Chloramphenicol 0.5% W/V Antibiotic Eye Drops
Golden Eye®
Antibiotic 0.5% w/v Chloramphenicol Eye Drops
Read all of this leaflet carefully because it contains important information for you.
This medicine is available without prescription. However, you still need to use Chloramphenicol Eye Drops carefully to get the best results.
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• Ask your pharmacist if you need more information or advice.
• You must contact a doctor or pharmacist if your symptoms worsen or do not improve after 2 days.
• If any of the side effects get serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your pharmacist.
1 |
In this leaflet: 1. What Chloramphenicol Eye Drops are and what they are used for 2. Before you use Chloramphenicol Eye Drops 3. How to use Chloramphenicol Eye Drops 4. Possible side effects 5. How to store Chloramphenicol Eye Drops 6. Further information This leaflet contains a summary of the |
• you wear contact lenses • you or someone in your family suffer from problems with your blood (aplastic anaemia) or bone marrow problems • you have ever had an allergic (hypersensitive) reaction to this or any other medicine • you are pregnant, trying for a baby | |
1 |
information available for this medicine. |
or are breast-feeding. |
1 |
You should ask your pharmacist if you are |
Taking other medicines | ||
unsure about any aspect of this medicine. |
Please tell your pharmacist if you are taking | ||
or have recently taken any other medicines, | |||
1. What Chloramphenicol Eye Drops |
including medicines obtained without a | ||
are and what they are used for |
prescription. | ||
Chloramphenicol belongs to a group of |
Medicines which may interact with | ||
medicines called antibiotics. An antibiotic is |
Chloramphenicol Eye Drops include: | ||
1 |
a medicine which is used for the treatment |
• the dietary supplement chymotiypsin |
1 |
1 |
of a variety of infections caused by bacteria. |
• any other medicines that are likely to |
1 |
Chloramphenicol Eye Drops are used in the |
slow down the bone marrow's production | ||
treatment of a wide range of eye infections |
of blood cells (bone marrow depression). | ||
caused by bacteria. |
Pregnancy and breast-feeding | ||
Chloramphenicol Eye Drops should not be | |||
2. Before you use Chloramphenicol |
used if you are pregnant, trying for a baby | ||
Eye Drops |
or are breast-feeding. | ||
Do not use Chloramphenicol Eye Drops if: |
Driving and using machines | ||
1 |
you are allergic (hypersensitive) to |
Chloramphenicol Eye Drops can cause |
1 |
chloramphenicol or to any of the other |
temporary blurring of vision after you have |
1 | |
ingredients listed in section 6 of this leaflet. |
used them. Wait until your vision is clear | ||
Take special care with Chloramphenicol |
before driving or using machines. | ||
Eye Drops. | |||
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if: |
3. How to use Chloramphenicol | ||
• you have blurred or double vision |
Eye Drops | ||
• your eye(s) are more sensitive to light |
Always read the leaflet before beginning | ||
than usual |
treatment. | ||
1 |
If the eye(s) have an obvious discharge or |
1 | |
1 |
• your eye(s) looks cloudy |
'crust' they may be bathed with boiled and |
1 |
• you have pain or swelling around the |
cooled water before treating with | ||
eye or face |
Chloramphenicol Eye Drops. | ||
• you have had an eye infection in the |
If you wear contact lenses they must be | ||
recent past |
removed whilst you are using | ||
• you have glaucoma (a raised pressure |
Chloramphenical Eye Drops. | ||
in the eye) |
You should wait 24 hours after you take | ||
• you have very dry eyes |
your last dose of Chloramphenicol Eye Drops | ||
1 |
• you have an eye injury |
before starting to use your lenses again. |
1 |
• you have something in your eye |
Instructions for use | ||
• you are already using other eye drops |
1. Wash your hands well before use | ||
or eye ointment |
2. Remove the outer cap. If you are putting in the | ||
• you have had eye surgery or laser |
eye drops yourself you should use a mirror | ||
treatment in the last 6 months |
3. Tilt the head back and pull the lower | ||
lid of the eye out to pocket |
Continued overleaf
4. Hold the container between the thumb and middle finger of the other hand, turn the container upside down near to the eye, try not to touch the eye with the nozzle
5. Apply enough pressure to the container to release 1 or 2 drops
6. Blink the eye a few times
7. If you think that you have missed the eye, then insert another drop
■ 8. Repeat in the other eye if you have been
told to use Chloramphenicol Eye Drops in both eyes
9. Replace the outer cap on the container, trying not to touch the applicator tip with anything, including the eye or the fingers 10. Wash your hands.
How much to use: Adults, the elderly and children over 2 years
Put 1 drop into the affected eye(s) every 2 hours for the first 48 hours. After this you should reduce the dose to 1 drop every 4 hours.
Not suitable for children under 2
Do not use Chloramphenicol Eye Drops just before you go to sleep.
The course of treatment should be 5 days.
Do not use Chloramphenicol Eye Drops for longer than 5 days at a time.
Seek further immediate medical advice any time if symptoms worsen.
Consult your doctor if your eye infection does not start to improve within 48 hours. Chloramphenicol Eye Drops are for external use only. If you have swallowed or you suspect someone else has swallowed any Chloramphenicol Eye Drops, contact your doctor or go to the accident and emergency department of your local hospital at once. Always take the container with you, if possible, even if empty.
If you forget to use Chloramphenicol Eye Drops
Try not to miss doses. If you do miss a dose, do not worry, take your next dose at the normal time. Do not use extra drops to make up.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Chloramphenicol Eye Drops can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Possible side effects include:
• burning • itching • stinging • mild stinging
• inflammation of the skin (dermatitis).
Rare side effects include:
• damage to parts of the eye • bone marrow depression (a condition where the marrow is unable to produce blood cells)
• a reduced production and death of red blood cells (anaemia)
• in very young children, grey baby syndrome.
Prolonged use of Chloramphenical Eye Drops is not advised. You should not use this product for longer than 5 days at a time.
If any of the side effects get serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
5. How to store Chloramphenicol Eye Drops
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
Do not use Chloramphenicol Eye Drops after the expiry date printed on the bottle label.
The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. Once the bottle is opened use within 4 weeks.
You are advised to dispose of the bottle once you have finished your 5 day course of treatment.
This medicine needs to be stored upright between 2-8°C (in a refrigerator).
Protect from light. Do not allow it to freeze. Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. Further Information
What Chloramphenicol Eye Drops contain:
The active substance is Chloramphenicol O.5%w/v. The other ingredients are borax, boric acid, phenylmercuric nitrate and purified water.
What Chloramphenicol Eye Drops look like and the contents of the pack:
Chloramphenicol Eye Drops is a clear colourless solution supplied in plastic bottles.
Each bottle contains 10ml of solution.
Marketing Authorisation Holder:
Martindale Pharmaceuticals Limited Bampton Road, Romford, RM3 8UG, England. Manufacturer:
Farmigea S.p.A Via G.B. Oliva 8 56121 Pisa, Italy.
Distributed by:
Cambridge Healthcare Supplies Ltd.,
Units 1&2 Wymondham Business Park,
Chestnut Drive, Wymondham,
NR18 9SB, England.
If you would like any more information, or would like the leaflet in a different format, please contact Medical Information at the above address.
This leaflet was last revised in August 2011.
PL00156/0109