Bacitracin
Bacitracin (bas i TRAY sin) is a generic medication prescribed for eye infections caused by bacteria. Bacitracin belongs to a group of drugs called antibiotics.
Bacitracin (bas i TRAY sin) is a generic medication prescribed for eye infections caused by bacteria. Bacitracin belongs to a group of drugs called antibiotics.
- Brand
- • Solution Reconstituted
- • 10 of 50000unit
- • 3 Vials
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Intro
Introduction
Written by Sarah Lewis, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Brittany Duke, PharmD RPh
Updated on September 15, 2023
Bacitracin (bas i TRAY sin) is a generic medication prescribed for eye infections caused by bacteria. Bacitracin belongs to a group of drugs called antibiotics.
FAQ
Common questions about bacitracin
Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about bacitracin.
Is bacitracin available over the counter?
Yes, there’s a version of bacitracin that’s available over the counter (OTC). It’s a topical ointment that’s applied to the skin to treat minor cuts, scrapes, or burns. It helps prevent these minor wounds from becoming infected. But this topical ointment is different from the prescription eye ointment. It’s meant for external use only and should not be used in your eyes.
You can learn more about bacitracin OTC topical ointment by talking with your doctor or pharmacist.
How does bacitracin work? And how long does it take to start working?
Bacitracin’s mechanism of action (how it works) is to kill the bacteria that are causing an eye infection. This helps your body clear the infection from your eye and relieves symptoms of the infection, such as redness, eye itching, or irritation.
Bacitracin eye ointment usually starts to work as soon as you apply it to your eye. But it can take some time for symptoms to get better. It’s important to continue using bacitracin even if your eye symptoms improve. Finishing the whole course of antibiotics can help prevent the infection from coming back. Infections that come back can be harder to treat.
If you’d like to know more about how bacitracin works, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
What brand names are available for bacitracin?
Currently, there aren’t any brand-name products available for bacitracin eye ointment. It’s only available as a generic medication.
A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) Generic drugs are believed to be as effective and safe as brand-name drugs. And generic drugs typically cost less than brand-name drugs.
To find out more about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Uses
Uses of bacitracin
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as bacitracin for certain conditions. Approved uses for bacitracin are described below.
Use for certain bacterial infections
Doctors may prescribe bacitracin eye ointment for treating bacterial eye infections. It’s used for this purpose in adults and children. It’s usually prescribed as a short-term treatment.
With bacterial eye infections, harmful bacteria get into your eye and start to grow. If these bacteria keep growing, it can lead to an eye infection. Symptoms of an eye infection can include:
- blurry vision
- eye discharge or crusting
- eye itching, irritation, or pain
- red or bloodshot eyes
- sensitivity to light
- watery eyes
Bacitracin can treat infections on the surface of your eye. This includes the conjunctiva (membrane that covers your eye) and the cornea (clear layer at the front of your eye).
Side effects
Side effects of bacitracin
Bacitracin may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of bacitracin and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age, overall health, and any other medications you take.
To learn more about bacitracin’s side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to the prescribing information for bacitracin listed in the “Resources” section.
Mild side effects
More common mild side effects reported with some forms of bacitracin are listed below.
This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. To learn more about bacitracin’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for bacitracin listed in the “Resources” section.
With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.
Bacitracin eye ointment’s mild side effects include mild allergic reaction.*
* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for bacitracin” section.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects of bacitracin are listed below.
This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug. To learn more about bacitracin’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for bacitracin listed in the “Resources” section.
With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.
In general, bacitracin’s serious side effects include severe allergic reaction.*
* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for bacitracin” section.
Interactions and warnings
Interactions and warnings for bacitracin
Below you’ll find information about bacitracin’s possible interactions and warnings.
Interactions of bacitracin
Bacitracin isn’t known to interact with any medications or supplements. (Interactions can affect how a drug works.) But this doesn’t mean drug interactions with bacitracin won’t happen or be reported sometime. For instance, medications created at a later time could interact with bacitracin.
Because of this, you should ask your doctor and pharmacist about possible interactions with bacitracin. They can check for any interactions that may affect you, such as those with:
- vaccines
- foods or alcohol
- other drugs
Warnings for bacitracin
Bacitracin should not be used by certain people.
Bacitracin could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether bacitracin is a safe option for you.
Ask your doctor about specific warnings for bacitracin, and be sure to tell your doctor about your:
- current health, including any allergies to medications
- past health conditions or surgeries
Allergic reaction
Bacitracin can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.
If you’ve had an allergic reaction to bacitracin or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe bacitracin. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.
A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:
A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:
- swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
- swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems
If you have an allergic reaction to bacitracin, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.
Overdose of bacitracin
You should not use more bacitracin than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to harmful effects or overdose.
If you think you’ve used too much bacitracin, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.
Pregnancy or breastfeeding and bacitracin
Information about bacitracin and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.
Bacitracin and pregnancy
In general, bacitracin is considered safe to use during pregnancy. That said, ask your doctor about whether they feel it’s safe for you.
Bacitracin and breastfeeding
In general, bacitracin is considered safe to use while breastfeeding. That said, ask your doctor about whether they feel it’s safe for you.
Ask your doctor
What to ask your doctor
Let your doctor know if you have questions about bacitracin or would like more details about it.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- How should I apply bacitracin eye ointment?
- When should I expect my eye to start feeling better?
- What is the most important information I should know about bacitracin eye ointment?
Resources
Resources
- Bacitracin ophthalmic ointment USP. (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/6ed2f2bd-9d2f-46af-a44c-95a02ca034de/spl-doc
- Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
- Nguyen R, et al. (2022). Bacitracin topical. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK536993
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
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