Polymyxin b and trimethoprim (Ophthalmic)

Polymyxin B and trimethoprim combination is used to treat eye infections, including acute bacterial conjunctivitis and blepharoconjunctivitis.

Polymyxin B and trimethoprim belong to the class of medicines known as antibiotics. They work by killing bacteria or stopping them from growing.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

It is very important that your eye doctor (ophthalmologist) check your progress at regular visits to ensure this medicine is working properly and to look for unwanted effects.

If you experience itching, redness, swelling, or other signs of eye or eyelid irritation, contact your doctor immediately. This may indicate that you are allergic to this medicine.

If your symptoms do not improve within a few days or if they get worse, contact your eye doctor (ophthalmologist) right away.

Contact your doctor immediately if you have an eye injury, eye infection, or plan to have eye surgery.

In deciding to use a medicine, you and your doctor will weigh the risks of taking it against the benefits it may provide. For this medicine, consider the following:

Allergies

Inform your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also, let your healthcare professional know if you have any other allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For over-the-counter products, carefully read the label or package ingredients.

Pediatric

There have not been appropriate studies on how polymyxin B and trimethoprim combination affects children younger than 2 months of age. Safety and effectiveness have not been established for this age group.

Geriatric

Studies to date have not shown any specific problems in older adults that would limit the usefulness of polymyxin B and trimethoprim combination.

Breast Feeding

Research in women suggests that this medication has a minimal risk to the infant when used during breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Some medicines should not be used together. In other cases, two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction could happen. If you are taking this medicine, it is very important that your healthcare professional knows if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been chosen based on their potential importance and are not necessarily a complete list.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may choose not to treat you with this medicine or may change some of the other medicines you take.

• Dofetilide
• Levomethadyl

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be necessary in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may adjust the dose or frequency of one or both medicines.

• Acecainide
• Ajmaline
• Alcuronium
• Amiloride
• Amiodarone
• Amitriptyline
• Amoxapine
• Aprindine
• Arsenic Trioxide
• Astemizole
• Atracurium
• Azathioprine
• Azilsartan
• Azilsartan Medoxomil
• Azimilide
• Benazepril
• Bretylium
• Candesartan Cilexetil
• Captopril
• Chloral Hydrate
• Chloroquine
• Chlorpromazine
• Cholera Vaccine, Live
• Cisatracurium
• Clarithromycin
• Desipramine
• Dibenzepin
• Digoxin
• Disopyramide
• Dolasetron
• Doxacurium
• Doxepin
• Dronedarone
• Droperidol
• Enalapril
• Enalaprilat
• Enflurane
• Eplerenone
• Eprosartan
• Erythromycin
• Fazadinium
• Flecainide
• Fluconazole
• Fluoxetine
• Foscarnet
• Fosinopril
• Fosphenytoin
• Gallamine
• Gemifloxacin
• Halofantrine
• Haloperidol
• Halothane
• Hexafluorenium
• Hydroquinidine
• Ibutilide
• Imipramine
• Irbesartan
• Isoflurane
• Isradipine
• Leucovorin
• Lidoflazine
• Lisinopril
• Lorcainide
• Losartan
• Mefloquine
• Mercaptopurine
• Methotrexate
• Metocurine
• Mivacurium
• Moexipril
• Nortriptyline
• Octreotide
• Olmesartan Medoxomil
• Pancuronium
• Pentamidine
• Perindopril
• Phenytoin
• Pipecuronium
• Pirmenol
• Prajmaline
• Probucol
• Procainamide
• Prochlorperazine
• Propafenone
• Pyrimethamine
• Quinapril
• Quinidine
• Ramipril
• Rapacuronium
• Risperidone
• Rocuronium
• Sapropterin
• Sematilide
• Sertindole
• Sotalol
• Spiramycin
• Spironolactone
• Sultopride
• Tedisamil
• Telithromycin
• Telmisartan
• Trandolapril
• Triamterene
• Trifluoperazine
• Trimipramine
• Tubocurarine
• Valsartan
• Vecuronium
• Zofenopril
• Zotepine

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may increase the risk of certain side effects, but using both may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may adjust the dose or frequency of one or both medicines.

• Amantadine
• Anisindione
• Didanosine
• Repaglinide
• Rosiglitazone
• Tolbutamide

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Some medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or certain types of food because interactions may happen. Using alcohol or tobacco with some medicines may also cause interactions. The following interactions have been chosen based on their potential importance and are not necessarily a complete list.

Using this medicine with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or frequency of this medicine, or give you special instructions about using food, alcohol, or tobacco.

• Ethanol

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

• Increased redness, burning, stinging, or itching of the eye

Incidence not known

• Blurred vision
• Change in color vision
• Difficulty seeing at night
• Increased sensitivity of the eyes to sunlight
• Increased tearing
• Rash around the eye
• Swelling of the eyelid

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In the U.S.

• Polytrim

In Canada

• Pms-Polytrimethoprim

Available Dosage Forms:

• Solution

Therapeutic Class: Antibiotic Combination

Pharmacologic Class: Trimethoprim

Use this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not use more of it, do not use it more often, and do not use it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of too much medicine being absorbed into the body and the chance of side effects.

To use the eye drops (solution):

• Shake the medicine well just before each use.
• Wash your hands with soap and water before and after you use this medicine.
• Tilt the head back. Press your finger gently on the skin just beneath the lower eyelid and pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to make a space. Drop the medicine into this space. Let go of the eyelid and gently close the eyes. Do not blink. Keep the eyes closed and apply pressure to the inner corner of the eye with your finger for 1 or 2 minutes to allow the medicine to be absorbed by the eye.
• To keep the medicine as germ-free as possible, do not touch the applicator tip to any surface (including the eye). Also, keep the container tightly closed. Serious damage to the eye and possible loss of vision may result from using contaminated eye medicines.

To help clear up your infection completely, keep using this medicine for the full treatment time even if you feel better after the first few doses. The infection may not clear up if you stop using the medicine too soon. Do not miss any doses.

Do not use this medicine while wearing contact lenses. Wait at least 15 minutes after you use the medicine before putting the contact lenses back in.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For eye infections:For ophthalmic dosage form (eye drops): Adults and children 2 months of age and older—Use one drop in the affected eye(s) every 3 hours for 7 to 10 days. Your doctor may tell you to use the drops more often during severe infections. Children younger than 2 months of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.