Bacitracin and Polymyxin B (Ophthalmic)

Use this medicine as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.
• Use as you have been told, even if your signs get better.
• For the eye only.
• Wash your hands before and after use.
• Do not touch the container tip to the eye, lid, or other skin.
• Tilt your head back.
• Pull down lower eyelid of affected eye/eyes.
• Put a thin film of ointment into the lower eye.
• Close eye and roll eyeball around for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Use other eye drugs 10 minutes after the ointment.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Use a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
• Do not use 2 doses or extra doses.

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

See individual agents.

Absorption

Insignificant from intact skin or mucous membrane

Superficial ocular infections: Treatment of superficial infections caused by susceptible organisms

• Discuss specific use of drug and side effects with patient as it relates to treatment. (HCAHPS: During this hospital stay, were you given any medicine that you had not taken before? Before giving you any new medicine, how often did hospital staff tell you what the medicine was for? How often did hospital staff describe possible side effects in a way you could understand?)

• Patient may experience blurred vision or watery eyes. Have patient report immediately to prescriber vision changes, eye pain, or severe eye irritation (HCAHPS).

• Educate patient about signs of a significant reaction (eg, wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat). Note: This is not a comprehensive list of all side effects. Patient should consult prescriber for additional questions.

Intended Use and Disclaimer: Should not be printed and given to patients. This information is intended to serve as a concise initial reference for health care professionals to use when discussing medications with a patient. You must ultimately rely on your own discretion, experience, and judgment in diagnosing, treating, and advising patients.

Use the medication as soon as you remember the missed dose. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and use the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

An overdose of bacitracin and polymyxin B ophthalmic is not likely to occur.

Applies to bacitracin / polymyxin b ophthalmic: ophthalmic ointment

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Change in eyesight, eye pain, or very bad eye irritation.

Ophthalmic ointments may slow corneal healing.

Nonsusceptible organisms, including fungi, may proliferate with the use of antibiotic ophthalmic preparations.