Chloramphenicol Antibiotic 0.5%w/v Eye Drops

Always use this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor or pharmacist told you.

• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• Ask your pharmacist if you need more information or advice.
• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
• You must talk to a doctor if you do not feel better or if you feel worse after 48 hours.

1. What Chloramphenicol Antibiotic Eye Drops is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you use Chloramphenicol Antibiotic Eye Drops
3. How to use Chloramphenicol Antibiotic Eye Drops
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Chloramphenicol Antibiotic Eye Drops
6. Contents of the pack and other information

• you are allergic to chloramphenicol or any of the ingredients of this medicine listed in section 6 ‘Contents of the pack and other information’
• you have ever had problems with your blood (in particular very low numbers of blood cells) during previous treatment with chloramphenicol
• you have a family history of blood problems such as low white blood cell, red blood cell, or platelet counts.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Chloramphenicol Antibiotic Eye Drops if

• your eyesight is affected (loss of sight, reduced vision, blurred or double vision, or halos around lights)
• you have pain within the eye
• your eye(s) are more sensitive to light than usual
• your pupil(s) looks unusual
• your eye(s) looks cloudy
• you have pain or swelling around the eye or face
• your eye is inflamed and you have a rash on the scalp or face
• you have had an eye infection in the recent past
• you have glaucoma (a raised pressure in the eye) or dry eye syndrome
• your eye has suffered a blow or other injury
• you have (or think you have) a foreign body in your eye, which has not been removed
• you are using other eye drops or eye ointment
• you have had eye surgery or laser treatment in the last 6 months
• you wear contact lenses and your contact lens practitioner or doctor has advised you to use this product, do not wear your lenses during the course of treatment. Wear your glasses instead. Soft contact lenses should not be replaced for 24 hours after completing the treatment
• you or someone in your family suffer from problems with your blood (aplastic anaemia) or bone marrow problems
• you suffer from any other eye problems
• you have ever had an allergic (hypersensitive) reaction to this or any other medicine
• you are pregnant, trying for a baby or are breast-feeding.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have recently used or might use any other medicines.

If you are taking bone marrow depressant drugs (drugs which decrease the activity of the bone marrow, causing low blood cell counts) such as azathioprine or are receiving chemotherapy, seek the advice of your pharmacist or your doctor before using this product.

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using this medicine.

Chloramphenicol Antibiotic Eye Drops can cause temporary blurring of vision after you have used them. Wait until your vision is clear before driving or using machines. If in doubt, talk to your pharmacist or doctor.

Chloramphenicol Antibiotic Eye Drops contains phenylmercuric nitrate as a preservative which may cause allergic reactions.

If you wear contact lenses they must be removed whilst you are using Chloramphenical Antibiotic Eye Drops. You should wait 24 hours after you take your last dose of Chloramphenicol Antibiotic Eye Drops before starting to use your lenses again.

To be used in the eye(s) only

• First wash your hands
• These drops are supplied as a sealed bottle with spiked cap. When using the bottle for the first time, screw the cap down tightly in order to pierce the tip of the bottle
• After cap is removed, if the tamper evident snap collar is loose, please remove before using the product. Take care not to touch the end of the nozzle
• Tilt your head back and look at the ceiling
• Pull the lower eyelid gently downwards
• Hold the bottle upside down above the eye and gently squeeze the bottle to release a drop into your eye
• Keep the affected eye closed and press your fingertip against the inside corner of the closed eye, and hold for 1 minute
• When both eyes are to be treated, repeat for the other eye
• Replace and tighten the cap immediately after use.

Whilst applying the drops, do not

• breathe on or touch the tip of the bottle
• touch the eyes or eyelids (or any other surface) with the tip of the bottle
• share your eye drops with anyone else.

Always use this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

Use this medicine only in your eyes.

Adults, the elderly and children over 2 years

The recommended dose is one drop into the affected eye(s) every 2 hours for the first 48 hours.

After this you should reduce the dose to one drop every 4 hours. Use during waking hours only.

Do not use Chloramphenicol Antibiotic 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. Do not stop just because you feel better, this could make your condition worse.

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 Antibiotic Eye Drops is for external use only. If you have swallowed or you suspect someone else has swallowed any Chloramphenicol Antibiotic 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 accidentally apply too much drops, you should wash your eye with plenty of water, if any painful symptoms continue after this, you should tell your doctor immediately.

Try not to miss doses. If you do miss a dose do not worry, take your next dose at the normal time.

Never double up on a dose to make up for the one you have missed.

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

The active substance is chloramphenicol 0.5%w/v

The other ingredients are borax, boric acid, phenylmercuric nitrate (as preservative) and purified water.

Chloramphenicol Antibiotic Eye Drops is a clear colourless solution supplied in plastic bottles. Each bottle contains 10ml of solution.

Manufacturer:

If you would like any more information, or would like the leaflet in a different format, please contact Medical Information at the above address.