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Drug Profile

Do NOT stop taking this or any drug without the advice of your physician. Some drugs can cause severe adverse effects when they are stopped suddenly.

Do Not Use [what does this mean?]
Generic drug name: neomycin, polymyxin b, and bacitracin (nee ih MYE sin, pol i MIX in B, and bass i TRAY sin)
Brand name(s): MYCITRACIN, NEOSPORIN MAXIMUM STRENGTH OINTMENT
GENERIC: available FAMILIES: Adrenal Steroids, Other Drugs for Bacterial Infection
Find the drug label by searching at DailyMed.

Do Not Use [what does this mean?]
Generic drug name: neomycin, polymyxin b, and hydrocortisone (nee oh MYE sin, pol i MIX in B, and hye dro COURT i sone)
Brand name(s): CORTISPORIN
GENERIC: not available FAMILIES: Adrenal Steroids, Other Drugs for Bacterial Infection
Find the drug label by searching at DailyMed.

Alternative Treatment [top]

Clean the infected area well and take antibiotics by mouth or as injections, if necessary.

Facts About This Drug [top]

The combination of the three antibiotics, neomycin, polymyxin B, and bacitracin is used to treat a wide variety of skin infections. It is also used to prevent infection in burns or broken skin. It is available as an aerosol spray, powder, and ointment.

There is no satisfactory evidence that antibiotics applied directly to wounds (as opposed to injected or swallowed) help healing or prevent infection. Uninfected, well-cleaned wounds usually heal by themselves. If a wound is infected and...

The combination of the three antibiotics, neomycin, polymyxin B, and bacitracin is used to treat a wide variety of skin infections. It is also used to prevent infection in burns or broken skin. It is available as an aerosol spray, powder, and ointment.

There is no satisfactory evidence that antibiotics applied directly to wounds (as opposed to injected or swallowed) help healing or prevent infection. Uninfected, well-cleaned wounds usually heal by themselves. If a wound is infected and antibiotics are needed, they should be given by mouth or by injection.

Despite the controversy over external use of antibiotics, dermatologists (skin doctors) often prescribe this combination drug to treat some superficial skin infections, such as inflammation of hair follicles (folliculitis) and impetigo.

Neomycin commonly causes skin rashes in 8% of the people who use it.[1] Using neomycin can also make it hard for you to use other drugs in its family (aminoglycoside antibiotics, such as gentamicin and tobramycin) that may be needed later for serious infections.

last reviewed April 30, 2024