bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B (topic... Health Article

Generic name(s):

bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B (topical)

Brand name(s):

bacitracin/neomycin/polymyxin B topical, Medi-Quik, Neosporin, Triple Antibiotic

What is the most important information I should know about bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B?

Call your doctor if your skin condition does not get better after using this medication regularly for 1 week. Contact your doctor at any time if your symptoms get worse.

Call your doctor at once if you have swelling, redness, itching, pus, or other signs of infection. Tell your doctor if you feel any numbness or tingling while using this medication.

Do not apply the ointment over large skin areas. Do not use to treat a deep cut, an animal bite, or a serious burn. Call your doctor for instructions on how to treat these more severe skin injuries.

Avoid applying other creams, lotions, ointments, or other medicated skin products to the same areas you treat with bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B.

What is bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B?

Bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B is a combination of three antibiotic medicines. This medication works by killing germs (bacteria) on your skin.

Bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B topical (for the skin) is used to treat and prevent infections in minor cuts, scrapes, or burns on your skin.

This medication may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my health care provider before using bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B?

Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you have any drug allergies.

Call your doctor if your skin condition does not get better after using this medication regularly for 1 week. Contact your doctor at any time if your symptoms get worse.

Bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known if it will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I use bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B?

Use this medication exactly as directed on the ointment label, or as your doctor has prescribed it for you. Do not use more of the medication than recommended. Do not use the medication for longer than recommended.

Do not apply the ointment over large skin areas. Do not use to treat a deep cut, an animal bite, or a serious burn. Call your doctor for instructions on how to treat these more severe skin injuries.

Before you apply this medication, wash the skin area with soap and water and then dry it thoroughly.

This medication can be applied 1 to 3 times each day. Cover the wound with a bandage if desired. Clean the wound and use a new bandage each time you apply this medicine.

Use this medication for as many days as recommended on the ointment label or by your doctor, even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may start to improve before the infection is completely treated. If your skin wound does not start to heal after using bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B for 7 days, talk with your doctor about another treatment. Store this medication at room temperature away from hot or cold temperatures.

What happens if I miss a dose?

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

What happens if I overdose?

This medicine is not usually absorbed through the skin in amounts large enough to cause an overdose. Call your doctor if you think you have used too much of this medication.