dimethyl sulfoxide

Skip to the navigation

Pronunciation: dye METH il sul FOX ide

Brand: Cryoserv, Rimso-50

What is the most important information I should know about dimethyl sulfoxide?

Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

What is dimethyl sulfoxide?

Dimethyl sulfoxide is used to treat pain and swelling caused by bladder or urinary conditions including cystitis (bladder inflammation or irritation).

Dimethyl sulfoxide will not treat a bladder infection.

Dimethyl sulfoxide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my health care provider before receiving dimethyl sulfoxide?

You should not receive this medicine if you are allergic to dimethyl sulfoxide.

To make sure dimethyl sulfoxide is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

  • bladder or kidney cancer; or
  • cataracts.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether dimethyl sulfoxide will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine.

It is not known whether dimethyl sulfoxide passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How is dimethyl sulfoxide given?

Dimethyl sulfoxide is injected directly into the bladder using a catheter or syringe inserted into the urethra (the tube for passing urine out of your bladder). A healthcare provider will give you this medicine in a clinic setting.

After dimethyl sulfoxide is placed into the bladder, you will need to hold the medicine in for 15 minutes before emptying your bladder.

If you have severe cystitis, you may be given an anesthesia to numb your pelvic area before you are treated with dimethyl sulfoxide.

Dimethyl sulfate is usually given once every 2 weeks until your symptoms are relieved. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.

Your doctor may also want you to take other medicines to treat pain or bladder spasm. Read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each of your medicines.

While using dimethyl sulfoxide, you may need frequent blood and urine tests.

Because dimethyl sulfoxide can affect your eyes, you may also need to have eye exams before and during treatment.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your dimethyl sulfoxide treatment.

What happens if I overdose?

Since this medicine is injected into the bladder and not into the bloodstream, an overdose is unlikely to occur.

What should I avoid while receiving dimethyl sulfoxide?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

What are the possible side effects of dimethyl sulfoxide?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Tell your caregivers if you feel severe discomfort or irritation when the medicine is inserted, or while you are holding it in your bladder. This discomfort may become less noticeable over time with repeat treatments.

You may notice a garlic- or onion-like taste in your mouth while you are receiving dimethyl sulfoxide. This effect may last for several hours after you receive the medicine, and you may also sense these odors on your breath or skin. This is a normal side effect of dimethyl sulfoxide and is not cause for concern.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect dimethyl sulfoxide?

It is not likely that other drugs you take orally or inject will have an effect on dimethyl sulfoxide used in the bladder. But many drugs can interact with each other. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all medicines you use, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about dimethyl sulfoxide.


Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2017 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 2.01. Revision date: 9/11/2014.

Your use of the content provided in this service indicates that you have read, understood and agree to the End-User License Agreement, which can be accessed by clicking on this link.