Tag: Idoxuridine

First introduced in 1962, idoxuridine was one of the earliest antiviral agents, but its safety profile is highly dependent on its route of administration. Unlike modern antivirals, idoxuridine is a cytotoxic drug that is unsafe for systemic use in humans and has been largely replaced by superior alternatives for topical applications as well.

Synthesized in 1958, idoxuridine became the first FDA-approved antiviral drug in 1962. This article explores the question: **what is the drug idoxuridine used for?**, detailing its primary application in treating specific viral eye infections and its pharmacological action.