Minims® Chloramphenicol Eye Drops Chloramphenicol Eye Drops Consumer Medicine Information What is in this leaflet glued eyes, especially in the morning under 2 years of age unless your on waking). Other symptoms include doctor tells you. This leaflet answers some common a gritty sensation in the eye, redness, Do not use this medicine after the questions about Minims irritation and watering of the eyes. expiry date printed on the pack or Chloramphenicol, including how to The infection usually starts in one if the packaging is torn or shows use the eye drops. eye and then spreads to the other. signs of tampering. It does not contain all the available Ask your doctor, pharmacist or If it has expired or is damaged, return information. It does not take the optometrist if you have any it to your pharmacist for disposal. place of talking to your doctor or questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you. They If you are not sure whether you pharmacist. should start using this medicine, may have prescribed it for another All medicines have benefits and talk to your doctor. reason. risks. Your pharmacist , doctor or optometrist has weighed the risks of Before you start to use it you using Minims Chloramphenicol Tell your pharmacist, doctor or against the benefits they expect it optometrist if the following will have for you. Before you use Minims conditions apply: If you have any concerns about Chloramphenicol • if you have had an allergy to using this medicine, ask your any other medicines, foods, doctor or pharmacist. When you must not use it preservatives or dyes. Keep this leaflet with the medicine. Do not use Minims • if you have any blood disorder You may need to read it again. Chloramphenicol if you have an such as reduced blood cells, or allergy to: lack of white blood cells or low blood platelet count. • Any medicine containing chloramphenicol Your pharmacist, doctor or What Minims optometrist may wish to use an • Chloramphenicol is Any of the ingredients listed at alternative treatment since the end of this leaflet. used for chloramphenicol has been Some of the symptoms of an allergic associated with depression of the Minims Chloramphenicol is a broad- reaction may include: bone marrow, which is a serious spectrum antibiotic solution that is • Shortness of breath complaint. used to treat an eye infection called • if you are to have or have had bacterial conjunctivitis, which is a • Wheezing or difficulty breathing eye surgery bacterial infection involving the • Swelling of the face, lips, tongue mucous membrane of the surface of or other parts of the body Your pharmacist, doctor or the eye. optometrist may wish to use an • Rash, itching or hives on the skin alternative treatment since The most common symptom is the Do not use Minims chloramphenicol may slow presence of a sticky yellow-white Chloramphenicol on children corneal wound healing discharge with mucus and pus (or MINIMS® CHLORAMPHENICOL 1 • if you are pregnant or plan to • your eye looks cloudy medicines, or you may need to use become pregnant. • there is copious yellow-green different medicines. Your doctor will advise you of purulent discharge that Your doctor and pharmacist will the risks and benefits involved. accumulates after being wiped have more information on medicines • if you are breast-feeding or away to be careful with or avoid while intend to breast-feed. • you have injured your eye or using this medicine. Your doctor will discuss the risks there is a foreign body in the eye and benefits involved. • you have been welding without • if you wear contact lenses. eye protection immediately before your eye symptoms How to use Minims Contact lenses should not be appeared Chloramphenicol worn during the course of Minims Chloramphenicol treatment. If • you have glaucoma Follow all directions given to you you wear hard or disposable • you have dry eye syndrome by your doctor or pharmacist carefully. contact lenses, you can start using • you have had similar symptoms them again after successfully in the past They may differ from the completing the course of • information contained in this leaflet. treatment. If wearing soft contact you have had eye surgery or laser treatment in the past six months If you do not understand the lenses, you should wait 24 hours instructions on the label, ask your after successfully completing a • you have recently travelled doctor or pharmacist for help. course of treatment before overseas starting to use them again. • you have surgery (including How much to use If you have not told your dental surgery) using a general pharmacist, doctor or optometrist anaesthetic Use Minims Chloramphenicol only when prescribed by your about any of the above, tell • you feel unwell him/her before you start using pharmacist, doctor or optometrist. • you have any other medical Minims Chloramphenicol. The dose of the eye drops may be conditions different for each person and their If you have bought this medicine If you have not told your medical condition. Your without a prescription and without pharmacist, doctor or optometrist pharmacist, doctor or optometrist prior consultation from a about any of the above, tell them will tell you how often to use the pharmacist, doctor or optometrist, before you use Minims eye drops and how many drops to it is important to check the Chloramphenicol. use each time. following list. Speak to your pharmacist, doctor or optometrist The usual dose of Minims Taking other medicines if any of the following applies to Chloramphenicol in adults and you before you start using Minims Tell your pharmacist, doctor or children 2 years and over is one or Chloramphenicol: optometrist if you are taking any two drops instilled into each affected eye every two to six hours for two to • you are allergic to any other other medicines, including any that three days. The interval between antibiotic eye drops you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket applications may then be increased. • you are using other eye drops or or health food shop. Severe infections may require one or ointments two drops every fifteen to twenty Some medicines and Minims • you have pain within your eye minutes to begin with then gradually Chloramphenicol may interfere with (rather than just feeling sore or reducing the frequency of application each other. These include medicines as the infection is controlled. gritty) containing: Continue treatment for at least 48 • swelling around the eye • chymotrypsin. hours after the eye appears normal. • blurred vision or sensitivity to It is not recommended to use Do not use for more than 5 days in light these eye drops at the same time total except on medical advice. If the • limited eye movement as any medicine containing condition becomes worse or does not get better after 2 days, seek medical • abnormal pupil (the black circle chymotrypsin. advice. in the centre of the eye may be These medicines may be affected by torn, not round, very big or does Minims Chloramphenicol or may Do not use in children under 2 not change size in the light) affect how well it works. You may years of age except on Doctor's need different amounts of your advice. MINIMS® CHLORAMPHENICOL 2 How to use it use your dose when you are meant If you have any irritation, pain, to. swelling, excessive tear production You may find it easier to put drops in or light-sensitivity occur while your eye while you are sitting or Otherwise, use it as soon as you using the eye drops, flush the lying down. remember, and then go back to using your medicine as you would treated eye(s) with lots of water Follow these steps to use the eye normally. (room temperature) for at least 15 drops. minutes. Do not use a double dose to make 1.Wash your hands well with soap up for the dose that you missed. Stop using the eye drops and and water. contact your doctor if these This may increase the chance of you 2.Shake the container. symptoms persist. getting an unwanted side effect. 3.Break the seal. If you wear contact lenses, stop If you are not sure what to do, ask wearing them while you are using 4.Hold the container upside down in your doctor or pharmacist. Minims Chloramphenicol. one hand between your thumb and If you have trouble using your forefinger. If you are about to be started on medicine, ask your pharmacist for any new medicine, remind your 5.Using your other hand, gently pull some hints. doctor and pharmacist that you down your lower eyelid to form a If the condition does not get better are using Minims pouch/pocket. after 2 days, seek medical advice. Chloramphenicol. 6.Tilt your head back and look up. Tell any other doctors, dentists and 7.Put the tip of the container close to pharmacists who treat you that your lower eyelid. Do not let it touch If you use too much you are using this medicine. your eye. (overdose) 8.Release one or two drops into the Things you must not do Accidental swallowing of the pouch/pocket formed between your solution is unlikely to cause any Do not stop using Minims eye and eyelid by gently squeezing bad side effects due to the low Chloramphenicol without first the container. content of Chloramphenicol. If checking with your pharmacist, 9.Close your eye. Do not blink or rub you think that an infant or young doctor or optometrist unless you your eye. child may have swallowed any or are experiencing painful sensitivity 10.While your eye is closed, place all of the contents of the container reactions such as irritation, your index finger against the inside of Minims Chloramphenicol, burning, stinging or itching.