Key facts about Maxitrol
What is Maxitrol?
Maxitrol is the brand name for a medication containing neomycin and polymyxin B sulfates and dexamethasone and is available as an ophthalmic suspension and ointment.
What dosages is Maxitrol available in?
Maxitrol is available as an ophthalmic suspension and ointment.
What is Maxitrol used for?
Maxitrol is an antibiotic/corticosteroid used for eye inflammation from a bacterial infection in the eye and eye inflammation when there’s a risk for a bacterial infection in the eye.
How does Maxitrol work?
Maxitrol is a combination of three medications.
- Neomycin is an antibiotic. It kills bacteria by preventing them from making proteins that they need to survive.
- Polymyxin B is another antibiotic that kills bacteria. It destroys the bacteria’s protective covering.
- Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid. When it’s used in the eye, it lowers the amount of chemicals that cause pain, redness, and swelling there. This helps lower eye inflammation and relieve eye pain.
How do I take Maxitrol?
Maxitrol ophthalmic suspension is given as 1 to 2 drops in the affected eye(s) up to 4 to 6 times daily. The ophthalmic ointment is given as one-half of an inch of ointment in the affected eye(s) up to 3 or 4 times daily.
Is it safe for me to take Maxitrol?
Maxitrol is a safe and effective treatment when used for FDA licensed indications. However, like all medications, they may give you unwanted side effects. You should always discuss potential side effects with your physician to ensure the medication is suitable and right for you. You should not use this medication if you have epithelial herpes simplex keratitis (dendritic keratitis), vaccinia, varicella, and many other viral diseases of the cornea and conjunctiva, mycobacterial infection of the eye, or fungal diseases of ocular structures.
Maxitrol Common Side Effects
Common side effects of Maxitrol include:
- Eye irritation
- Eye redness
- Slowed eye healing
- Headache
Maxitrol Serious Side Effects
Serious side effects are rare with Maxitrol. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Severe allergic reaction: swollen eyelids, redness, itching, rash, shortness of breath
- High eye pressure: eye pain when you move your eye or when you touch your eye
- Cataract: blurry vision, seeing double, seeing faded colors, can’t see well at night, seeing a halo around lights
Effects of other drugs, drug classes and over-the-counter products on Maxitrol
- There are no major drug interactions listed for Maxitrol. However, you should always let your physician and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking
Who makes Maxitrol?
Alcon
Is Maxitrol safe in pregnancy?
Maxitrol has been shown to be teratogenic in mice and rabbits following
topical ophthalmic application in multiples of the therapeutic dose. There are no adequate or well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Maxitrol should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit to the mother justifies the potential risk to the unborn baby.
