Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 8, 2026

Hexetidine

Hexetidine is an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent commonly used in both veterinary and human medicine. It is a local anesthetic, astringent and deodorant and has antiplaque effects.

Last revised
Jul 8, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
473 w
Citations
6
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Hexetidine
Clinical data
Trade namesBactidol, others
AHFS/Drugs.comInternational Drug Names
Pregnancy
category
  • Not to be used by pregnant women
Routes of
administration		Topical (mouthwash)
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Identifiers
  • 1,3-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-5-methylhexahydropyrimidin-5-amine
CAS Number
PubChem CID
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.005.012
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC21H45N3
Molar mass339.612 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • CCCCC(CC)CN1CC(CN(C1)CC(CC)CCCC)(C)C
  • InChI=1S/C22H46N2/c1-7-11-13-20(9-3)15-23-17-22(5,6)18-24(19-23)16-21(10-4)14-12-8-2/h20-21H,7-19H2,1-6H3 X markN
  • Key:ZSHBZCXOMHHPCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N X markN
 X markNcheckY (what is this?)  (verify)

Hexetidine is an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent commonly used in both veterinary and human medicine. It is a local anesthetic, astringent and deodorant and has antiplaque effects.1

Hexetidine (then as insecticide) patent application was filed in 1945 and granted in 1947 to Murray Senkus of Commercial Solvents Corporation.2

Hexetidine is the medicinal ingredient in Sterisol, which is labelled for the symptomatic treatment of: streptococcal pharyngitis ('strep throat'), tonsillitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, gingivitis, ulcerative stomatitis, oral thrush and Vincent's angina; postoperative hygiene following tonsillectomy, throat or oral surgery. Hexetidine is not the same as Chlorhexidine, another chemical commonly used in mouthwash, or the antimicrobial drug Hexedene (C22H45N3).3

In the UK, hexetidine is the active ingredient in the medicated mouthwash branded Oraldene. In Canada, hexetidine was the active ingredient in the medicated mouthwash branded Steri/sol which has been discontinued. It used to be produced by McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a division of Johnson & Johnson (originally Warner–Lambert, then marketed by Pfizer after its acquisition since 2007). Oraldene contains 0.1 g/100 ml of hexetidine. In some European countries, the gargle solution and mouth spray in bottles of 40 ml named Hexoral (by Mcneil) also contains 0.2% hexetidine as its active compound. In Greece it is called Hexalen mouth wash4 (also available in spray). Hexetidine can also be found in the mouthwash Bactidol (by Mcneil) which is sold in many Asian countries. In Germany, hexetidine vaginal suppositories branded Vagi-Hex are available to be used for vaginal antisepsis. They are also used in late pregnancy for reducing neonatal infectious mortality and morbidity due to group B streptococcal infections;5 nonetheless, hexetidine is to be used with care during pregnancy, and its vaginal use is counter-indicated in the first three months of pregnancy.6

Hexetidine source ↗
References

References

  1. Kapić E, Becić F, Becić E (2002). "Hexetidine--an oral antiseptic". Med Arh. 56 (1): 43–8. PMID 11917691.
  2. "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,415,047 INSECT-CONTROLLING COMPOSITIONS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING IN­SECTS THEREBY" (PDF). 28 Jan 1947. Retrieved 28 Nov 2025.
  3. "Hexedine | CAS No- 5980-31-4 | Simson Pharma Limited".
  4. "Γαληνός - Σκεύασμα - HEXALEN MOUTH.WASH 0,1% W/V FL x 200 ML (Γυάλινο φιαλίδιο) - Γενικά".
  5. Weidinger H, Passloer HJ, Kovacs L, Berle B (November 1991). "[The advantage of preventive vaginal antisepsis with hexetidine in obstetrics and gynecology]". Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd (in German). 51 (11): 929–35. doi:10.1055/s-2008-1026238. PMID 1773929.
  6. Vagi-Hex: Gegenanzeigen Archived 2013-05-11 at the Wayback Machine (Vagi-Hex: Counterindications, in German language)
External links