Sometimes when you wake up in the morning, your eyes are red, crusty, and feel like they're glued shut? Your doctor may have prescribed you eye drops called Gatifloxacin, a medicine that's applied to the eyes, for bacterial infections like this. This is a medicine that's often given to treat red eyes and bacterial infections (conjunctivitis). So, today we'll talk in more detail about this medicine, how to use it properly, and what you need to be careful about.
What kind of medicine is Gatifloxacin?
Simply put, Gatifloxacin is an antibiotic . To be precise, it is a medicine that belongs to the group of antibiotics called ``Quinolone''. Its main function is to kill or stop the growth of bacteria that cause eye infections.
Think of our eyes as a small garden. When unwanted germs, that is, bacteria, enter this garden, the garden becomes sick. That means the eye becomes red, itchy, and discharges mucus. Gatifloxacin eye drops kill the germs that have entered the garden and restore the eye to a healthy state. This is available under brand names such as Zymar or Zymaxid.
The most important thing is that this only works for bacterial infections . If the eyes are infected with a viral infection, this medicine will not be of any use. Therefore, it is not advisable to use this type of medicine without the advice of a doctor.
Things to tell your doctor before using the medicine
Before your doctor prescribes this medication, he or she needs to have a complete picture of your health condition. Therefore, be sure to inform him or her about these facts.
- About your allergies: Tell your doctor if you are allergic to gatifloxacin or other fluoroquinolone antibiotics. Also tell your doctor if you are allergic to other medications, foods, or preservatives.
- If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant: We need to be very careful about the medications we use during this time. So it is essential to tell your doctor about this.
- If you are a breastfeeding mother: Some medications can pass to your baby through breast milk. So, make sure to inform your doctor about this as well.
- About other medications you use: Tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking (other eye drops, vitamins, traditional medicines).
How to use eye drops correctly?
To get the full benefit of the medicine, it is very important to use it correctly. Let's see how.
1. Wash your hands first: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after applying the medication to your eyes. This will prevent germs from getting into your eyes.
2. Take care of the dropper tip: Do not let the dropper tip of the medicine bottle touch your eyes, fingers, or anywhere else. Doing so can harbor germs and contaminate the medicine bottle.
3. Correct posture: Tilt your head back slightly and look up. With your index finger, gently pull down your lower eyelid to form a pouch.
4. Apply the medicine: Place the prescribed number of drops of medicine into the prepared bag. This method is easier and safer than applying it directly to the cornea.
5. Close your eyes: After applying the medication, slowly close your eyes for about a minute. Do not close them tightly. Gently pressing your finger against the corner of your eye, towards your nose, can help reduce the chance of the medication going down your throat.
6. Vision may be blurry for a while: It is normal for your vision to be slightly blurry for a few minutes after applying the medication. Don't worry about it.
Don't forget: If your doctor tells you to take this medicine for 5 or 7 days, be sure to take the medicine for the full number of days prescribed, even if you feel better after two or three days. Otherwise, the infection may not be completely cured and may come back.
Side effects and things to be aware of
Like any medicine, this one can cause minor side effects in some people. But there's nothing to worry about. Let's find out what these are, and what to do if they happen.
| Side effect | Description and what to do |
|---|---|
| If you experience these symptoms, tell your doctor immediately. | |
| Inflammation, itching, pain | It's normal to feel a little stinging after applying eye drops. But if it persists, becomes severe, or your eyelid swells, call your doctor right away. This could be a sign of an allergy. |
| Eye redness, swelling | If your eyes become redder, blisters appear, or your eyelids swell while using the medicine, this could also be a sign of an allergy. Do not use the medicine again and consult your doctor. |
| These symptoms are usually not serious, but if they persist, tell your doctor. | |
| Change in taste in the mouth | This may sound a bit strange, but it can happen. Because our tear glands are connected to our throat through our nose, the taste of eye drops can be felt in our throat. This usually goes away after a while. |
| Dry eyes, tearing | Some people may experience dry eyes or, conversely, excessive tearing. |
| Headache | Sometimes a slight headache may occur. |
A few other important points
- If your symptoms do not improve within 2-3 days, tell your doctor.
- If your eyes are sensitive to light while using the medication, wear sunglasses.
- If you accidentally take too much of this medicine, do not panic. However, if someone drinks this medicine, it is an emergency. If this happens, immediately take them to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital. You can also call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital for advice.
This medicine is for you only. Do not give it to a friend who has the same symptoms as you. Everyone's situation is different. Therefore, a medicine that suits one person may not suit another. Only the doctor can decide that.
What if I miss a dose of medicine?
We sometimes forget to take our medicine, don't we? If that happens, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the scheduled time. Never take a double dose.
Take-Home Message
- Gatifloxacin is an antibiotic eye drop that is used to treat eye infections caused by bacteria.
- Before using the medicine, inform your doctor about your allergies and any other medications you are taking.
- Wash your hands thoroughly and apply the medicine to your eyes carefully, taking care not to touch the tip of the dropper anywhere.
- Even if you feel better, it is essential to take the medicine for the full number of days prescribed by the doctor.
- If you experience severe allergic symptoms (eye swelling, severe itching, redness), stop using the medicine and see a doctor immediately.
- Keep the medicine bottle out of the reach of small children, at room temperature. Throw it away after the expiration date.
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