Is your eye red, crusty, or sticky with yellow discharge? Maybe it feels itchy or watery all day long. If you went to see a doctor for these bothersome symptoms, they may have given you a small bottle of eye drops called Polymyxin B and Trimethoprim. Let us walk through how this helpful medicine works, the right way to put it in your eye, and important safety tips you need to know.
Dealing with eye problems can feel stressful and scary. After all, your vision is precious, and anything touching your eye requires extra care. This easy-to-read guide will break down everything in plain English so you can feel confident while treating your eye infection at home.
Key Takeaways for Safe Eye Drop Use.
- Kill the bacteria: This medicine fights bacterial eye infections like pink eye.
- Finish the course: Use every single drop until the bottle is empty, even if your eye feels completely better in a few days.
- Wash your hands: Always scrub your hands with soap before and after putting drops in your eyes.
- Never share: Keep your eye drops strictly to yourself to avoid spreading germs to family members.
- Call for help: Contact your doctor right away if your pain worsens or your vision blurs.
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What Kind of Medicine Is Polymyxin B and Trimethoprim?
Put simply, Polymyxin B and Trimethoprim is an antibiotic eye drop used to treat bacterial infections in the eye. Antibiotics are powerful medicines designed to stop bacteria from growing and spreading. By killing the harmful germs, this medicine helps your eye heal and clears away uncomfortable crust and redness.
However, you must remember one very important fact: this medicine only works against bacteria. It cannot treat viral infections. For example, many cases of pink eye are caused by viruses instead of bacteria. If your red eye comes from a virus, this antibiotic will not help you at all. That is why a doctor must examine your eye first to make sure bacteria are causing your specific problem.
Pharmacies often sell this exact combination under the brand name Polytrim. When your doctor writes your prescription, check the label to see what name is printed on the bottle. If you have questions about whether this medicine treats other issues, ask your doctor or pharmacist right away.
What Should You Tell Your Doctor Before Using This Medicine?
Before your doctor prescribes Polymyxin B and Trimethoprim, you need to share some key details about your health. These facts help your doctor decide if this specific medicine is safe and effective for you.
Make sure to tell your doctor about the following important details:
- Contact lenses: Tell your doctor if you wear contact lenses. You usually must stop wearing them while treating an eye infection.
- Allergies: Tell your doctor if you ever had a bad reaction to Polymyxin B, Trimethoprim, preservatives, dyes, or any other drugs or foods.
- Pregnancy: Let your doctor know if you are pregnant, planning to get pregnant soon, or nursing a baby.
- Other eye drops: Mention every other eye drop, ointment, vitamin, or herbal product you currently use.
Sharing this information honestly keeps you safe and helps your doctor tailor your treatment plan.
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Check Availability →How Do You Put These Drops in Your Eye? The Right Way.
Putting drops in your eye sounds tricky, but you can easily master it with a few simple steps. Always follow the exact instructions printed on your prescription label.
1. Wash your hands thoroughly: This is the most important step. Scrub your hands with soap and clean water before and after handling the bottle. Your hands carry hidden germs that can make your eye infection worse.
2. Tilt your head back: Sit comfortably in a chair or lie down on your bed. Tilt your head backward so you can look up toward the ceiling.
3. Pull down your lower eyelid: Use one clean finger to gently pull your lower eyelid down. This creates a tiny pocket between your eye and your lid.
4. Do not touch the dropper tip: Never let the tip of the dropper touch your eye, your fingers, or any other surface. Keeping the tip sterile prevents germs from getting inside your medicine bottle.
5. Squeeze the prescribed drops: Look up and squeeze the exact number of drops recommended by your doctor into that tiny pocket.
6. Close your eye gently: Close your eye softly without squeezing your eyelids shut. Keep your eye closed for a minute or two so the liquid spreads evenly. You can press your finger gently against the inner corner of your eye near your nose to keep the medicine from draining into your throat.
7. Follow your schedule: Use your drops at the exact times your doctor or pharmacist recommended.
8. Finish all your medicine: Even if your eye feels completely healed after two days, keep using the drops until the bottle is empty. Stopping early lets surviving bacteria grow back and can make future infections harder to treat.
9. Never skip doses: Stick closely to your schedule and do not stop early unless your doctor tells you to.
Important Safety Reminder.
This medicine belongs to you and you alone. Never share your eye drops with anyone else, even if they have the exact same symptoms. Sharing eye drops can pass dangerous bacteria back and forth between people.
Giving These Drops to Young Children.
Doctors sometimes prescribe this medicine for infants and young children with bacterial eye infections. If you are giving these drops to your child, follow your pediatrician's instructions very carefully. Keep a steady hand, wrap a young child gently in a blanket if they wiggle, and ask your pharmacist for pediatric tips.
What Should You Do If You Take Too Much?
If you accidentally put an extra drop into your eye, do not panic. It will not usually harm you. However, if someone swallows the medicine by accident, call your nearest emergency room or poison control center right away. In the US, call 911 or poison control at 1-800-222-1222. In the UK, call 999 or NHS 111.
What If You Miss a Dose?
Missing a dose happens to everyone. If you forget to use your drops, put them in as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose entirely and stick to your normal routine.
Never use a double dose to make up for a missed one. Doubling up will not help your eye heal faster and can cause unnecessary irritation.
Does This Medicine Interact With Other Drugs?
Most eye drops do not interact with other common medicines. However, you should always tell your doctor about every drug you take. If you use other eye drops or ointments, ask your doctor how many minutes you should wait between applying different medicines.
Be honest about lifestyle habits, smoking, or drinking alcohol. Transparency helps your medical team provide the safest care possible.
What Should You Watch Out For While Using This Medicine?
Keep a close eye on your symptoms while you complete your treatment course.
- No improvement in 5 days: If your eye does not feel better after five days, or if it gets worse, call your doctor right away.
- Contact lenses: Ask your doctor when it is safe to wear contact lenses again. Most experts recommend waiting until the infection is completely gone.
- Mild stinging: Your eye might sting or burn slightly right after you put the drops in. This is normal. But if the stinging turns severe or never stops, tell your doctor.
- Prevent spreading: Never share your towels, washcloths, pillows, or eye makeup with anyone else while you have an eye infection.
What Side Effects Can Happen?
Like all medicines, Polymyxin B and Trimethoprim can cause side effects, though not everyone gets them. Many side effects are mild and go away quickly.
Tell Your Doctor Right Away If You Notice These Serious Signs:.
- Allergic reactions: Skin rash, severe itching, hives, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Swelling can block your airway and requires emergency medical help.
- Worsening pain or redness: If your eye pain, redness, or discharge gets worse after starting treatment.
Common Mild Side Effects (Tell Your Doctor If They Bother You):.
- Mild burning or stinging: A quick tickle or sting right after application.
- Watery eyes: Your eye may produce extra tears for a few minutes.
This list does not cover every possible side effect. If you experience unusual symptoms, report them to your doctor. You can also report side effects to the US FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
| Symptom Type. | What It Feels Like. | What You Should Do. |
|---|---|---|
| Mild Stinging. | Brief burn right after drops go in. | Normal; wait a few minutes. |
| Allergic Swelling. | Swollen lips, tongue, or rash. | Call 911 / 999 or seek emergency care. |
| Worsening Pain. | Increasing redness and throbbing. | Call your doctor promptly. |
How Should You Store This Medicine?
Proper storage keeps your eye drops safe and effective until you finish your treatment.
- Keep out of reach of children: Store your medicine safely where kids cannot grab it.
- Room temperature: Keep the bottle at room temperature, between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius (59 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit). Do not freeze it or leave it in a hot car.
- Protect from light: Keep the bottle away from direct sunlight.
- Throw away leftovers: Once your infection heals and your treatment ends, throw away any leftover drops. Never save eye drops for future infections.
- Check expiration dates: Never use medicine past its printed expiration date.
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