Patient
Information Leaflet on Bactroban®
Nasal Ointment
mupirocin
This leaflet
tells you about Bactroban Nasal Ointment. Please read it
before using this ointment. If there is anything you do
not understand or if you want to know more about your
medicine, please ask your doctor or pharmacist
(chemist).
Please keep this leaflet. You may
want to read it again.
If you are
helping someone else to use Bactroban, please read this
leaflet before applying the ointment for the first time.
What is
in Bactroban Nasal Ointment?
Bactroban
Nasal Ointment contains 2% w/w mupirocin. This is the
active ingredient.
Bactroban
Nasal Ointment has a white, soft paraffin base also
containing a mixed diglycerin ester of fatty acids.
Bactroban
Nasal Ointment is available in 3 g tubes.
What is
Bactroban Nasal Ointment and what is it used for?
Bactroban
Nasal Ointment is an antibiotic product. It does not
contain penicillin. Your ointment acts against a certain
type of bacteria (Staphylococcus
aureus) in the nose. These bacteria can be spread
on the hands, or when breathing or sneezing and can
cause problems with skin or wound infections to yourself
or other people.
Before
using your ointment
If you
answer yes to any of the
following questions do not use
this medicine until you have talked to your doctor. You
may need to be given another medicine or the dose may
need to be changed.
- Are
you allergic to Bactroban (mupirocin), white soft
paraffin or Softisan 649 (a glycerin ester)?
- Are
you pregnant or think you may be?
- Are
you breast-feeding?
What
not to do with your ointment
This
ointment should be used only in the nose. The way to
apply the ointment is shown below. Take care to
avoid the eyes.
If you
swallow the ointment you should contact your doctor
or hospital casualty department straight away,
indicating how much you have swallowed and taking
your tube of ointment with you.
Using
your medicine
Bactroban
Nasal Ointment should be applied to the nostrils two to
three times a day. Follow your doctor’s directions about
how and when to use the ointment. The pharmacist’s
(chemist’s) label on your pack will tell you how your
doctor would like you to use the ointment. Please read
the label carefully.
How
should I apply Bactroban Nasal Ointment?
|
1. Unscrew the cap and squeeze a small
amount of ointment, about the size of a
match-head, on to your little finger. |
|
|
2. Apply ointment to the inside of one
nostril. |
|
|
3. Repeat for the other nostril. |
|
4. Close your nostrils by pressing the sides
of the nose together for a moment. This will
spread the ointment inside each nostril. |
|
|
5. Wash your hands and replace the cap on
the tube. |
|
How
do I apply Bactroban Nasal Ointment to another
person?
A cotton
bud may be used instead of the little finger when
applying Bactroban Nasal Ointment to another person,
such as an infant or a patient who is very ill.
Special care should be taken with these patients.
How
long should you use this ointment?
Your
doctor should tell you about how long to use this
ointment. The bacteria are normally cleared from the
nose after five to seven days of treatment.
What
if you have forgotten to use your ointment at the
right time?
If you
forget to apply ointment at the right time, apply it
as soon as you remember.
Then
carry on as before, but do not apply two doses
within an hour or so of each other.
What
unwanted effects might your ointment have?
As with all
medicines, some people may experience side effects with
Bactroban Nasal Ointment.
Common side effects could
happen to more than 1 in 100 people. There are no common
side effects documented for Bactroban Nasal Ointment.
Uncommon side effects that
could happen to between 1 in 100 and 1 in 1,000 people
using Bactroban Nasal Ointment include:
-
itching, redness, burning, tingling or stinging of
the nose where the ointment is used.
Rare side effects could happen
to between 1 in 1,000 and 1 in 10,000 people. There are
no rare side effects documented for Bactroban Nasal
Ointment.
Very rare side effects that
could happen to less than 1 in 10,000 people using
Bactroban Nasal Ointment include:
-
rash, itchiness, redness or soreness of the skin on
the hands, face or body.
If any of
the above effects are very bad, stop using the ointment
straight away, wash the affected area and tell your
doctor.
Tell your
doctor or pharmacist if you have any other unwanted
effects not mentioned above.
Storing
your medicine
Your
ointment will have an expiry date on the pack. You
should not use your ointment after this date.
Keep the
medicine at room temperature (below 25ºC).
Remember
this medicine has been prescribed just for you. Never
offer your medicine to other people - it may not be
suitable for them even if their symptoms seem the same
as yours.
Keep all medicines out of the reach
and sight of children - preferably in a locked cupboard
or medicine cabinet.
Return any
left-over medicine to your pharmacist. Do not keep it
for further use.
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