Idoxuridine for Veterinary Use

Basic Information

Idoxuridine is a topical antiviral drug used to treat ocular herpetic lesions in cats. It is virustatic rather than virucidal. The substitution of idoxuridine for thymidine in the viral DNA causes a misreading of the genetic sequence and consequently the virus is unable to replicate.

Cats

Idoxuridine is a topical antiviral ophthalmic preparation used to treat Feline Herpes Virus (FHV). Severe naso-ocular signs, with corneal ulceration, commonly are seen with FHV. In addition FHV can have a variety of more chronic ocular presentations including chronic conjunctivitis, tear-duct blockage or infection, corneal ulcerative keratitis, stromal keratitis, eosinophilic keratitis, and anterior uveitis. Idoxuridine generally is well-tolerated.

It penetrates the conjunctiva and cornea poorly except where there is ulceration, requiring frequent application. Treatment will take weeks and should continue for an additional week past the resolution of all clinical signs.

Idoxuridine Side Effects

Some local irritation.

Precautions

Idoxuridine should not be used with topical ophthalmic corticosteroids to treat corneal ulceration.

Drug Interactions

None were found in the literature.

Overdose

Recommended dose interval is every two to three hours; overdose is unlikely to occur.