What Is Urea Cream – Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Interaction

What Is Urea Cream/Urea is a nitrogenous compound containing a carbonyl group attached to two amine groups with osmotic diuretic activity. In vivo, urea is formed in the liver via the urea cycle from ammonia and is the final end product of protein metabolism. Administration of urea elevates blood plasma osmolality, resulting in enhanced flow of water from tissues, including the brain, cerebrospinal fluid, and eye, into interstitial fluid and plasma, thereby decreasing pressure in those tissues and increasing urine outflow.

Urea is a highly soluble organic compound formed in the liver from ammonia produced by the deamination of amino acids. It is the principal end product of protein catabolism and constitutes about one-half of the total urinary solids. Urea is formed in a cyclic pathway known simply as the urea cycle. In this cycle, amino groups donated by ammonia and L-aspartate are converted to urea. Urea is essentially a waste product; it has no physiological function. It is dissolved in the blood (in humans in a concentration of 2. 5 – 7. 5 mmol/liter) and excreted by the kidney in the urine. In addition, a small amount of urea is excreted (along with sodium chloride and water) in human sweat. Urea is found to be associated with primary hypomagnesemia, which is an inborn error of metabolism.

Mechanism of Action of Urea

The primary mechanism of ammonia toxicosis appears to be inhibition of the citric acid cycle. There is an increase in anaerobic glycolysis, blood glucose, and blood lactate. Acidosis is manifested. The exact means by which ammonia blocks the citric acid cycle is not known. It is postulated that ammonia saturation of the glutamine-synthesizing system causes a backing-up in the citrate cycle, a decrease in its intermediates, and a decrease in energy production and cellular respiration, which leads to convulsions. The decrease of citrate cycle intermediates is postulated to result from the reanimation of pyruvic, ketoglutaric, and oxaloacetic acids.

Indications of Urea

  • Hydrate skin accelerates fibrin degradation 20-30% is antipruritic, breaks down keratin, decreases the thickness of the stratum corneum and is used in scaling conditions such as ichthyosis are proteolytic and may be used to dissolve and peel dystrophic nails.
  • In patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva, repeated applications of urea powder have been made to eradicate the malignant growth.
  • Urea is used to reduce cerebral edema and brain mass before and after neurosurgery.
  • Another use of urea is the treatment of dialysis disequilibrium syndrome.
  • Urea is used with zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate to remove permanent hair dye
  • 10% hydrate skin
  • 15% accelerate fibrin degradation
  • 20-30% is antipruritic, break down keratin, decrease the thickness of the stratum corneum and are used in scaling conditions such as ichthyosis
  • 40% are proteolytic and may be used to dissolve and peel dystrophic nails
  • Dry skin and rough skin
  • Dermatitis
  • Psoriasis
  • Ichthyosis
  • Eczema
  • Keratosis
  • Keratoderma
  • Corns
  • Calluses
  • Damaged, ingrown and devitalized nails


Contra-Indications of Urea

If any side effect shows

  • stop taking one of the medications,
  • change one of the medications to another,
  • change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
  • leave everything as is.

Dosage of Urea

Strengths: 10%; 40%; 35%; 50%; 39%; 39% with emollients; 20%; 25%; 45%; 42%; 22%; 5%; 41%; 30%; 50%

Dermatological Disorders

Urea 30% foam

  • Apply to affected skin twice/day.

Urea 35% foam

  • Apply to the affected skin twice/day.

Urea 35% lotion

  • Apply to the affected skin twice/day.

Urea 39% cream

  • Apply to the affected skin twice/day.

Urea 40% foam:Urea 42% foam

  • Apply to the affected skin twice/day.

Urea 45% emulsion

  • Apply to the affected skin twice/day.

Urea 45% solution

  • Apply to the affected skin twice/day.

Urea 50% emulsion

  • Apply to the affected skin twice/day.

Urea 50% ointment

  • Apply to the affected skin twice/day.

Nail tissue or affected skin

Urea 50% suspension:Urea 40% emulsion

  • Apply to nail tissue or affected skin twice/day.

Urea 40% suspension

  • Apply to nail tissue or affected skin twice/day.

Urea 42% pad

  • Apply to nail tissue or affected skin twice/day.

Urea 45% gel

  • Apply to nail tissue or affected skin twice/day.

Urea 50% cream

  • Apply to nail tissue or affected skin twice/day.

Urea 50% gel

  • Apply to nail tissue or affected skin twice/day.

Urea 50% stick

  • Apply to affected nail tissue twice/day.

Urea 50% stick

  • Apply to affected nail tissue twice/day

Side Effects of Urea

Most Common

  • Blistering, burning, crusting, dryness or flaking of skin
  • itching, redness, skin rash, swelling, or soreness at the application site
  • darkening of skin
  • dry skin
  • flushing and redness of the skin
  • scaling, severe redness, soreness or swelling of the skin
  • peeling or loosening of the skin
  • skin tenderness
  • unusually warm skin

Common 

Common

Drug Interactions of Urea Urea 20 Cream

Urea may interact with following drugs, supplements & may change the efficacy of drugs

  • aspirin
  • amphetamine
  • dextroamphetamine
  • betamethasone
  • celecoxib
  • Co-trimoxazole
  • sulfamethoxazole
  • trimethoprim
  • meperidine
  • Fish Oil (omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids)
  • escitalopram
  • pregabalin
  • metoprolol
  • neem
  • acetaminophen
  • hydrocodone
  • ropinirole
  • montelukast
  • levothyroxine
  • Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin)
  • Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
  • Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
  • Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
  • Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol)
  • Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol)
  • cetirizine

Pregnancy Category of Urea 20 Cream

FDA Pregnancy Category – B

Pregnancy

This medication should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding

It is not known if urea passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are using this medication, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding. This medication is not recommended for children less than 2 years of age. Children may absorb more medication through the skin than adults. As a result, they may be more likely to experience the side effects related to the use of large amounts of this of class medication for long periods of time (e.g., slowing down of growth, delayed weight gain).


References

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