Chlorhexidine Gluconate Rinse side effects: what 84 FDA adverse event reports show
Drug class
Not stated in label
Label matched
Chlorhexidine Gluconate Oral Rinse (Chlorhexidine Gluconate Oral Rinse)
Who reports
84 reports · 96% serious · 3 with death outcome · 95% female
Used for
Chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse is indicated for use between dental visits as part of a professional program for the treatment of gingivitis as characterized by redness and swelling of the gingivae, including gingival bleeding upon probing. Chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse has not been tested among patients with acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG).
What it is
DESCRIPTION 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) is an oral rinse containing (1, 1'-hexamethylene bis [5-(p-chlorophenyl) biguanide] di-D-gluconate) in a base containing water, 11.6% alcohol, glycerin, PEG-40 sorbitan diisostearate, flavor, sodium saccharin, and FD&C Blue No. 1.
Boxed warning
None in the current label
Causality screen of the 16 strongest signals
What the badges mean
- Likely indication confounding The term appears in the label's indications: reports probably describe the disease being treated (or its progression), not a drug effect. Classic confounding by indication.
- Reporting / coding artifact An administrative, monitoring or exposure term (product issue, off-label use, 'test normal', overdose...). Not a biological reaction; a high PRR here reflects how reports are coded.
- Lab value / disease marker A laboratory result, investigation or disease-activity marker (antibody positive, CRP abnormal, swollen joint count) not described in the label. These usually mirror the monitored disease or testing protocol rather than a drug effect; not screened further.
- Not in label — unassessed Not found in the label text, not an artifact pattern. This is a genuine candidate for a formal causality assessment (Bradford Hill / WHO-UMC); it has NOT had one here.
Strongest disproportionality signals
Flagged terms (PRR ≥ 2, χ² ≥ 4, n ≥ 10), ranked by PRR; infinite PRRs (no comparator reports) excluded. The EBGM column is a second, shrinkage-based estimate (MGPS) with its 5th percentile EB05 and the BCPNN IC025; a pair flagged by PRR alone is marked PRR-only and should be read as fragile. The strata column recomputes the PRR on serious reports only and flags pairs whose reports are unusually skewed by sex or come mostly from consumers rather than clinicians. 5 further terms are in the interactive explorer. Reaction links open the term's cross-drug page.
| Reaction | Reports | PRR 95% CI · ROR · χ²/p | EBGM EB05 · IC025 | Label screen | Serious-only & strata | Trial cross-check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Folliculitis | 28 | 678.4 501.1–918.6ROR 1,017.1 · χ² 18,227 / p <1e-300 | 462.0 EB05 335.5 · IC025 +5.1 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 474.8 | no trial data cached |
| Muscle spasticity | 21 | 423.4 292.2–613.4ROR 564.2 · χ² 8,422 / p <1e-300 | 305.1 EB05 210.6 · IC025 +4.6 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 360.9 | no trial data cached |
| Irritable bowel syndrome | 28 | 327.5 242.0–443.3ROR 490.8 · χ² 8,789 / p <1e-300 | 267.4 EB05 194.2 · IC025 +5.0 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 248.0 | no trial data cached |
| Ear pain | 21 | 269.9 186.3–391.0ROR 359.5 · χ² 5,359 / p <1e-300 | 216.6 EB05 149.5 · IC025 +4.5 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 259.7 | no trial data cached |
| Body temperature increased | 22 | 268.5 187.5–384.6ROR 363.5 · χ² 5,599 / p <1e-300 | 217.7 EB05 151.5 · IC025 +4.6 3/3 methods agree | Lab value / disease marker | serious PRR 188.6 | no trial data cached |
| Lower respiratory tract infection | 46 | 253.6 208.8–308.1ROR 559.5 · χ² 11,337 / p <1e-300 | 229.3 EB05 178.9 · IC025 +5.6 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 160.1 | no trial data cached |
| Contraindicated product administered | 27 | 223.6 163.9–305.2ROR 329.1 · χ² 5,767 / p <1e-300 | 193.1 EB05 139.4 · IC025 +4.8 3/3 methods agree | Reporting / coding artifact | serious PRR 166.2 | no trial data cached |
| Impaired healing | 27 | 205.4 150.5–280.3ROR 302.2 · χ² 5,294 / p <1e-300 | 179.4 EB05 129.5 · IC025 +4.8 3/3 methods agree | Reporting / coding artifact | serious PRR 148.2 | no trial data cached |
| Respiratory disorder | 21 | 174.9 120.7–253.3ROR 232.8 · χ² 3,461 / p <1e-300 | 151.0 EB05 104.2 · IC025 +4.4 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 129.2 | no trial data cached |
| Night sweats | 21 | 162.9 112.5–236.0ROR 216.9 · χ² 3,222 / p <1e-300 | 142.0 EB05 98.0 · IC025 +4.4 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 166.9 | no trial data cached |
| Therapeutic product effect decreased | 28 | 157.6 116.4–213.3ROR 235.9 · χ² 4,208 / p <1e-300 | 142.4 EB05 103.4 · IC025 +4.8 3/3 methods agree | Reporting / coding artifact | serious PRR 185.6 | no trial data cached |
| Premature delivery | 10 | 156.1 87.2–279.4ROR 177.1 · χ² 1,390 / p <1e-300 | 120.7 EB05 70.1 · IC025 +3.1 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 95.4 | no trial data cached |
| Blister | 28 | 124.8 92.2–168.9ROR 186.7 · χ² 3,323 / p <1e-300 | 115.1 EB05 83.6 · IC025 +4.7 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 123.3 | no trial data cached |
| Ill-defined disorder | 29 | 119.1 88.7–159.9ROR 181.4 · χ² 3,288 / p <1e-300 | 110.6 EB05 80.8 · IC025 +4.7 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 107.2 | no trial data cached |
| Joint swelling | 48 | 99.5 82.7–119.8ROR 230.8 · χ² 4,607 / p <1e-300 | 95.8 EB05 75.1 · IC025 +5.1 3/3 methods agree | Likely indication confounding shares a disease stem with the indications wording | serious PRR 102.4 | no trial data cached |
| Premature baby | 10 | 82.7 46.2–148.0ROR 93.7 · χ² 728 / p 1e-160 | 71.8 EB05 41.7 · IC025 +3.0 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 50.2 | no trial data cached |
Trial evidence (ClinicalTrials.gov)
Most frequently reported reactions
By raw co-report count, regardless of disproportionality. Common terms here are often the illness itself or generic outcomes.
| Reaction | Reports | PRR 95% CI · ROR · χ²/p | EBGM EB05 · IC025 | Label screen | Serious-only & strata | Trial cross-check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joint swelling | 48 | 99.5 82.7–119.8ROR 230.8 · χ² 4,607 / p <1e-300 | 95.8 EB05 75.1 · IC025 +5.1 3/3 methods agree | Likely indication confounding shares a disease stem with the indications wording | serious PRR 102.4 | no trial data cached |
| Lower respiratory tract infection | 46 | 253.6 208.8–308.1ROR 559.5 · χ² 11,337 / p <1e-300 | 229.3 EB05 178.9 · IC025 +5.6 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 160.1 | no trial data cached |
| Ill-defined disorder | 29 | 119.1 88.7–159.9ROR 181.4 · χ² 3,288 / p <1e-300 | 110.6 EB05 80.8 · IC025 +4.7 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 107.2 | no trial data cached |
| Blister | 28 | 124.8 92.2–168.9ROR 186.7 · χ² 3,323 / p <1e-300 | 115.1 EB05 83.6 · IC025 +4.7 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 123.3 | no trial data cached |
| Therapeutic product effect decreased | 28 | 157.6 116.4–213.3ROR 235.9 · χ² 4,208 / p <1e-300 | 142.4 EB05 103.4 · IC025 +4.8 3/3 methods agree | Reporting / coding artifact | serious PRR 185.6 | no trial data cached |
| Irritable bowel syndrome | 28 | 327.5 242.0–443.3ROR 490.8 · χ² 8,789 / p <1e-300 | 267.4 EB05 194.2 · IC025 +5.0 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 248.0 | no trial data cached |
| Folliculitis | 28 | 678.4 501.1–918.6ROR 1,017.1 · χ² 18,227 / p <1e-300 | 462.0 EB05 335.5 · IC025 +5.1 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 474.8 | no trial data cached |
| Impaired healing | 27 | 205.4 150.5–280.3ROR 302.2 · χ² 5,294 / p <1e-300 | 179.4 EB05 129.5 · IC025 +4.8 3/3 methods agree | Reporting / coding artifact | serious PRR 148.2 | no trial data cached |
| Contraindicated product administered | 27 | 223.6 163.9–305.2ROR 329.1 · χ² 5,767 / p <1e-300 | 193.1 EB05 139.4 · IC025 +4.8 3/3 methods agree | Reporting / coding artifact | serious PRR 166.2 | no trial data cached |
| Body temperature increased | 22 | 268.5 187.5–384.6ROR 363.5 · χ² 5,599 / p <1e-300 | 217.7 EB05 151.5 · IC025 +4.6 3/3 methods agree | Lab value / disease marker | serious PRR 188.6 | no trial data cached |
| Night sweats | 21 | 162.9 112.5–236.0ROR 216.9 · χ² 3,222 / p <1e-300 | 142.0 EB05 98.0 · IC025 +4.4 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 166.9 | no trial data cached |
| Respiratory disorder | 21 | 174.9 120.7–253.3ROR 232.8 · χ² 3,461 / p <1e-300 | 151.0 EB05 104.2 · IC025 +4.4 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 129.2 | no trial data cached |
| Ear pain | 21 | 269.9 186.3–391.0ROR 359.5 · χ² 5,359 / p <1e-300 | 216.6 EB05 149.5 · IC025 +4.5 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 259.7 | no trial data cached |
| Muscle spasticity | 21 | 423.4 292.2–613.4ROR 564.2 · χ² 8,422 / p <1e-300 | 305.1 EB05 210.6 · IC025 +4.6 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 360.9 | no trial data cached |
| Premature baby | 10 | 82.7 46.2–148.0ROR 93.7 · χ² 728 / p 1e-160 | 71.8 EB05 41.7 · IC025 +3.0 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious PRR 50.2 | no trial data cached |
Unlabeled candidate signals
These flagged terms were not found in the FDA label text and do not match an artifact pattern. They are the pairs that would merit a structured assessment (temporality, dose-response, biological plausibility, consistency across databases, trial or cohort evidence). The screen has not done that; string-matching misses label wording, and a strong PRR can still be stimulated reporting, co-medication, or the disease itself.
- Folliculitis — n=28, PRR 678.4
- Muscle spasticity — n=21, PRR 423.4
- Irritable bowel syndrome — n=28, PRR 327.5
- Ear pain — n=21, PRR 269.9
- Lower respiratory tract infection — n=46, PRR 253.6
- Respiratory disorder — n=21, PRR 174.9
- Night sweats — n=21, PRR 162.9
- Blister — n=28, PRR 124.8
- Ill-defined disorder — n=29, PRR 119.1
✓ A hand-written Bradford Hill causality assessment exists for this drug: Minoxidil (oral) ↔ Pericardial effusion.
Want to assess one of these properly? The runbook describes the Bradford Hill / trial-evidence workflow used on the assessment page, and handoff_top1000_signals.csv lists the strongest unassessed pairs across all drugs.
Common questions
What are the most reported side effects of Chlorhexidine Gluconate Rinse?
In FDA FAERS, the most frequently co-reported reaction terms for Chlorhexidine Gluconate Rinse are joint swelling, lower respiratory tract infection, ill-defined disorder, blister, irritable bowel syndrome, folliculitis. These are report counts, not rates: FAERS has no denominator, reporting is voluntary and uneven, and a term can be reported because of the illness being treated rather than the drug.
Does Chlorhexidine Gluconate Rinse have an FDA boxed warning?
No. The FDA label retrieved for Chlorhexidine Gluconate Rinse has no boxed warning; see the label's Warnings and Precautions for the recognised risks.
Do FAERS signals prove that Chlorhexidine Gluconate Rinse causes these side effects?
No. A disproportionality signal (PRR, ROR) means a reaction is reported more often with this drug than with others in the database. That can reflect a real effect, but also the disease being treated, stimulated reporting after news or litigation, co-medications, or how reports are coded. Causality needs temporality, dose-response, biological plausibility, consistency across data sources and, ideally, trial or cohort evidence. This page screens each term against the FDA label and ClinicalTrials.gov results; it does not establish causation.
Sources & methods
- FDA label via openFDA (set ID 1b1c9dc5-bd3d-d611-e063-6294a90a245d, effective 20240617; matched on
openfda.generic_name.exact:"CHLORHEXIDINE GLUCONATE ORAL RINSE") - Bayesian shrinkage measures computed offline over all 1,317,300 cached pairs: BCPNN information component (IC, with Norén closed-form IC025) and MGPS empirical-Bayes geometric mean (EBGM, EB05) with a two-component gamma prior fitted by maximum marginal likelihood (α₁=0.57, β₁=0.02, α₂=1.42, β₂=0.70, w=0.17); unstratified
- FAERS pair statistics from the OpenPV build of 2026-09-14 (openFDA
count=aggregation, fieldpatient.drug.openfda.generic_name.exact, 21 reaction terms, min 3 co-reports); PRR/ROR with 95% CI, chi-square with Yates correction - Serious-only and stratified counts (serious:1, patient.patientsex, primarysource.qualification) from openFDA count queries; serious-only PRR uses the drug serious report total and the term global serious total (N_serious=11,882,979); strata shown only when n ≥ 20
- Seriousness and sex counts from openFDA
count=serious,patient.patientsex,seriousnessdeath
Page generated 2026-10-08. Label and PubChem text are retrieved automatically and may lag the current label; always check the current prescribing information. OpenPV is a beta research tool of the Open Source Medicine Foundation.