What is bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B (topical)?
Bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B are antibiotics that kill bacteria on your skin.
The combination of bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B topical (for the skin) is used to treat
and prevent infections in minor cuts, scrapes, or burns on your skin.
This medication may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B (topical)?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to bacitracin, neomycin, or polymyxin
B.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you have any drug allergies.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin
B is harmful to an unborn baby. Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or
plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby.
Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B (topical)?
Use this medication exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not
use it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended.
Before you apply this medication, wash the skin area with soap and water and then dry it
thoroughly.
Do not apply the ointment over large skin areas. Do not use on a deep cut, an animal bite, or a
serious burn. Call your doctor for instructions on how to treat these more severe skin injuries.
This medication can be applied up to 3 times each day, or as directed on the medicine label.
Cover the wound with a bandage if desired. Clean the wound and use a new bandage each time you
apply bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B.
Use this medication for as many days as recommended on the label or by your doctor, even
if your symptoms start getting better. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely
cleared.
Call your doctor if your skin condition does not improve after using this medication for 1
week, or if your symptoms get worse.
Store this medication at room temperature away from hot or cold temperatures.
What happens if I miss a dose of bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B (topical)?
Apply the medication as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the
missed dose and wait until your next regularly scheduled dose.
Do not
apply extra
medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B (topical)?
Your pharmacist has information about bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B (topical) written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B (topical)?
Stop using this medication and get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips,
tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have swelling, redness, itching, pus, or other signs of infection.
Tell your doctor if you feel any numbness or tingling while using this medication.
A rare but serious side effect
of this medication is hearing loss, which has
occurred in people using other forms of neomycin. It is unlikely that you would absorb enough of this
medicine through your skin to cause this effect. Call your doctor at once if you notice any changes in
your hearing.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical
advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B (topical)?
Call your doctor if your skin condition does not improve after using this medication for 1 week,
or if your symptoms get worse.
Call your doctor at once if you have swelling, redness, itching, pus, or other signs of
infection. Also tell your doctor if you feel any numbness or tingling while using this medication.
Do not apply the ointment over large skin areas. Do not use on a deep cut, an animal bite, or a
serious burn. Call your doctor for instructions on how to treat these more severe skin injuries.
Avoid applying other creams, lotions, ointments, or other medicated skin products to the same
areas you treat with bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B.
What should I avoid while taking bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B (topical)?
Bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B is for use only on your skin. Avoid getting this
medicine in your mouth, nose, or eyes. If it does get into any of these areas, rinse with water.
Avoid applying other creams, lotions, ointments, or other medicated skin products to the same
areas you treat with bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B.
What other drugs will affect bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B (topical)?
It is not likely that other drugs you take orally or inject will have an effect on topically applied
bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B. But many drugs can interact with each other. Tell your doctor
about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and
drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B (topical)?
