Chloramphenicol

Indications & Dose:

 Bacterial infections of the anterior segment of the eye (cornea, conjunctiva, anterior uvea), lids and tear ducts.

Infection prophylaxis pre-operatively, after chemical or other burns, trachoma and herpes zoster ophthalmicus.

For prophylactic and therapeutic irrigation of the tear ducts.

DOSE AND ADMINISTRATION

Adults & Children

Eye Drops: Instill one drop into the conjunctival sac 2-4 times per day. In acute cases, up to 1 drop every hour may be used.

Eye ointment: Apply a strip of 3-5mm into the lower conjuctival sac 2-4 times daily. It may also be used once at bedtime to supplement therapy with eye drops

Contraindications:

Hypersensitivity to the ingredients. Acute intermittent porphyria. Severe blood disorders due to bone marrow depression. New-born babies. Family history of bone marrow depression

Side Effects:

Cautions:

Precautions:

General: Chloramphenicol should not be used for more than 10 days. If no improvement is seen after 7-8 days of treatment, other therapeutic measures should be considered. Chloramphenicol therapy is associated with a potential risk of apalstic anaemia or other blood dyscrasias. A careful risk/benefit evaluation should therefore be made in each individual case.

Interaction:

Drugs

• Chloramphenicol should not be administered simultaneously with bactericidal substances (penicillins, cephalosporins, in, tetracycline, polymyxin B, vancomycin or sulphadiazine) since bacteriostatic antibiotics may inhibit bactericidal antibiotics.

• Avoid simulatenous administration with systemic drugs which have an adverse effect on the bone marrow and with sulphonylureas, cooumarin derivatives, hydantoins and methotrexate (precautionary measure)

Warnings:

Adverse Effects:

Lactations:

Should not be given to pregnant or lactating women and to new-born babies

Special Precautions:

Counselling:

Side Effects Or Adverse Reactions:

Shortly after application a slight burning sensation and bitter taste in the mouth may occur. Allergic reactions in the form of palpebral eczema have been rarely reproted.

Partially irreversible blood dyscrasias (aplastic anaemia, pancytopenia, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis) have been rately observed in association with topical use of Chloramphenicol

Patient And Carer Advice: