# Why are Silver Nitrate applicators not available in pharmacies ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 23, 2016, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-silver-nitrate-applicators-not-available-in-pharmacies/755499 "2016-05-23T23:17:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-silver-nitrate-applicators-not-available-in-pharmacies/755499/1 "2016-05-23T23:17:40Z")
My 8 year old kid occasionally gets tongue ulcers. Everytime she gets one, we visit a doctor who specializes in Otolaryngology. All she does is use a silver nitrate stick to treat the ulcer and it is soon gone. It usually takes a few days to get an appointment and so I asked the doctor if She could prescribe some sticks so we can use them early on. The doctor says that the sticks cannot be sold directly to patients even with a prescription in the US and most pharmacies don’t even carry it. So my question is : why are silver nitrate sticks not available commonly while a plethora of drugs like oragel are available ? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-silver-nitrate-applicators-not-available-in-pharmacies/755499/2 "2016-05-23T23:20:25Z")
Because, it’s a caustic poison. ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-silver-nitrate-applicators-not-available-in-pharmacies/755499/3 "2016-05-23T23:31:11Z")
Many OTC medications are poisons are poisons if misused. It is pretty hard to injest a single use silver nitrate applicator - with only a little bit of silver nitrate like the end of a match stick. Moreover it the silver nitrate sticks are freely available on the Internet and eBay - people use it for wart removal too. So why don’t US pharmacies carry it ? ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-silver-nitrate-applicators-not-available-in-pharmacies/755499/4 "2016-05-24T00:47:15Z")
Ask the Pharmacist? In thr mean time, buy a bunch online and have them ready. There are all kinds of stuff on the web that drug stores “should” carry. I just buy the stuff I want and tuck it away in the event I will need it. Which reminds me - I need to look up another drug! ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-silver-nitrate-applicators-not-available-in-pharmacies/755499/5 "2016-05-24T01:43:18Z")
Remember Albutrol, the rescue med for asthma, COPD, bronchitis? Remember paying $5-10? Now $30-50. Aren’t you glad we don’t have that Commie “Socialized Medicine”? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-silver-nitrate-applicators-not-available-in-pharmacies/755499/6 "2016-05-24T04:08:21Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > Remember Albutrol, the rescue med for asthma, COPD, bronchitis? > Remember paying $5-10? > > Now $30-50. > > Aren’t you glad we don’t have that Commie “Socialized Medicine”? **Moderator Note** **usedtobe** , let’s refrain from political commentary in General Questions. No warning issued, but don’t do this again. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-silver-nitrate-applicators-not-available-in-pharmacies/755499/7 "2016-05-24T14:58:45Z")
Silver nitrate darkens when exposed to light. It will stain skin and many other things but the effect is not immediate, so a person can smear the stuff around and wonder several hours later what is causing their fingers or lips or bathroom counter top to turn dark brown. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-silver-nitrate-applicators-not-available-in-pharmacies/755499/8 "2016-05-24T23:04:19Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > In thr mean time, buy a bunch online and have them ready. > > There are all kinds of stuff on the web that drug stores “should” carry. I just buy the stuff I want and tuck it away in the event I will need it. > Which reminds me - I need to look up another drug! Whenever you find a product you like, _buy a lifetime supply_ !