What makes Dakin's Solution®, as manufactured by Century, so unique ?
- Century Pharmaceuticals, Inc., an FDA registered facility, has been in business since 1966.
- Our products are manufactured under current good manufacturing practices (cGMP).
- Consistent quality from batch to batch.
- Extensive quality control and stability program: each batch is tested many times until its expiration date.
- Dakin's® products and Di-Dak-Sol® are effective against a broad spectrum of microorganisms including viruses, bacteria, yeasts, and molds (fungi).
- Topical antimicrobial: effective upon contact; it does not need to rely on a patient's circulatory system or systemic delivery.
- Effective locally, therefore less systemic side effects.
Can my pharmacist compound or dilute Dakin's Solution® ?
It is possible for a pharmacist to compound and / or dilute Sodium Hypochlorite, and some pharmacists continue to do so. Keep in mind, though, that it's probably more cost-effective to order it from Century; knowing you'll be getting a product that:
1) Is manufactured under FDA's strict Good Manufacturing Practices.
2) Can be delivered quickly; directly or through wholesalers.
3) Will last 12+ months (depending upon the concentration of the product).NOTE: If you dilute it yourself, you will not know how stable the diluted product is, unless it is checked by a lab.
Also, please see the answers to the next two FAQ's.
How do I dilute Dakin's Half Strength® (0.25%) to make Sodium Hypochlorite 0.125% ?
Add one part purified water to one part Dakin's Half Strength® to produce Sodium Hypochlorite 0.125%. When diluting Dakin's Solution®, the most critical factor affecting the stability of the diluted product is the purity of the water used in the dilution, including its pH. The higher the water's pH, the more stable the dilution should be. (This is true regardless of the type of purified water used - distilled, de-ionized, reverse osmosis, or sterile.) Current U.S.P. standards for purified water's pH limits are 5.0 - 7.0.
How long will
diluted Dakin's®
last (if I compound it at my facility) ?
Century does not recommend diluting any of its Dakin's® products; and we cannot guarantee any results if diluted Dakin's® is used. However, we are aware that some facilities choose to compound Dakin's Solution® on site. In these cases, use the diluted product immediately after compounding. Please keep in mind that the only definitive way to know the final product's potency is to perform a chemical analysis. Century cannot provide definitive stability information on a batch of Sodium Hypochlorite that has been created or diluted using water from a source other than Century.
Is diluted Dakin's® commercially available ?
Yes it is. Century’s Diluted Dakin's Solution®, Di-Dak-Sol®, is Sodium Hypochlorite 0.0125%. At one-tenth the concentration of Quarter Strength, it’s still very effective and comes with an established 14 month expiration period. Call for details regarding Di-Dak-Sol® !
How long does Dakin's® last, when manufactured by Century ?
Dakin's Full Strength® (0.50%) 12 months Dakin's Half Strength® (0.25%) 14 months Dakin's Quarter Strength® (0.125%) 14 months Di-Dak-Sol® (0.0125%) 14 months Please view our stability information.
Why is Sodium Hypochlorite 0.50% called "Full Strength" ?
The term "Full Strength" refers to the highest concentration tolerable to the skin, which is Sodium Hypochlorite 0.50%.
Please read Know the Code for further information.
What are the proper storage conditions for Dakin's® ?
How long will Dakin's® last, after I open the bottle ?
Please view our stability information.
Do I need a prescription to
buy Dakin's® ?
Although Dakin's® products do not require a prescription, please consult with your healthcare professional before using Dakin's® products.
Pour on or apply to affected area. For wound management, use as an irrigant, cleanser, or the wetting agent for a wet-to-moist dressing.
Apply once daily for lightly to moderately exudative wounds. Apply twice daily for heavily exudative or highly contaminated wounds.
Protect surrounding intact skin with a moisture barrier ointment or skin sealant as needed.
Please contact your local wholesaler, or call us at 317-849-4210.
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If my Dakin's® has expired,
can I return it ?
Unfortunately, you can not return Dakin's Solutions®. Due to it’s relatively short dating (compared to other healthcare products), we have set up a
"No Returns / No Credit Issued" policy which has been followed since Century started selling Dakin's® in 1982. This helps keep our costs the lowest in the industry. Also, we are willing to sell fewer than 8 pints per order, for a nominal break-case fee.
- Podiatrists
- Surgeons
- Wound care professionals
- Individuals with Diabetic and other types of wounds
- Hospital Pharmacists (who can now save time by avoiding compounding it themselves).
For what type of wounds is Dakin's® used?
Dakin's® has been used for all types of acute and chronic wounds, including:
- Pressure Ulcers
- Diabetic Foot Ulcers
- Venous Stasis Ulcers
- Pre and Post surgery wounds
Stability
Information
Typical Sodium
Hypochlorite Solutions...
... deteriorate quickly,
especially when exposed to light, heat, or contamination with metallic
ions. The United States Pharmacopeia, current revision, states that
Sodium Hypochlorite Topical Solution has a shelf life of seven (7) days
after the day on which it was compounded.
In contrast to typical Sodium
Hypochlorite Solutions...
Century's
Dakin's® and
Di-Dak-Sol® products use
high quality, purified water with
low metallic
ions; and the products are manufactured with special equipment, under
current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). Due to this extra care,
the stability
of our Dakin's® and Di-Dak-Sol®
(Diluted
Dakin’s Solution®) products
are much longer than typical
Sodium Hypochlorite Topical Solutions.
| Product Name | Shelf life* |
| Dakin's Full Strength® (0.50%) | 12 months |
| Dakin's Half Strength® (0.25%) | 14 months |
| Dakin's Quarter Strength® (0.125%) | 14 months |
| Di-Dak-Sol® (0.0125%) | 14 months |
*(based on thousands of stability studies performed
in the past)
According to cGMP, at least one lot of each drug manufactured shall be
tested
annually, until it's expiration date, in order to verify the expiration
date of the product. In contrast, every single lot
of Dakin's® and
Di-Dak-Sol is monitored and tested until it's expiration date;
and not
only once, but many times per year.
While it is costly to perform several stability tests throughout the life of each lot of Dakin's® and Di-Dak-Sol®, Century has decided to monitor these products for total customer satisfaction.
We do not recommend further dilution of our Dakin's® and Di-Dak-Sol® products,
due to the fact that we cannot control the process, nor the
quality of the water used for the dilution. Although we are aware some
facilities dilute our products, we cannot guarantee the diluted
product's effectiveness, nor it's stability. If dilution is
necessary,
the final product
should be used immediately.
If you have any further questions or
concerns, please contact us via e-mail at info@dakins.net, or
at 1.317.849.4210.
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