Maxitrol (Dexamethasone, Neomycin sulphate, Polymyxin B sulphate)

Maxitrol Eye Drops, Suspension. Dexamethasone, Neomycin Sulphate, Polymyxin B Sulphate

What Is Maxitrol?

Maxitrol contains a steroid, dexamethasone, and two antibiotics, neomycin sulfate and polymyxin B sulfate.

It is used for the short-term treatment of inflammation of the eye, where administration of an antibiotic is also required to prevent an eye infection.

Before You Use Maxitrol

Do Not Use Maxitrol 

• If you have any infection of the eye that is not being treated. The use of steroids may make infections worse.
• If you have a red eye that a doctor has not seen.
• If you are allergic to neomycin or to any of the other ingredients.

Take Special Care

Do not inject or swallow this medicine.

Consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine if you have a disorder causing a thinning of the eye tissues.

You should have your eye pressure checked regularly while using this medicine.

Consult your doctor or pharmacist if your eye pain, redness, swelling, or irritation worsens or persists.

As with any antibiotic, using Maxitrol for a long time may lead to other infections. If your symptoms get worse or suddenly return, tell your doctor.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Maxitrol is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you are pregnant or might get pregnant or breastfeeding a baby, talk to your doctor before you use Maxitrol.

Driving and Using Machines

You may experience blurred vision after using Maxitrol. Do not drive or use any machines unless your vision is normal.

Using Other Medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. Taking Maxitrol with other medicines may increase the seriousness of the side effects.

Important Information if You Wear Contact Lenses

Wearing contact lenses is not advisable during the treatment of an eye infection, as they may worsen your condition. Do not use the drops while wearing contact lenses. Wait at least 15 minutes after use before putting your lenses back in. A preservative in Maxitrol (benzalkonium chloride) can discolor soft contact lenses.

How to Use Maxitrol 

The usual dose is 1 or 2 drops in between your eyelid and eye six times daily, or more frequently if required.

Remove the loose collar from the cap when the bottle is first opened.

Always use Maxitrol exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you need more information.

Maxitrol should not be used for an extended period unless your doctor advises. Follow these steps:

• wash your hands before you start;
• shake the bottle well;
• twist off the bottle cap;
• hold the bottle pointing down, between your thumb and fingers;
• tilt your head back;
• pull down your lower eyelid with a finger until there is a pocket between the eyelid and your eye; the drop will go in here;
• bring the bottle tip close to the eye; do this in front of a mirror if it helps;
• do not touch your eye, eyelid, surrounding areas, or other surfaces with the dropper; it could infect the drops;
• gently press on the base of the bottle to release one drop at a time;
• do not squeeze the bottle; only a gentle press on the bottom is needed;
• if you use drops in both eyes, repeat the steps for your other eye; put the bottle cap firmly back on immediately after use;
• if a drop misses your eye, try again;
• if you forget to take Maxitrol, do not worry; take it as soon as possible.

Overdose

Do not take a double dose to make up.

Using more Maxitrol than you should can be washed out of your eye with warm water.

If you are using other eye drops, wait at least 10 minutes after putting in Maxitrol before using the other eye drops.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about using Maxitrol.

Side Effects

Maxitrol can cause side effects like all medicines, although not everybody gets it.

Uncommon (affect 1 to 10 people in 1000)

Effects in the eye – eye surface inflammation, increased pressure in the eye, eye irritation, itching, or discomfort.

Not known (cannot be estimated from available data)

Effects in the eye – thinning of the eye’s surface, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, change in pupil size, drooping of the eyelid, abnormal eye sensation, increased tear production, eye pain, swelling, or redness.

General side effects

Allergy, headache.

If any of the side effects get serious, or you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, tell your doctor or pharmacist.

How to Store

• Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
• Do not refrigerate or store above 25°C.
• Keep the bottle tightly closed.
• Keep away from direct sunlight.
• Do not use the drops after the expiry date (marked ‘Exp’) on the bottle and the carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
• Stop using the bottle four weeks after first opening to prevent infections.
• Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines that are no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
• Do not pass this medicine on to others.

It may harm them even if their symptoms are the same as yours.

Further Information

Ingredients

• The active substances are dexamethasone 1mg/ml, neomycin sulfate 3500 Ill/ml, and polymyxin B sulfate 6000 Ill/ml.
• The other ingredients are sodium chloride, polysorbate 20, hypromellose, benzalkonium chloride, hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide (to adjust pH), and purified water.

What Maxitrol Looks Like and the Contents of the Pack

Maxitrol Eye Drops is a cloudy, white liquid supplied in a pack containing a 5 ml or 10 ml plastic bottle with a screw cap.