Consumer Medicine Information

Fucithalmic^®

Fusidic Acid Eye Drops 1%

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet contains information about Fucithalmic Eye Drops. Please read it carefully before you start to take your medicine. Keep it, as you may want to read it again. The information in this leaflet answers some common questions. Your doctor or pharmacist has more information. This leaflet is not intended to take the place of discussion with your doctor.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if there is anything that is worrying you or you do not understand.

What is Fucithalmic used for?

Fucithalmic eye drops contain an antibiotic (called "fusidic acid"). This antibiotic is used to treat infections on the surface of the eye.

Examples of such infections are:

• Inflammation of the white of the eye, caused by bacteria (called "conjunctivitis" or "red eye").
• Stye (infection of a hair follicle in the eyelid)
• Inflammation of the eyelid (called "blepharitis")
• Inflammation of the cornea, which is the clear area in the centre of the eye. This is called "keratitis" and causes discomfort in the eye.

Fucithalmic is effective only against those bacteria which fusidic acid can kill. Do not use Fucithalmic for other eye conditions, unless your doctor has told you to.

Fucithalmic eye drops contain the active ingredient, fusidic acid, (which is a very mild acid) in a gel. This gel gradually releases the fusidic acid. Fucithalmic gel becomes clear liquid in the tear fluid of your eye. This clear liquid helps prevent blurring of your vision.

This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.

Before you use Fucithalmic eye drops

Do not use Fucithalmic if:

• You are wearing contact lenses. Contact lenses must NOT be worn during treatment with Fucithalmic. Also, do not wear contact lenses until 24 hours after the end of your Fucithalmic treatment.
  
  
• You have an allergy to Fucithalmic eye drops, fusidic acid or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
  
  
• The packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
  
  
• The eye drops from the container have changed colour. Fucithalmic gel from the container is white; Fucithalmic gel becomes a clear liquid in the tear fluid of your eye.
  
  
• The expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed. If you use this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work.
  
  
• It is more than a month after you first opened the tube.

If you are not sure whether you should start using Fucithalmic eye drops, contact your doctor.

Do not give this medicine to anyone else. Your doctor has prescribed it specifically for you and your condition.

Before you start to use Fucithalmic eye drops

Tell your doctor if:

• You have any allergies to any other medicines or any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes.
  
  
• You are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
  
  
• You are breast-feeding or planning to breastfeed.

There is no information on whether Fucithalmic eye drops affects the ability to drive or operate machinery. However, if you have blurred vision after applying the eye drops, do not drive or operate machinery.

How to use Fucithalmic

Follow your doctor's instructions about Fucithalmic eye drops, as regards

• How much to use and
• When to use the drops and
• How to use them.

What is the dosage of Fucithalmic

The recommended dosage is:

• One drop of Fucithalmic into each eye,
• Twice a day (at approximately 12 hour intervals)

How to apply Fucithalmic eye drops

• Open the eye, tilt the head backwards, and look towards the ceiling.
• Gently pull down the lower eyelid to form a "pouch".
• Hold the tube near one eye.. Do not let the tip of the tube touch the eyelids or lashes.
• Squeeze one drop of Fucithalmic into the "pouch".
• Repeat for the other eye.
• Close both eyes briefly.
• Do not rub the eyes
• For a short time, do not blink.

How long to use Fucithalmic eye drops

Keep using Fucithalmic for at least 48 hours after your eye appears to have returned to normal.

Do not use your tube of Fucithalmic if it has been opened for longer than 30 days. Throw away your tube of Fucithalmic one month (30 days) after it is first opened.

If you forget, or you miss, a dose of Fucithalmic eye drops

• If you forget your dose of Fucithalmic, apply it as soon as you remember.
• If you miss a whole day, just continue to apply your normal dose the next day.
• Do not apply a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.

In case of an overdose

If you think that you or anyone else may have used too much Fucithalmic, contact your doctor or go to the emergency department of your nearest hospital, or call the New Zealand National Poison Centre on 0800 POISON or 0800 764 766. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

While you are using Fucithalmic eye drops

Things you must do:

• If the symptoms of your infection do not improve within a few days, or they become worse, tell your doctor.
• If you develop a skin rash, itching or swelling of the face, lips or tongue tell your doctor immediately, as you may be having an allergic reaction to Fucithalmic. Swelling of the face, lips or tongue may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing.
• If you become pregnant while you are using Fucithalmic eye drops tell your doctor or pharmacist.

Things to be careful of

• Do not give Fucithalmic eye drops to anyone else, even if they appear to have the same condition as you.
• Do not use Fucithalmic eye drops to treat any other complaints. This includes eye infections, which are not caused by bacteria.
• Throw away your tube of Fucithalmic one month (30 days) after it is first opened.

Side effects

All medicines have benefits and risks. In deciding to prescribe Fucithalmic for you, your doctor has weighed the risk of taking Fucithalmic against the benefit it is expected to have for you.

Like other medicines, Fucithalmic eye drops can cause some side effects. If they occur, they are most likely to be minor and temporary.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

• Immediate mild stinging of the eye is often a side effect of Fucithalmic a. Usually this stops quite quickly.

Just as for other medicines, some people may be allergic to Fucithalmic . If you develop a skin rash, itchiness or swelling of the face, lips or tongue, or difficulty in swallowing or breathing, seek urgent medical help. You may be having a severe allergic reaction to Fucithalmic.

Tell your doctor:

• if you notice any other effects and they bother you or
• if you have any medical problems whilst taking Fucithalmic.

How to store Fucithalmic

Keep your Fucithalmic eye drops in the original packaging.

Store Fucithalmic in a cool dry place, below 25°C. Do not store Fucithalmic in the bathroom or near the sink, or in a car on a hot day.

Throw the tube of Fucithalmic away one month (30 days) after opening it.

Keep Fucithalmic where children cannot reach it.

List of ingredients

Fucithalmic eye drops contain:

• fusidic acid 1%,
• mannitol,
• benzalkonium chloride,
• carbomer,
• disodium edetate,
• sodium hydroxide
• water for injection.

Further information

Fucithalmic is only available if prescribed by a doctor.

Fucithalmic is available in a 5-gram tube.

This is not all the available information about Fucithalmic.

If you have any more questions or are unsure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Distributor

Distributed in New Zealand by:
CSL (New Zealand) Limited
666 Great South Road
Penrose Auckland 6
New Zealand

Under Licence from:
Leo Pharmaceutical Products
Industriparken 55
Ballerup
Denmark

Date of Leaflet Preparation: February 2004.