Eflornithine cream is sold under the brand name Vaniqa and is used to reduce unwanted facial hair in women. The cream contains 2-(difluoromethyl) ornithine monohydrochloride monohydrate, with the empirical formula C6H12F2N2O2• HCl•H2O, a molecular weight of 236.65 and other ingredients including ceteareth-20, cetearyl alcohol, dimethicone, glyceryl stearate, methylparaben, mineral oil, PEG-100 stearate, phenoxyethanol, propylparaben, stearyl alcohol, and water.
Positive:
- Eflornithine cream is effective in reducing unwanted facial hair growth in women.
- It is a prescription drug indicated in the treatment of facial hirsutism.
- Eflornithine is on the World Health Organizations List of Essential Medicines.
Negative:
- Common side effects when applied as a cream include rash, redness, and burning.
- In the first dermal embryo-fetal development study in rats treated with eflornithine hydrochloride cream, maternal toxicity and fetal effects including reduced numbers of live fetuses, decreased fetal weights, and delayed ossification and development of the viscera were observed at doses of 225 and 450 mg/kg.
- Topical use is contraindicated in people hypersensitive to eflornithine or to any of the excipients.
Ingredients or materials:
- 2-(difluoromethyl) ornithine monohydrochloride monohydrate, with the empirical formula C6H12F2N2O2• HCl•H2O, a molecular weight of 236.65.
- Other ingredients include ceteareth-20, cetearyl alcohol, dimethicone, glyceryl stearate, methylparaben, mineral oil, PEG-100 stearate, phenoxyethanol, propylparaben, stearyl alcohol, and water.
