Miconazole, Ophthalmic
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Miconazole, Ophthalmic during a consultation by Dr Noor.”
(mye-kon-uh-zohl)
Description: Miconazole, Ophthalmic
A medicine put on the body to help treat fungus.
Other Names for this Medication:
- Monistat®
Common Dosage Forms:
- Veterinary: None.
- Human: Miconazole is available for people as a liquid, cream, or ointment used on the skin. However, a form that is made for use in the eye is not currently produced. A trained professional must specially prepare (compound) miconazole into an eye-safe ointment or eye-safe liquid.
Key Information
- For fungus infections of the eye, mainly in horses.
- At the beginning, it may be used as often as every 2–3 hours. As the infection improves, the number of daily doses will be reduced.
- Use correct application steps so the medicine does not get contaminated. Keep the cap firmly closed when you are not using it.
- After you put this medicine in the eye, wait 5 minutes before you put any other eye medicine in.
- Keep it in a refrigerator or at room temperature, and protect it from moisture and direct light; do not freeze it. Do not use it if the color looks different, if a liquid form turns cloudy, or if you can see bits/particles in the liquid.
- This medicine must be specially prepared (compounded) by a qualified professional. Do not put store-bought miconazole products meant for skin use (for example, athlete’s foot products) into the eye.
How is this medication useful?
Miconazole can be used to treat fungus infections in the eyes of horses and other animals. For eye use, it must be specially prepared (compounded) by trained professionals. You and your veterinarian can talk about why this option is the best choice.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many different factors can change how well this medicine works for your animal. Make sure you and your veterinarian talk about the following so you can choose the safest and most appropriate plan.
Other medicines may affect this medicine. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal receives, including:
- other eye medicines
- vitamins
- supplements
- herbal products
Also share the amount you give and the time you give each one.
Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now, or has had in the past.
If your animal has had the same illness or problem before, tell your veterinarian what was used last time and whether it helped or did not help.
If your animal is pregnant or nursing, discuss the possible risks of using this medicine.
Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about any side effects your animal has had from medicines in the past. Examples include:
- allergic reactions
- not wanting to eat
- diarrhea
- itching
- hair loss
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
This medicine is expected to begin working within 1 to 2 days. Even so, you may not be able to see changes from the outside. Your veterinarian will need to do additional tests to check whether the medicine is working as it should. The effect does not last long, meaning it stops working within 24 hours.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medicine is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any special concerns for your animal.
If your animal fits any of the situations listed, talk with your veterinarian about weighing the possible risks against the possible benefits.
- Animals that have an allergy to this medicine or to similar medicines.
- Animals that are pregnant or nursing.
What are the side effects of this medication?
If you notice any of these signs, contact your veterinarian right away.
- A mild burning feeling, stinging, irritation, or redness in the eyes.
- Squinting and watery eyes after the medicine is applied.
- A higher chance of sunburn on areas without fur (for example, the nose, ears, or the skin around the eyes).
- Trouble breathing or swelling in the throat may mean a severe allergic reaction to this medicine.
- If the eye problem gets worse after 7–10 days of treatment.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
When miconazole is used as an eye medicine, giving too much is not likely. However, side effects or harmful effects could happen if your animal eats the medicine. If that occurs, contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center right away for guidance.
How should this medication be given?
For the medicine to work properly, give it exactly the way your veterinarian instructed. It is helpful to read the prescription label each time so you confirm you are giving it correctly.
- Put this medicine into your animal’s eye in the exact dose your veterinarian prescribed.
- Clean your hands before you give this medicine.
- Do not let the tip of the dropper touch your animal’s eye, and do not let it touch anything else. This helps prevent contamination.
- If any medicine remains on your animal’s face after dosing, softly wipe it away using a damp cloth or a tissue.
- If you need to give more than one eye medicine:
- wait 5 minutes between each one before giving the next
- give eye drops before eye ointments so the drops can soak into the eye
- If your horse is receiving this medicine as an eye liquid, your veterinarian may have placed a special eye tube (called a subpalpebral lavage or SPL catheter). Use this tube only in the way your veterinarian prescribed. After you put the medicine into the tube, use only air to push the medicine through to the eye.
- If you are struggling to apply the medicine, or if your animal will not tolerate the treatment, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist for advice on how to give it and how to reduce stress during dosing.
- This medicine may be used for different lengths of time depending on the situation. Make sure you clearly understand how long your veterinarian wants you to keep giving it. You may need prescription refills before the full treatment is finished. Do not stop this medicine without speaking with your veterinarian first, because there may be important reasons to continue.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
If you forget a dose, give it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next scheduled dose, do not give the missed dose. Instead, give the next dose at the regular time. Then continue with the normal schedule. Do not give two doses at once and do not give extra doses.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep this medicine in the original prescription container, following the directions from your pharmacist or veterinarian.
- Follow the storage instructions and the expiration date that apply to the compounded (specially prepared) product.
- Store it where children and other animals cannot reach it.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
No special handling steps are required unless you are allergic to this medicine or to similar medicines (for example, ketoconazole). Even so, it is a good habit to wash your hands after you handle any medicine.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not pour this medicine into a toilet and do not rinse it down a sink.
- If your area has a community medicine “take-back” program, use that option.
- If there is no take-back program:
- combine the medicine with coffee grounds or cat litter so it is unpleasant to children and animals and not recognizable to someone searching through trash
- put that mixture into a sealable plastic bag to prevent leaks
- place it in the household trash
Do not keep leftover medicine to use later, and do not give it to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
- Some animal competitions may not allow the use of this medicine. Check the rules before entering your animal in a competition while your animal is receiving this medicine.
- If you have more questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”
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