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- $Unique_ID{BRK03185}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{hydrocortisone, polymyxin B, neomycin, and bacitracin combination (ophthalmic)}
- $Subject{Coracin Hauck Cortisporin Ophthalmic Burroughs Wellcome Triple
- Antibiotic HC Triple-Gen Goldline adrenocorticosteroid antibiotic
- hydrocortisone polymyxin B neomycin bacitracin ointment bacterial infections
- eyes cortisone-like inflammation redness, swelling itching discomfort fluid
- balance temperature reaction inflammation antibiotics growth multiplication
- bacteria preservative}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1993 Publications International, Ltd.
-
-
- hydrocortisone, polymyxin B, neomycin, and bacitracin combination (ophthalmic)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- BRAND NAMES (Manufacturers)
-
- Coracin (Hauck)
- Cortisporin Ophthalmic (Burroughs Wellcome)
- Triple Antibiotic with HC (various manufacturers)
- Triple-Gen (Goldline)
-
- TYPE OF DRUG
-
- Ophthalmic adrenocorticosteroid and antibiotic
-
- INGREDIENTS
-
- hydrocortisone, polymyxin B, neomycin, and bacitracin (ointment only)
-
- DOSAGE FORMS
-
- Ophthalmic drops (1% hydrocortisone; 10,000 units polymyxin B; 0.5%
- neomycin; and 0.001% thimerosal per ml)
- Ophthalmic ointment (1% hydrocortisone; 10,000 units polymyxin B; 0.5%
- neomycin; 400 units bacitracin)
-
- STORAGE
-
- This medication should be stored at room temperature (never frozen) in
- tightly closed containers. If the drops or ointment change color, do not use
- the medication. A change in color signifies a loss of effectiveness.
-
- USES
-
- This medication is used for the short-term treatment of bacterial
- infections of the eyes.
- Your adrenal glands naturally produce certain cortisone-like chemicals.
- These chemicals are involved in various regulatory processes in the body (such
- as those involving fluid balance, temperature, and reaction to inflammation).
- Hydrocortisone belongs to a group of drugs known as adrenocorticosteroids (or
- cortisone-like medications). It is used to relieve inflammation (redness,
- swelling, itching, and discomfort). How it does so is not completely
- understood.
- Polymyxin B, neomycin, and bacitracin are antibiotics, which act to
- prevent the growth and multiplication of infecting bacteria. Thimerosal is a
- preservative.
-
- TREATMENT
-
- Wash your hands with soap and water before using this medication. If you
- are using the drops, shake the bottle well before measuring out the drops.
- The contents tend to settle on the bottom of the bottle, so it is necessary to
- shake the container to distribute the ingredients evenly and equalize the
- doses.
- To prevent contamination of the medicine, do not touch the tube portion
- of the dropper or let it touch the eye.
- Note that the bottle of the eye drops is not completely full. This is to
- allow control of the number of drops used.
- To apply the drops, tilt your head back and pull down the lower eyelid
- with one hand to make a pouch below the eye. Drop the prescribed amount of
- medicine into the pouch and slowly close your eyes. Try not to blink. Keep
- your eyes closed, and place one finger at the corner of the eye next to your
- nose for a minute or two, applying a slight pressure (this is done to prevent
- loss of medication through the duct that drains fluid from the surface of the
- eye into the nose and throat). Then wipe away any excess with a clean tissue.
- If you don't think the medicine got into your eye, repeat the process once.
- If you are using more than one type of eye drop, wait at least five minutes
- between doses of the two types of medication.
- Follow the same general procedure for applying the ointment. Tilt your
- head back, pull down the lower eyelid, and squeeze the ointment in a line
- along the pouch below the eye. Close your eyes, and place your finger at the
- corner of the eye near the nose for a minute or two. Do not rub your eyes.
- Wipe off excess ointment and the tip of the tube with clean tissues.
- Since applying the medication is somewhat difficult to do, you may want
- someone else to apply it for you.
- If you miss a dose of this medication, insert the drops or apply the
- ointment as soon as possible, unless it is almost time for the next
- application. In that case, do not use the missed dose at all; just wait until
- the next scheduled dose.
- It is important to continue to take this medication for the entire time
- prescribed by your doctor, even if the symptoms of infection disappear before
- the end of that period. If you stop applying the drug too soon, resistant
- bacteria are given a chance to continue growing, and the infection could
- recur.
-
- SIDE EFFECTS
-
- Minor.
-
- Blurred vision, burning, or stinging. These side effects should
- disappear as your body adjusts to the medication.
-
- Major.
-
- Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or
- particularly bothersome. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about
- disturbed or reduced vision; eye pain, itching, or swelling; headache; rash;
- continued burning; or severe irritation.
-
- INTERACTIONS
-
- This medication should not interact with other medications as long as it
- is used according to the directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist.
-
- WARNINGS
-
- * Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to
- any medications, especially to hydrocortisone or other adrenocorticosteroids
- (such as amcinonide, betamethasone, clocortolone, cortisone, desonide,
- desoximetasone, dexamethasone, diflorasone, flumethasone, fluocinolone,
- fluorometholone, flurandrenolide, halcinonide, methylprednisolone,
- prednisolone, prednisone, and triamcinolone) or to polymyxin B, neomycin,
- bacitracin, or any related antibiotic (amikacin, colistimethate, colistin,
- gentamicin, kanamycin, neomycin, netilmicin, paromycin, streptomycin,
- tobramycin, or viomycin), or to thimerosal or other mercury compounds.
- * Tell your doctor if you now have or if you have ever had fungal or
- viral infections of the eye, cataracts, glaucoma, inner ear disease, kidney
- disease, or myasthenia gravis.
- * Tell your doctor if you wear contact lenses. Your doctor may suggest
- that you wear eyeglasses until the infection is gone.
- * If there is no change in your condition two or three days after
- starting to take this medication, contact your doctor. The medication may not
- be effective for your particular infection.
- * Do not use this drug for longer than ten consecutive days, unless your
- doctor directs you to. Prolonged use of this drug may result in glaucoma,
- secondary infection, cataracts, or eye damage. If you need to take this drug
- for as long as six weeks, your doctor may want you to have an eye examination
- by an ophthalmologist.
- * This medication has been prescribed for your current infection only.
- Another infection later on, or one that a family member or friend has, may
- require a different medicine. You should not give your medicine to other
- people or use it for other infections, unless your doctor specifically directs
- you to do so.
- * In order to allow your eye infection to clear, you should not apply
- makeup to the affected eye during treatment with this medication.
- * Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant. When large amounts of
- hydrocortisone are applied for prolonged periods, some of it is absorbed into
- the bloodstream. It may cross the placenta. Studies in humans have not been
- conducted, but birth defects have been observed in the offspring of animals
- that were given large oral doses of hydrocortisone during pregnancy. Also,
- tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. If absorbed through the skin,
- small amounts of hydrocortisone pass into breast milk and may cause growth
- suppression or a decrease in natural adrenocorticosteroid hormone production
- in the nursing infant.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-