DMSO Injection Solution

DMSO Injection Solution

Available presentation(s): 20 mL. Verify the exact concentration and total active quantity on the prescription and dispensing label.

Introduction: Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a highly penetrative solvent with anti-inflammatory and cryoprotective properties. A 99% compounded injection is not a routine intravenous or intramuscular medicine and lacks an established general-use regimen.

Dosage: No standard parenteral dose can be recommended. Route, dilution, rate and indication must be explicitly authorised by an appropriately experienced prescriber and supported by a product-specific compatibility and risk assessment. Do not administer the 99% concentrate undiluted unless a validated specialist protocol specifically requires it.

Mechanisms of Action: Alters membrane permeability, scavenges hydroxyl radicals and modulates inflammatory signalling. It also carries dissolved substances across biological membranes, increasing the importance of purity and compatibility.

Contraindications & Precautions: Avoid in hypersensitivity and use extreme caution in renal, hepatic or cardiovascular disease. Pharmaceutical purity, residual contaminants, haemolysis risk, osmolarity and vascular tolerance require assessment. Garlic-like breath/odour is expected from dimethyl sulfide metabolism.

Interactions: Can enhance tissue penetration or effects of other substances. Interactions are incompletely characterised; avoid mixing or co-administering through the same line without compatibility evidence.

Adverse Reactions / Side Effects: Garlic-like taste/odour, nausea, headache, dizziness, flushing, local irritation, haemolysis, hypotension, hypersensitivity and hepatic/renal abnormalities have been reported depending on exposure and route.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding: Human parenteral pregnancy and lactation data are inadequate. Avoid during pregnancy and breastfeeding unless a specialist determines an essential indication.

Storage: Store under the conditions stated on the Optimus dispensing label and product-specific worksheet. Protect from light where labelled. Do not freeze unless explicitly validated. Maintain cold chain if the label requires refrigeration. Do not use after the assigned beyond-use date or if there is visible particulate matter, precipitation, colour change, loss of container integrity or evidence of improper storage. Once entered, follow the validated in-use time; do not assume a compounded vial is multi-dose.

References

• New Zealand Formulary (NZF), current online edition; product-specific approved data sheets where available; USP Pharmaceutical Compounding—Sterile Preparations; and Optimus Healthcare validated formulation, sterility/endotoxin controls and assigned beyond-use date.
• US FDA. Compounding and the FDA: Questions and Answers. Updated 16 September 2025. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/compounding-and-fda-questions-and-answers