Thimerosal is a light-colored crystalline powder (trade name Merthiolate) that is primarily used as a surgical antiseptic. It is a mercury based compound which can also be found in your personal care products, make up, 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 yield bad reactions. Yet, with Thimerosal also being found in numerous personal care products that you find in your local stores, you must stop to wonder what is this product doing to adults? First, it is important to understand that Thimerosal's only role 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 Autistm, AD(H)D or any other disability, really need to know more information about Thimerosal and I plan on sharing with you all that I know.

Thimerosal is known widely as a first-aid product available for home use. It is also used as a preservative in cosmetics, including makeup removers, eye moisturizers, and mascaras. Some other places in which Thimerosal may be found include: soap-free cleansers; nose, eye, and ear drops; eye ointments; topical medications; and antiseptic sprays. It is also found in cleaning fluids that are used for contact lenses. Thimerosal is also used widely as a preservative in vaccines, antitoxins, tuberculin tests, and desensitization solutions.

If you want to avoice Thimerosal, here are some products that are free of it:

Bausch & LombAr Dry Eye Therapy HypotearsAr PF
MurineAr Lubricating Eyedrops
Refresh Plus
RenuAr Enzymatic Cleaner
Opti-OneAr Rewetting Drops
Bausch & LombAr Sensitive Eyes Sterile Saline Spray
ReNuAr Multi-Purpose Solution
AfrinAr Nasal Spray and Drops
All of the AlmayAr products
L'OrealAr Voluminous Mascara

Since Thimerosal is commonly found in cosmetics, eye, ear, nose preparations; and topical medications, it is important to use only ingredient-labeled products that do not list Thimerosal or any of its synonyms on the label. You also need to inform your healthcare providers that you're allergic to Thimerosal so that they can provide you with preparations that do not contain Thimerosal. Some such vaccines include the influenza vaccine, and many heat-killed or recombinant vaccines. If you really must get such a vaccine, you should take it in your muscle since patients generally will not react to thimerosal when it is given in this way. However, you are still risking dermatitis (inflammation of the skin) which is not life threatening, so you may wish to discuss with your physician the risks versus benefits of being vaccinated with Thimerosal-containing vaccines for which there are no alternatives. Of course these are only some general guidelines for avoiding this particular allergen in your daily activities. You really should discuss this issue with your physician.

Thimerosal is also known by these synonyms: MercurochromeAr Merzonin; MerthiolateAr Mertorgan; Sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate Ethyl (2-mercaptobenzoato-S) mercury sodium salt; Mercurothiolate Merfamin; Thiomersalate Thiomersal; and Thiomersalan [(o-carboxyphenyl)thio] Ethylmercury sodium salt.

While this is not a comprehensive list, you can find Thimerosal in many products including: Antibiotics for the Eye; CortisporinAr Ophthalmic Suspension; NeosporinAr Ophthalmic Solution; Nasal Preparations; Nasal MoistAr AF Neo-SynephrineAr Pediatric Formula, Mild Formula, Regular Strength, and Extra Strength Nasal Spray; Ear Preparations; Coly-mycinAr S Otic CortisporinAr Otic Suspension; PedioticAr Suspension; Cosmetics; StagelightAr 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 you may also react to these other substances: Other organic mercury compounds (ie metallic mercury, as in dental fillings) and Piroxicam (FeldeneAr)