of SARS-CoV-2 replication was investigated by conducting a preliminary experiment with time-based checkpoints with a frequency of infection (MOI) of 0. 05. Umifenovir was incubated with cells at the beginning of virus entry (Entry), post-entry (Post-entry) and during the entire infection process (Full-time), and the result of the virus was quantified by qRT-PCR. The data obtained showed that umifenovir effectively blocks the virus both at the stage of penetration and immediately after penetration. It has a strong effect on the rate of virus entry (~75% inhibition) with less effect on post-entry events (~55% inhibition) (Figure 1B). In addition, Western blotting (Figure 1C) and immunofluorescence microscopy (Supplementary Figure S2) confirmed that viral genome expression was drastically down-regulated throughout the full-time period (13% of the DMSO group, Figure 1C), and showed a more significant inhibitory effect at the stage of penetration (41%) than at the stage after the beginning of penetration (61%).

Next, a detailed study was carried out on how umifenovir blocks the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into cells. The virus (MOI = 0.05) was allowed to bind to Vero E6 cells at 4°C for 1 hour in the presence of umifenovir (10 μM) or DMSO control. Virus particles bound to the cell (bound virions) and in the supernatant (unbound virions) were analyzed by qRT-PCR. The results showed that treatment with umifenovir resulted in a significant decrease in binding efficiency (67%) compared with the control group (P < 0.05) (Fig. 1d). Accordingly, the proportion of unbound virions increased significantly to 156% of the control group after treatment with umifenovir (P < 0.001) (Figure 1d).

Next, the intracellular movement of the virus was analyzed. As we recently reported, inside infected cells, SARS-CoV-2 underwent vesicle transport, which was first carried out by early endosomes (EEs) and then further transported to endolysosomes (ELs) [8]. Co-localization of virions with endosomes (EEs) or endolysosomes (ELs) was visualized by immunofluorescence microscopy and analyzed statistically (n > 150 cells). As shown in Figure 1e and Supplementary Figure S3, at each time point monitored, there was no significant difference in the number of virions co-localized with EEs when comparing DMSO and umifenovir groups, although as infection progressed (30, 60 and 90 min p. i.), co-localization levels were significantly reduced in both DMSO (24.0%, 5.1% and 3.2%) and umifenovir groups (21.4%, 4.1% and 2.8%), indicating that some virions have already been transported from EEs to the next stage of vesicle transport. In contrast, at 60 min p.i. in the umifenovir group, a slightly higher percentage of virions were transported to ELs (22.4%) than in the DMSO group (18.3%) (P < 0.05) (Figure 1e, f). At 90 min after the start of treatment, significantly fewer virions (~13.5%) were found in the DMSO group, while significantly more virions remained in the umifenovir group (~23.6%), indicating that the drug captured the virus in the DMSO group (P < 0.001) (Fig. 1e, f). Taken together, these results indicated that umifenovir not only interfered with viral attachment, but also with the release of SARS-CoV-2 from intracellular vesicles (ELs).

Among the drugs tested, laninamivir, oseltamivir, peramivir, and zanamivir are the neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors most widely prescribed for the prevention and treatment of influenza. Despite the fact that SARS-CoV-2 does not contain NA analogues, NA inhibitors such as oseltamivir are nevertheless used clinically in the treatment of patients with COVID-19 [1, 2]. Our data indicate that these NA inhibitors were not active against SARS-CoV-2 (Figure 1A), consistent with the conclusion that oseltamivir and zanamivir were ineffective in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2. Baloxavir marboxil is a novel anti-influenza drug that selectively inhibits the endonuclease activity of the viral polymerase responsible for capturing droplet-coated primers from the host mRNA to initiate transcription of the viral mRNA. However, this capillary capture mechanism of endonuclease is not shared by coronaviruses, which encode their own enzymes for the formation of 5′-mRNA structures [10]. This may explain why baloxavir failed to block SARS-CoV-2 infection (Fig. 1a). During this study, Choi et al. also showed that oseltamivir and baloxavirne were able to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 in in vitro studies [11].

Umifenovir, an indole derivative, has been licensed in Russia and China as an antiviral for influenza for several decades. It is a broad-spectrum drug against a wide range of enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. Umifenovir interacts predominantly with aromatic amino acids, and affects several stages of the viral life cycle, either directly affecting viral proteins or virus-associated host factors [7]. For example, in the influenza virus, crystal structures have shown that umifenovir is introduced into the hydrophobic fusion pocket of the HA subunit, thereby preventing the low-temperature conformational change of HA and blocking the fusion process [12]. In hepatitis C virus, umifenovir disrupted both viral attachment and intracellular movement of vesicles [13]. In addition, we found that umifenovir plays a role in the interference between SARS-CoV-2 binding (Fig. 1d) and intracellular vesicle turnover (Fig. 1e, f). Umifenovir can also bind to lipid membranes and change the configuration of cytoplasmic or endosome membranes, which are critical for virus attachment and fusion [7]. Whether umifenovir infects virus and/or cells could be further investigated using a published method [14].

Thus, of the six influenza drugs, only umifenovir effectively suppressed SARS-CoV-2. Functionally, it blocks the spread of the virus, preventing it from attaching and spreading through the ELs. Although the SI of umifenovir is relatively low (SI = 7.73), as with any repurposed drug, its pharmacokinetic profile, including maximum concentration (Cmax), is more important in predicting efficacy. It is believed that if the maximum concentration of Cmax reaches EC 90 , the drug is likely to be effective; while if the Cmax reaches the EC 50 , the drug may be effective in in vivo studies. In humans, a single oral administration of 800 mg umifenovir results in a Cmax of ~4.1 µm [15], and this dosage is effective and safe against various influenza viruses with EC 50 values ​​ranging from 2.5 to 20 µm [7, 16]. Umifenovir also exhibited anti-inflammatory activity, which may increase its efficacy in in vivo studies [16].

Given that the EC 50 (4.11 µm) of umifenovir against SARS-CoV-2 is comparable to or even lower than that of influenza viruses, we therefore suggest that umifenovir is potentially effective in the treatment of patients with COVID-19.