$Unique_ID{BRK01985}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{HYDROCORTISONE, POLYMYXIN B, NEOMYCIN, AND BACITRACIN COMBINATION (OPHTHALMIC)}
$Subject{Coracin (Hauck)
Cortisporin Ophthalmic (Burroughs Wellcome)
Triple Antibiotic (various manufacturers)
Triple-Gen (Goldline)}
$Volume{}
$Log{}

Copyright (C) 1991 Publications International, Ltd.


HYDROCORTISONE, POLYMYXIN B, NEOMYCIN, AND BACITRACIN COMBINATION (OPHTHALMIC)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BRAND NAMES (Manufacturers):
     Coracin (Hauck)
     Cortisporin Ophthalmic (Burroughs Wellcome)
     Triple Antibiotic (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; and 0.001% thimerosal per gram of
       ointment)
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 medication for longer than ten consecutive days, unless
your doctor directs you to do so.  Prolonged use of this drug may result in
glaucoma, secondary infection, cataracts, or eye damage.  If you need to take
this medication 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.
