Triple Antibiotic with Hydrocortisone, Ophthalmic
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Triple Antibiotic with Hydrocortisone eye medication during a consultation by Dr Noor.”
Triple Antibiotic with Hydrocortisone, Ophthalmic
Neomycin, Polymyxin, Bacitracin with Hydrocortisone
(nee-oh-mye-sin, pol-ee-mix-in, bas-i-tray-sin with hye-dro-kort-uh-sown)
Description:
This is a medicine put on the eye that combines antibiotics (to help with infection) and a steroid (to help reduce swelling and irritation).
Other Names for this Medication:
- Trioptic-S®
- Vetropolycin HC®
Common Dosage Forms:
- Veterinary: Bacitracin 400 units/neomycin 3.5 mg/polymyxin B 10,000 units with hydrocortisone 10 mg per g ointment.
- Human: Bacitracin 400 Units/neomycin 1.75 mg/polymyxin 10,000 Units with hydrocortisone 10 mg per g ointment.
Antimicrobial Classification:
Critically Important
This information sheet does not include everything that is known about this medicine. This page is meant to help with common questions, but it does not replace advice from a veterinarian. If you need more details or have questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
Key Information
- Do not use this medicine if your animal has an eye ulcer (a sore on the surface of the eye) or if your cat may have a herpesvirus infection. Do not use this medicine in birds.
- In cats, the neomycin or polymyxin parts of this medicine can sometimes cause a serious allergy. Use carefully.
- Give the medicine in a clean way so germs do not get into it. Keep the cap closed tightly whenever you are not using it.
- After you put this medicine in the eye, wait 5 minutes before putting any other eye medicine in.
- Keep it at normal room temperature. Protect it from moisture and direct light. Do not freeze it.
- Do not use it if the color looks different or if the medicine looks cloudy.
How is this medication useful for Triple Antibiotic with Hydrocortisone eye medication?
This eye medicine (triple antibiotic with hydrocortisone) is often used for eye swelling/irritation and eye infections. It can also be used for some eye problems linked to allergies. You and your veterinarian can talk about why this medicine is the best option.
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. Talk with your veterinarian about the points below so you can make treatment choices together.
- Other medicines may affect this one. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal receives, including other eye medicines, vitamins, supplements, or herbal products. Also share how much you give and when you give each one.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now, or has had before.
- If your animal has had the same problem in the past, let your veterinarian know what was used before 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 if your animal has ever had side effects from medicines before. Examples include allergic reactions, not wanting to eat, diarrhea, itching, or hair loss.
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
You should notice your animal is more comfortable within 1 to 2 hours. After that, the signs you can see should start getting better. This medicine does not last long in the body, so its effect ends 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 concerns that apply to your animal.
If your animal fits any of the situations listed below, speak with your veterinarian about the risks compared with the benefits.
- That are allergic to this medicine or to similar medicines.
- Birds, because they are very sensitive to steroids.
- That may have eye infections caused by viruses (for example, herpes) or fungus.
- Animals with an eye ulcer.
- Animals that are pregnant or nursing.
- That have diabetes.
- That have glaucoma.
- Cats, because they may have a severe allergy to the neomycin or polymyxin B in this medicine.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Side effects that usually are not serious include:
If any of the following are strong, get worse, or do not go away, contact your veterinarian.
- Mild burning, stinging, eye irritation, or redness.
- Drooping of the eyelid.
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
If you notice any of the following, contact your veterinarian right away.
- Trouble breathing or swelling in the throat, which may mean a severe allergic reaction to this medicine.
- Signs that an eye infection is getting worse (for example, increasing pain, discharge from the eye, or squinting).
- Eye injuries that do not heal.
- In animals with diabetes, changes in sugar levels in the blood or urine.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
When this is used as an eye medicine, giving too much is not likely. However, problems could happen if your animal eats the medicine. If that occurs, call your veterinarian or an animal poison control center for instructions. A consultation fee may be charged.
How should this medication be given?
For this medicine to work correctly, it must be given exactly the way your veterinarian ordered. It is helpful to read the prescription label each time so you confirm you are giving it the right way.
- Put this medicine into your animal’s eye in the exact amount your veterinarian prescribed.
- Clean your hands before you give the medicine.
- If you have a liquid form, shake it well before you use it.
- To keep the medicine clean, do not let the tip of the dropper touch your animal’s eye or touch any surface.
- If there is leftover medicine on the fur or skin around the eye after dosing, softly clean it away using a damp cloth or tissue.
- If you need to give more than one eye medicine, wait 5 minutes between them before giving the next one. Put eye drops in before eye ointments so the drops can soak into the eye.
- If this medicine is being used as an eye solution for a horse, your veterinarian may have placed a special eye catheter (a tube used to deliver medicine; also called a subpalpebral lavage or SPL catheter). Use this catheter only as your veterinarian instructed, and use only air to flush the medicine to the eye after you inject it into the catheter.
- If you cannot apply the medicine well, 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. Make sure you know how long your veterinarian wants you to keep giving it. You may need prescription refills before treatment is finished. Do not stop this medicine without speaking to your veterinarian, 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 dose, do not give the missed one; instead, give the next dose at the normal time. Then continue with the usual 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 at room temperature, and keep it protected from light.
- If your veterinarian or pharmacist prepared a custom-made (compounded) version for your animal, follow the storage directions and the expiration date provided for that 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 safety steps are needed when handling this medicine unless you are allergic to it or to similar medicines. 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 or down a sink drain.
- If your area has a drug “take-back” program, use that.
- If there is no take-back option:
- combine the medicine with coffee grounds or cat litter (so it is unpleasant to children and animals and not recognizable to people searching trash).
- Put that mixture into a sealable plastic bag to prevent leaks, and place it in the regular 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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