ANTIBIOTIC COMBINATIONS (OPHTHALMIC)
Indications/Pharmacology
These combination products exhibit a broad-spectrum of activity and areconsidered the first choice for symptomatic treatment of conjunctivitis in dogs and for prophylactictreatment of small animals prior to or after eye surgery. These agents are also used prophylactically forcorneal injuries/wounds.Suggested Dosages/Precautions/Adverse Effects - Usually applied 4 times daily to prevent infectionand up to every 30 minutes in established corneal infections. See individual product label information andthe information noted previously.Neomycin has been reported to cause allergic reactions in dogs and cats, particularly after prolongedusage.Dosage Forms/Preparations/FDA Approval Status - Veterinary-Approved Products:
Ointments:
Bacitracin zinc 400 units/Neomycin 3.5 mg/Polymyxin B Sulfate 10, 000 Units per gram in 3.5 gm tubes Mycitracin® (Upjohn) (Note: contains 500 mg bacitracin/gm); Neobacimyx®(Schering); Trioptic-P® (Pfizer); Vetropolycin® (Pitman-Moore); Generic. All are Rx and approved for dogs and cats.
Oxytetracycline HCl 5 mg/Polymyxin B Sulfate 10, 000 U/gm in 3.5 gm tubes Terramycin®
Ophthalmic Ointment (Pfizer); OTC. Approved for use in dogs, cats, sheep, cattle, and horses.
Drops:
Neomycin 3.5 mg/Polymyxin B Sulfate 10, 000 Units per ml: Optiprime®-(Syntex); Rx.
Approved for use in dogs.
Human-Approved Products:
There are a wide variety of human-labeled ophthalmic combination products available. Mostare a combination of bacitracin/neomycin/polymyxin B. However, there are variations of thistheme (e.g., gramicidin in place of bacitracin in topical solutions-Neosporin® OphthalmicSolution). All these products require a prescription.