PODOCON-25
General description

Podocon-25 is the brand name for the drug podophyllin produced by Paddock Laboratories, Inc. It is a powdered mixture of resins removed from the May apple or Mandrake, a perennial plant of northern and middle United States. It is a cytotoxic agent used to treat genital warts.

Mechanism

Podophyllin arrests mitosis in metaphase, effectively halting genital warts.

Indications

Podocon-25 is indicated in the removal of soft genital warts.

Usage/Dosage

Podocon-25 is to be applied only by physicians. After thoroughly cleansing the area, Podocon-25 should be applied sparingly to the affected area using the supplied applicator. Contact should be avoided with healthy tissue. It should be allowed to dry thoroughly and should only be applied to intact lesions. Upon first application, it should only be left in contact for 30 to 40 minutes to test sensitivity. Subsequent treatments should last 1 to 4 hours in contact time. When treatment time has elapsed, the dried Podocon-25 should be removed thoroughly with alcohol or soap and water.

Precautions

Podophyllin is a powerful casutic and severe irritant. It should be kept away from the eyes. Podocon-25 should not be used if tissue surrounding the wart is inflamed or irritated. It should also not be used on bleeding warts, moles, birthmarks, or unusual warts with hair growing from them.

Contraindications

Podocon-25 is contraindicated in diabetics, patients using steroids, or patients with poor blood circulation. It is recommended not to be used during pregnancy.

Potential Adverse Effects

Podocon-25 has been associated with paresthesia, polyneuritis, paralytis ileus, pyrexia, leuopenia, thrombocytopenia, coma, and even death. These occurrences are very rare, however. The most frequent adverse reaction is irritation and inflammation of the areas contacted.