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Camphor is a terpenoid topical analgesic, anti-itch agent and cough suppressant; compounding pharmacies prepare it in creams, ointments and lotions by prescription.
Camphor is a terpenoid used on the skin as an analgesic and anti-itch agent and, in vapor rubs, as a cough suppressant. Manufactured camphor products are sold over the counter for external use. Single-ingredient products such as Humco Camphor Spirit are labeled for temporary relief of minor aches and muscle and joint pain from arthritis, strains, bruises and simple backache. Vicks VapoRub (Procter and Gamble), which combines camphor with eucalyptus oil and menthol, is labeled to relieve cough from minor throat and bronchial irritation with the common cold when rubbed on the chest and throat, and to relieve minor muscle and joint aches. Prescribers may order camphor compounded with other topical ingredients or in a vehicle that is not manufactured. Compounded preparations are not FDA-approved and require a prescription.
Camphor is for external use only. Swallowed camphor is a poisoning emergency: it is absorbed quickly and can cause vomiting, confusion, sudden seizures and slowed breathing, and StatPearls lists it among agents that can be deadly in a single dose. If camphor is swallowed, call 911 or Poison Help right away, and do not make the person vomit unless told to. Keep it away from children; the Humco label says to ask a doctor before use under age 2, and the VapoRub label says not to use it under age 2. Do not use it in the eyes, nostrils or mouth, on damaged or irritated skin, or under tight bandages, and never heat a vapor rub. Stop if irritation develops or pain lasts more than 7 days. For pregnancy or breastfeeding, the VapoRub label says to ask a health professional. For any reaction, talk to your prescriber or pharmacist.
Camphor is a lipophilic terpenoid that is rapidly absorbed and readily crosses the blood-brain barrier; the mechanism of its neurotoxicity is not fully elucidated (StatPearls). It is used as an analgesic and antipruritic and in cooling gels, ointments and balms. Manufactured products are over-the-counter external analgesics such as Humco Camphor Spirit and combination cough suppressant and topical analgesic ointments such as Vicks VapoRub; DailyMed lists more than a thousand camphor-containing labels, most of them combinations. Labeling directs against oral use, use on wounds or damaged skin, use with tight bandages and, for VapoRub, use in the nostrils. Toxicity: ingestion may cause seizures or status epilepticus followed by CNS or respiratory depression, and there is no antidote. StatPearls recommends airway and respiratory support, prompt benzodiazepines for seizures, removing contaminated clothing and washing exposed skin, and avoiding activated charcoal and gastric lavage because of rapid absorption and aspiration risk. MedlinePlus lists camphor sources that include camphorated oil, moth repellents, nasal decongestants and topical pain relievers. Dosing and vehicle are per prescriber; counsel caregivers about ingestion risk in the home. Camphor is not a controlled substance.
Compounded at Bayview
Patient guides for the preparations we make most often. Each one is compounded to order and requires a prescription.
We do not have a patient page for this ingredient yet. That does not mean we cannot make it. Bayview compounds this ingredient to a prescriber's order, and our full compounding formulary lists every preparation we make. Viewing the formulary requires a prescriber account.
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Every preparation in our formulary that contains this ingredient. Strength, base and dose form are set by the prescription.
Other salt forms of this molecule, and ingredients commonly compounded alongside it.
This page describes an active pharmaceutical ingredient, not a finished drug product. Bayview Pharmacy compounds preparations containing it only on a prescriber's order for an individual patient.
Compounded preparations are not FDA-approved, and the FDA has not evaluated them for safety, effectiveness, or manufacturing quality. Nothing on this page is a claim that any preparation is effective for any condition.
A valid prescription is required. Availability depends on Bayview's licensure in your state. This page is general information, not medical advice. Discuss your situation with a licensed healthcare provider.
Our pharmacists work with prescribers to build preparations around a patient's dose, form and tolerances. Ask us what is possible with this ingredient.
