Thimerosal is a light-colored crystalline powder (trade name Merthiolate) used primarily as a surgical antiseptic. It is a mercury-based compound that can also be found in your personal care products, makeup, and childhood vaccines. Because this is found in childhood vaccines, doctors have recommended that autistic children and their siblings not get vaccinated because thimerosal can cause adverse reactions. However, since thimerosal is also found in many personal care products you find in your local stores, you have to stop and wonder what this product is doing to adults. First, it’s important to understand that the only function of thimerosal within these products is to serve as a preservative. Your child also has contact with these products. For this reason, parents of children who have autism, AD(H)D, or any other disability, really need to know more about thimerosal, and I plan to share everything I know with you.
Thimerosal is widely known as a first aid product available for home use. It is also used as a preservative in cosmetics, including makeup removers, eye moisturizers, and masks. Some other places thimerosal can be found include: non-soap cleansers; nose, eye and ear drops; eye ointments; topical medications; and antiseptic sprays. It is also found in cleaning fluids used for contact lenses. Thimerosal is also widely used as a preservative in vaccines, antitoxins, tuberculin tests, and desensitizing solutions.
If you want to avoid thimerosal, here are some products that don’t contain it:
Bausch & LombAr HypotearsAr PF Dry Eye Therapy
MurineAr lubricating eye drops
update more
RenuAr Enzymatic Cleaner
Opti-OneAr moisturizing drops
Bausch & LombAr sterile saline spray for sensitive eyes
ReNuAr multipurpose solution
AfrinAr Nasal Spray and Drops
All AlmayAr products
L’OrealAr Voluminous Mascara
Since thimerosal is commonly found in cosmetics, eye, ear, and nose preparations; and topical medications, it is important to only use products with labeled ingredients that do not list thimerosal or any of its synonyms on the label. You should also tell your healthcare providers that you are allergic to thimerosal so they can provide you with preparations that do not contain thimerosal. Some of these vaccines include the influenza vaccine and many recombinant or heat-killed vaccines. If you really must get such a vaccine, you should take it into your muscle as patients will generally not react to thimerosal when it is given this way. However, you are still at risk of non-life-threatening dermatitis (inflammation of the skin), so you may want to discuss with your doctor the risks and benefits of getting vaccinated with thimerosal-containing vaccines for which there are no alternatives. Of course, these are just some general guidelines for avoiding this particular allergen in your daily activities. You really should discuss this problem with your doctor.
Thimerosal is also known by these synonyms: Mercurochrome Ar Merzonin; Ar Mertorgan Merthiolate; Sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate Ethyl (2-mercaptobenzoate-S) mercury
sodium salt; Merfamin Mercurothiolate; thiomersal thiomersalate; and thiomersalan [(o-carboxyphenyl)thio] Sodium salt of ethylmercury.
Although this is not an exhaustive list, you can find thimerosal in many products, including: antibiotics for the eyes; CortisporinAr Ophthalmic Suspension; Neosporin Ar ophthalmic solution; nasal preparations; Nasal MoistAr AF Neo-SynephrineAr Pediatric Formula, Gentle Formula,
Regular strength and extra strength nasal spray; ear preparations; Coly-mycinAr S Otic Cortisporin Ar Otic suspension; Pediotic Suspension; Cosmetic products; Stagelight Ar mascara; Vaccines; Hep-B-GammageeAr Recombivax HBAr; Hyper-TetAr tetanus and diphtheria toxoids; Influenza (live virus vaccines) may or may not contain thimerosal.
Now, if you react to thimerosal, you should know that it may also react to these other substances: Other organic mercury compounds (ie, metallic mercury, such as in dental fillings) and Piroxicam (FeldeneAr)