GENERIC NAME: CHLORAMPHENICOL - OPHTHALMIC, OTIC (klor-am-FEN-eh-coal)

Warning | Medication Uses | How To Use | Side Effects | Precautions | Drug Interactions | Overdose | Notes | Missed Dose | Storage

WARNING: Very rarely, serious, sometimes fatal blood disorders (e.g., bone marrow hypoplasia, aplastic anemia) have occurred while using this medication. Chloramphenicol should not be used if safer, effective medications can be used. Immediately notify your doctor if you have easy bruising or bleeding, persistent sore throat, fever, or unusual fatigue.

USES: This medication is used to treat infections of the eye (ophthalmic) or ear (otic). Do not use chloramphenicol if safer, effective medications can be used.

HOW TO USE: Use this as prescribed. Continue using it for the full time prescribed. Stopping therapy too soon may result in a reinfection. To apply eye or ear medication, wash hands first. To avoid contamination, be careful not to touch the dropper or tube or let it touch the affected area. Shake drops well before using. Hold the ointment tube in your hand for a few minutes to make the medication flow easier. EYE MEDICATION: Tilt your head back, gaze upward and pull down the lower eyelid to make a pouch. For drops, place dropper directly over eye and administer the prescribed number of drops. Look downward and gently close your eye for 1 to 2 minutes. With eye ointment, place medication inside the lower lid using a sweeping motion. Close eye and roll the eyeball. Remove excess ointment with a tissue. Try not to blink and do not rub the eye. If you are using another kind of eye medication, wait five to ten minutes before applying. EAR MEDICATION: Lie on your side or turn the affected ear upward to make application easier. Place the prescribed number of drops in the ear. Avoid touching the ear canal. Keep the ear tilted for one to two minutes. A small piece of clean cotton may be placed in the ear to prevent drops from escaping. If your illness does not improve or worsens, or if you develop new symptoms, inform your doctor.

From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com

Pink Eye - Read about pink eye types (viral, bacterial, allergic conjunctivitis), treatment and symptoms. Learn how it is transmitted, how long it lasts, and how to prevent it from spreading. Source:MedicineNet Swimmer's Ear - Read about swimmer's ear (external otitis or otitis externa), an infection of the skin covering the outer ear, including prevention tips, symptoms, causes and treatment (ear drops) for chronic, acute infections of the outer ear canal. Source:MedicineNet Eye Care - Get information on eye care tips and eye health, disorders and treatment with OTC eye-care products, and when to see an ophthalmologist about an eye infection or condition. Source:MedicineNet Read 10 more chloramphenicol-ophthalmic, otic related articles ... So Much to Do, So Little Sleep Head Injuries All Too Common in Summer Play Health Tip: The Word on Wisdom Teeth Health Tip: Make Exercise a Daily Habit New Source of Heart Stem Cells Found Health Highlights: June 23, 2008 Poorer Patients Have Poorer Survival After Cancer Diagnosis One Gene May Be Key to Myeloma Crocodile Babies Cry Out for Hatching Immune Molecule Key to Preventing Organ Rejection