APO-Chloramphenicol - Medicines

1 APO-Chloramphenicol Contains the active ingredient chloramphenicolConsumer Medicine Information For a copy of a large print leaflet, Ph: 1800 195 055 What is in this leafletRead this leaflet carefully beforetaking your leaflet answers some commonquestions about chloramphenicol . Itdoes not contain all the availableinformation. It does not take theplace of talking to your doctor information in this leaflet waslast updated on the date listed on thelast page. More recent information onthis medicine may be your doctor or pharmacist: if there is anything you do notunderstand in this leaflet, if you are worried about takingyour medicine, or to obtain the most can also download the most upto date leaflet Medicines have risks andbenefits. Your doctor has weighedthe risks of you using this medicineagainst the benefits they expect itwill have for companies cannotgive you medical advice or anindividual this leaflet with your may want to read it this medicine isused forThe name of your medicine is APO-Chloramphenicol Eye Drops.

2 Itcontains the active is a topical antibiotic eye drop usedto treat bacterial your doctor or pharmacist if youhave any questions about why thismedicine has been recommended foryou. Your doctor or pharmacist mayhave recommended this medicine foranother it worksBacterial conjunctivitis is a highlycontagious bacterial infectioninvolving the mucous membrane ofthe surface of the common symptoms are thepresence of a sticky yellow-whitedischarge with mucous and pus, agritty sensation in the eye, irritationand redness of the eye and wateryeyes. The infection usually starts inone eye and then spreads to the belongs to a groupof Medicines called antibiotics. Itworks by stopping the growth of thebacteria causing your is no evidence that thismedicine is in childrenThis medicine should not be used inchildren under 2 years of age unlesson medical you use thismedicineWhen you must not use itDo not take this medicine if: You are hypersensitive to, orhave had an allergic reaction to, chloramphenicol or any of theingredients listed at the end ofthis leaflet.

3 Symptoms of an allergic reactionmay include: cough, shortness ofbreath, wheezing or difficultybreathing; swelling of the face,lips, tongue, throat or other partsof the body; rash, itching or hiveson the skin; fainting; or hayfever-like symptoms. If you think you are having anallergic reaction, do not takeany more of the medicine andcontact your doctorimmediately or go to theAccident and Emergencydepartment at the nearesthospital. The expiry date (EXP) printedon the pack has passed. The packaging is torn, showssigns of tampering or it does notlook quite you start to take itBefore you start taking thismedicine, tell your doctor if:1. You have allergies to: any other Medicines any other substances, such asfoods, preservatives or EYE DROPS12. You are currently pregnant or youplan to become pregnant.

4 Do nottake this medicine whilstpregnant until you and yourdoctor have discussed the risksand benefits You are currently breastfeedingor you plan to breast-feed. Do nottake this medicine whilstbreastfeeding until you and yourdoctor have discussed the risksand benefits You are taking or are planning totake any other Medicines . Thisincludes vitamins andsupplements that are availablefrom your pharmacy, supermarketor health food Medicines may interact withchloramphenicol. These include: other eye drops eye ointmentsIf you are taking any of these youmay need a different dose or youmay need to take different Medicines not listed abovemay also interact to use thismedicineFollow carefully all directions givento you by your doctor or instructions may be different tothe information in this much to useYour doctor or pharmacist will tellyou how much of this medicine youshould take.

5 This will depend onyour condition and whether you aretaking any other one or two drops in theaffected eye(s) every 2 to 6 hours for2 to 3 days. The interval betweendoses may then be to use itWash your your head back and pull thelower lid away from your eye tomake a space and drop themedicine into this space. Let go ofyour eyelid and gently close youreyes. Try not to your eyes closed for 1 to 2minutes to allow the medicine tocome into contact with gentle pressure to the innercorner of the eye (the tear duct) forapproximately 1 minuteimmediately after placing thedrops in the eye. This will reducethe amount of medicine absorbedinto the blood stream or otherparts of the keep the medicine as germ freeas possible, do not touch the tip ofthe bottle to any surface includingthe to use itUse this medicine at the same timeeach day.

6 Taking it at the same timeeach day will have the best effect andwill also help you remember when totake does not matter if you take itbefore, with or after long to use it forContinue taking your medicine for aslong as your doctor or pharmacisttells treatment is continued forat least 2 days after the eye you forget to use itIf it is almost time to take your nextdose, skip the missed dose and takeyour next dose at the usual , take it as soon as youremember and then go back to takingyour medicine as you not take a double dose to makeup for missed may increase the chance of youexperiencing side you have trouble remembering totake your medicine, ask yourpharmacist for some hints to help you use too much(overdose)Rinse your eye with large amounts ofwater for at least 15 minutes if pain,swelling, excessive tears or anuncomfortable sensitivity to the lightis experienced after application ofAPO- chloramphenicol Eye your doctor or pharmacist ifsymptoms are still present afterthoroughly rinsing your you think that you or anyoneelse may have accidentallyswallowed this medicine,immediately telephone your doctoror the Poisons Information Centre(Tel: 13 11 26 in Australia) foradvice.

7 Alternatively, go to theAccident and Emergencydepartment at your this even if there are no signs ofdiscomfort or poisoning. You mayneed urgent medical you are usingthis medicineThings you must doTell any other doctors, dentists andpharmacists who are treating you thatyou take this it exactly as your doctor orpharmacist has the symptoms of your infection donot improve within a few days, or ifthey become worse, tell your doctoror using APO-ChloramphenicolEye Drops and tell your doctor orpharmacist if irritation occurs oryou experience an allergic you must not doDo not: APO-Chloramphenicol EYE DROPS2 Stop using your medicine orlower the dosage withoutchecking with your doctor orpharmacist. If you do not complete the fullcourse prescribed by your doctoror pharmacist, the infection maynot be completely cured.

8 Thebacteria may grow again and yoursymptoms may return. Use it for longer than yourdoctor or pharmacist hasprescribed. Give this medicine to anyoneelse, even if their symptoms seemsimilar to yours. Take your medicine to treat anyother condition unless yourdoctor tells you to be careful ofBe careful driving or operatingmachinery until you know how itaffects medicine generally does notcause any problems with your abilityto drive a car or operate , as with many othermedicines, it may cause tiredness. Ifare affected, do not drive, operatemachinery or do anything else thatcould be side effectsTell your doctor as soon as possibleif you do not feel well while you aretaking chloramphenicol or if youhave any questions or not be alarmed by the followinglists of side effects. You may notexperience any of them.

9 Allmedicines can have side they are serious but mostof the time they are your doctor if you notice anyof the following: temporary itching, burning orstinging eyesTell your doctor as soon as possibleif you notice any of the may be serious side effects andyou may need medical attention: eye soreness, redness or swellingthat was not present beforetreatment or that worsens aftertreatment skin rash, itching or swelling fever unusual tiredness, weakness,bleeding or bruising more easilythan side effects not listed abovemay occur in some reactionsIf you think you are having anallergic reaction tochloramphenicol, do not take anymore of this medicine and tell yourdoctor immediately or go to theAccident and Emergencydepartment at your of an allergic reactionmay include some or all of thefollowing.

10 Cough, shortness of breath,wheezing or difficulty breathing swelling of the face, lips, tongue,throat or other parts of the and disposalStorageKeep the unopened bottles in therefrigerator, where thetemperature stays between 2 Cand 8 C and where childrencannot reach top shelf of the refrigerator at theback is a good place to store it. Keepyour medicine in its originalpackaging until it is time to take opening, keep your eye dropsin a cool dry place where thetemperature stays below 25 from light. Keep it wherechildren cannot reach locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is agood place to store your eye drops in the bottleuntil it is time to use you use the eye drops out of thebottle they may not keep unused eye drops withinone not store your medicine, or anyother medicine, in the bathroom ornear a sink.