[Posted 07/02/2020]
FDA Updates on Hand Sanitizers with Methanol (1)
FDA is warning consumers and health care providers that the agency has seen a sharp increase in hand sanitizer products that are labeled to contain ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol) but that have tested positive for methanol contamination. Methanol, or wood alcohol, is a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested and can be life-threatening when ingested.
The agency is aware of adults and children ingesting hand sanitizer products contaminated with methanol that has led to recent adverse events including blindness, hospitalizations and death.
Methanol is not an acceptable active ingredient for hand sanitizers and must not be used due to its toxic effects. FDA's investigation of methanol in certain hand sanitizers is ongoing. The agency will provide additional information as it becomes available.
Consumers who have been exposed to hand sanitizer containing methanol and are experiencing symptoms should seek immediate treatment for potential reversal of toxic effects of methanol poisoning. Substantial methanol exposure can result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death. Although all persons using these products on their hands are at risk for methanol poisoning, young children who accidently ingest these products and adolescents and adults who drink these products as an alcohol (ethanol) substitute, are most at risk.
FDA reminds consumers to wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing one's nose. If soap and water are not readily available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend consumers use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent ethanol (also referred to as ethyl alcohol).
美國FDA警告消費者和醫療專業人員，發現標明含乙醇，但測試受甲醇汙染呈陽性之乾洗手產品急遽增加。甲醇（又名木醇）當被皮膚吸收或食入時可能有毒，而食入則可能危及生命。美國FDA已接獲成人和兒童因食入被甲醇污染的乾洗手產品而導致的不良事件，包括失明、住院和死亡。甲醇非乾洗手液核可之活性成分，因其毒性不能被使用。美國FDA正在對某些乾洗手液中的甲醇進行調查，如有相關資訊將公告周知。
接觸過含甲醇乾洗手液並出現症狀的消費者應立即接受治療，以解除甲醇中毒所可能產生的毒性。大量接觸甲醇可能導致噁心、嘔吐、頭痛、視力模糊、永久失明、癲癇、昏迷、神經系統永久性損傷或死亡。儘管僅手部接觸此類產品者皆有甲醇中毒的風險，但以意外食入此類產品的幼兒及將其作為酒精替代品而飲用的青少年和成人風險最高。
更多相關訊息與連結請參考FDA網址：https://reurl.cc/62Wy0V
（待續）
資料來源：美國FDA之藥物安全警訊
資料提供：台大醫院藥劑部
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