Hexetidine is an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent commonly used in both veterinary and human medicine. It is a local anesthetic, astringent and deodorant and has antiplaque effects.[1]
Hexetidine is the medicinal ingredient in Sterisol, which is labelled for the symptomatic treatment of: streptococcal pharyngitis ('strep throat'), tonsillitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, gingivitis, ulcerative stomatitis, oral thrush and Vincent's angina; postoperative hygiene following tonsillectomy, throat or oral surgery. Hexetidine is not the same as Chlorhexidine, another chemical commonly used in mouthwash, or the antimicrobial drug Hexedene (C22H45N3).[2]
In the UK, hexetidine is the active ingredient in the medicated mouthwash branded Oraldene. In Canada, hexetidine was the active ingredient in the medicated mouthwash branded Steri/sol which has been discontinued. It used to be produced by McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a division of Johnson & Johnson (originally Warner–Lambert, then marketed by Pfizer after its acquisition since 2007). Oraldene contains 0.1 g/100 ml of hexetidine. In some European countries, the gargle solution and mouth spray in bottles of 40 ml named Hexoral (by Mcneil) also contains 0.2% hexetidine as its active compound. In Greece it is called Hexalen mouth wash[3] (also available in spray). Hexetidine can also be found in the mouthwash Bactidol (by Mcneil) which is sold in many Asian countries. In Germany, hexetidine vaginal suppositories branded Vagi-Hex are available to be used for vaginal antisepsis. They are also used in late pregnancy for reducing neonatal infectious mortality and morbidity due to group B streptococcal infections;[4] nonetheless, hexetidine is to be used with care during pregnancy, and its vaginal use is counter-indicated in the first three months of pregnancy.[5]