Therapeutic Action
Antibacterial
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Drug reference
Antibacterial
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Treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis Treatment of trachoma (by preference use oral azithromycin for this indication) Prevention of neonatal conjunctivitis
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Do not use in patients with hypersensitivity to tetracyclines. May cause allergic reactions; stop treatment in the event of serious reaction.
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1% ointment, tube
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Wash the eyes with boiled and cooled water before each application. Use sterile sodium chloride 0.9% for newborns. Apply tetracycline 1% into the conjunctival sac of both eyes: Conjunctivitis: one application 2 times daily for 7 days Trachoma: one application 2 times daily for 6 weeks Prevention of neonatal conjunctivitis: one single application immediately after birth
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Neonatal conjunctivitis must be treated with systemic antibiotic therapy. When it is not immediately available, apply tetracycline eye ointment to both eyes every hour until systemic treatment is available. Oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline are used in the same way as tetracycline. In the event of eye infection, use only eye ointment; dermal ointment must never be applied to the eyes.
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– Below 25 °C Do not use after expiry date.
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