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| Pronunciation |
|
 (nee
oh MYE sin, pol i MIKS in bee,
& deks a METH a sone) |
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| Brand Names |
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| AK-Trol®; Dexacidin®;
Dexasporin®; Maxitrol® |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Antibiotic/Corticosteroid, Ophthalmic |
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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- Neomycin and polymixin B are antibiotics used to treat a variety of
bacterial infections.
- Dexamethasone is used to reduce redness, irritation, swelling, and
itching.
- The eye drops are used in steroid-responsive inflammatory eye
conditions in which hydrocortisone is indicated and where bacterial infection or
a risk of bacterial infection
exists.
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| How does it work? |
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- Neomycin inhibits metabolic activities in the bacteria.
- Polymixin B makes some of the manufacturing cells in the bacteria
leaky.
- Dexamethasone prevents/reduces irritation and
swelling.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- For the eye only. Shake suspension well first.
- Wash your hands before and after use.
- Suspension:
- Tilt your head back and drop medicine into your eye.
- Avoid touching the dropper to your eye, lid, or other skin.
- Separate each eye medicine by 5 minutes. Give one and wait 5 minutes
before using the next.
- Close eye and hold pressure on corner of eye closest to nose for 1
minute.
- Ointment:
- Place medicine inside the lower lid. Close the eye for 1-2 minutes.
Roll eyeball around.
- Separate each eye medicine by 10 minutes. Give one and wait 10 minutes
before using the
next.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Apply a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not apply a double dose or extra
doses.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
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- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
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- Bright lights may be irritating. Keep sunglasses with you.
- Blurred vision. Use caution when driving, or doing tasks that need
clear vision.
- Stinging after putting drops in
eye.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Any rash.
- No improvement in condition or feeling
worse.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Store at room
temperature.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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