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Neomycin and Polymyxin B Sulfates and Dexamethasone
Neomycin Sulfate, Polymyxin B Sulfate, and Dexamethasone · Ointment
Overview
Active ingredients
Source: NDC DirectoryForms, strengths and routes
Source: NDC DirectoryPharmacologic classes are listed in the class section below.
Pharmacologic class
Source: NDC Directory| Class | Type | Browse |
|---|---|---|
| Aminoglycoside Antibacterial [EPC] | EPC | All 66 members |
| Aminoglycosides [CS] | CS | All 66 members |
| Corticosteroid Hormone Receptor Agonists [MoA] | MoA | All 215 members |
| Corticosteroid [EPC] | EPC | All 215 members |
| Polymyxin-class Antibacterial [EPC] | EPC | All 55 members |
| Polymyxins [CS] | CS | All 55 members |
Regulatory status
Source: Drugs@FDANDC Directory| Product | Trade name | Form | Strength | Ingredient | Status | TE | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 064063-001 | NEOMYCIN AND POLYMYXIN B SULFATES AND DEXAMETHASONE | OINTMENT | DEXAMETHASONE; NEOMYCIN SULFATE; POLYMYXIN B SULFATE | Prescription | AT |
Therapeutic equivalence
Source: Orange BookWhat this rating means: Therapeutically equivalent — bioequivalence demonstrated (topical dermatological products)
Codes beginning with “A” indicate products the FDA considers therapeutically equivalent. Codes beginning with “B” indicate bioequivalence has not been established. See methodology.
Approval history
Source: Drugs@FDA| Type | No. | Action | Status | Date | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supplement | 42 | Labeling | Approved | February 7, 2020 | Standard |
| Supplement | 41 | Labeling | Approved | February 7, 2020 | Standard |
| Supplement | 20 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | August 27, 2002 | — |
| Supplement | 19 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | August 27, 2002 | — |
| Supplement | 18 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | August 21, 2002 | — |
| Supplement | 17 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | February 5, 2002 | — |
| Supplement | 16 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | November 27, 2001 | — |
| Supplement | 15 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | March 7, 2001 | — |
| Supplement | 13 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | August 21, 2000 | — |
| Supplement | 14 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | June 27, 2000 | — |
| Supplement | 12 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | April 28, 2000 | — |
| Supplement | 11 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | June 7, 1999 | — |
| Supplement | 8 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | March 30, 1999 | — |
| Supplement | 10 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | February 11, 1999 | — |
| Supplement | 9 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | November 16, 1998 | — |
| Supplement | 6 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | October 22, 1998 | — |
| Supplement | 7 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | April 10, 1998 | — |
| Supplement | 5 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | July 23, 1997 | — |
| Supplement | 4 | Labeling | Approved | July 23, 1997 | — |
| Supplement | 3 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | July 23, 1997 | — |
| Supplement | 2 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | October 4, 1996 | — |
| Supplement | 1 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | January 31, 1996 | — |
| Original application | 1 | Approved | July 25, 1994 | — |
Prescribing information
Source: openFDA Drug LabelingReproduced verbatim from the Structured Product Labeling submitted to the FDA (effective 20260119). This is the manufacturer's labelling text, not a summary and not advice.
Indications and Usage
openFDA Drug LabelingINDICATIONS AND USAGE: For steroid-responsive inflammatory ocular conditions for which a corticosteroid is indicated and where bacterial infection or a risk of bacterial ocular infection exists. Ocular steroids are indicated in inflammatory conditions of the palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva, cornea, and anterior segment of the globe where the inherent risk of steroid use in certain cases of infective conjunctivitides is accepted to obtain a diminution in edema and inflammation. They are also indicated in chronic anterior uveitis and corneal injury from chemical radiation or thermal burns; or penetration of foreign bodies. The use of a combination drug with an anti-infective component is indicated where the risk of infection is high or where there is an expectation that potentially dangerous numbers of bacteria will be present in the eye. The particular anti-infective drugs in this product is active against the following common bacterial eye pathogens: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella/Enterobacter species, Neisseria species , Pseudomonas aeruginosa . This product does not provide adequate coverage against Serratia marcescens, and Streptococci, including Streptococcus pneumoniae .
Dosage and Administration
openFDA Drug LabelingDOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION: Apply a small amount into the conjunctival sac(s) up to three or four times daily, or may be used adjunctively with Neomycin and Polymyxin B Sulfates and Dexamethasone Ophthalmic Suspension at bedtime. How to apply Neomycin and Polymyxin B Sulfates and Dexamethasone Ophthalmic Ointment: 1. Tilt your head back. 2. Place a finger on your cheek just under your eye and gently pull down until a "V" pocket is formed between your eyeball and your lower lid. 3. Place a small amount (about 1/2 inch) of Neomycin and Polymyxin B Sulfates and Dexamethasone Ophthalmic Ointment in the "V" pocket. Do not let the tip of the tube touch your eye. 4. Look downward before closing your eye. Not more than 8 grams should be prescribed initially and the prescription should not be refilled without further evaluation as outlined in PRECAUTIONS above.
Contraindications
openFDA Drug LabelingCONTRAINDICATIONS Neomycin and polymyxin B sulfates and dexamethasone ophthalmic ointment is contraindicated in epithelial herpes simplex keratitis (dendritic keratitis), vaccinia, varicella, and many other viral diseases of the cornea and conjunctiva. Mycobacterial infection of the eye. Fungal diseases of ocular structures. Neomycin and polymyxin B sulfates and dexamethasone ophthalmic ointment is also contraindicated in individuals with known or suspected hypersensitivity to a component of the medication. (Hypersensitivity to the antibiotic component occurs at a higher rate than for other components.)
Warnings and Cautions
openFDA Drug LabelingWarnings and Precautions NOT FOR INJECTION. Use of ocular steroids may prolong the course and may exacerbate the severity of many viral infections of the eye (including herpes simplex). Employment of steroid medication in the treatment of herpes simplex requires great caution; frequent slit lamp microscopy is recommended. Prolonged use may result in glaucoma, with damage to the optic nerve, defects in visual acuity and fields of vision, and posterior subcapsular cataract formation. Prolonged use may suppress the host response and thus increase the hazard of secondary ocular infections. In acute purulent conditions or parasitic infections of the eye, steroids may mask infection or enhance existing infection. In those diseases causing thinning of the cornea or sclera, perforations have been known to occur with the use of topical steroids. If this product is used for 10 days or longer, intraocular pressure (IOP) should be routinely monitored even though it may be difficult in children and uncooperative patients. Steroids should be used with caution in the presence of glaucoma. IOP should be checked frequently. The use of steroids after cataract surgery may delay healing and increase the incidence of bleb formation. Products containing neomycin sulfate may cause cutaneous sensitization. Sensitivity to topically administered aminoglycosides, such as neomycin, may occur in some patients. Severity of hypersensitivity reactions may vary from local effects to generalized reactions such as erythema, itching, urticaria, skin rash, anaphylaxis, anaphylactoid reactions, or bullous reactions. If hypersensitivity develops during use of the product, treatment should be discontinued. Cross-hypersensitivity to other aminoglycosides can occur, and the possibility that patients who become sensitized to topical neomycin may also be sensitive to other topical and/or systemic aminoglycosides should be considered. General The initial prescription and renewal of the medication order beyond 8 g of Neomycin and Polymyxin B Sulfates and Dexamethasone Ophthalmic Ointment should be made by a physician only after examination of the patient with the aid of magnification, such as a slit lamp biomicroscopy and, where appropriate, fluorescein staining. The possibility of persistent fungal infections of the cornea should be considered after prolonged steroid dosing. Fungal infection should be suspected in patients with persistent corneal ulceration. Information for Patients If inflammation or pain persists longer than 48 hours or becomes aggravated, the patient should be advised to discontinue use of the medication and consult a physician. This product is sterile when packaged. To prevent contamination, care should be taken to avoid touching the tube tip to eyelids or to any other surface. The use of this tube by more than one person may spread infection. Keep tube tightly closed when not in use. Keep out of reach of children. Patients should be advised that their vision may be temporarily blurred following dosing with Neomycin and Polymyxin B Sulfates and Dexamethasone Ophthalmic Ointment. Care should be exercised in operating machinery or driving a motor vehicle. Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility Long-term studies in animals to evaluate carcinogenic or mutagenic potential have not been conducted with polymyxin B sulfate. Treatment of cultured human lymphocytes in vitro with neomycin increased the frequency of chromosome aberrations at the highest concentration (80 μg/mL) tested. However, the effects of neomycin on carcinogenesis and mutagenesis in humans are unknown. Polymyxin B has been reported to impair the motility of equine sperm, but its effects on male or female fertility are unknown. Pregnancy Dexamethasone has been shown to be teratogenic in mice and rabbits following topical ophthalmic application in multiples of the therapeutic dose. In the mouse, corticosteroids produce fetal resorptions and a specific abnormality, cleft palate. …
Warnings
openFDA Drug LabelingWARNINGS NOT FOR INJECTION. Use of ocular steroids may prolong the course and may exacerbate the severity of many viral infections of the eye (including herpes simplex). Employment of steroid medication in the treatment of herpes simplex requires great caution; frequent slit lamp microscopy is recommended. Prolonged use may result in glaucoma, with damage to the optic nerve, defects in visual acuity and fields of vision, and posterior subcapsular cataract formation. Prolonged use may suppress the host response and thus increase the hazard of secondary ocular infections. In acute purulent conditions or parasitic infections of the eye, steroids may mask infection or enhance existing infection. In those diseases causing thinning of the cornea or sclera, perforations have been known to occur with the use of topical steroids. If this product is used for 10 days or longer, intraocular pressure (IOP) should be routinely monitored even though it may be difficult in children and uncooperative patients. Steroids should be used with caution in the presence of glaucoma. IOP should be checked frequently. The use of steroids after cataract surgery may delay healing and increase the incidence of bleb formation. Products containing neomycin sulfate may cause cutaneous sensitization. Sensitivity to topically administered aminoglycosides, such as neomycin, may occur in some patients. Severity of hypersensitivity reactions may vary from local effects to generalized reactions such as erythema, itching, urticaria, skin rash, anaphylaxis, anaphylactoid reactions, or bullous reactions. If hypersensitivity develops during use of the product, treatment should be discontinued. Cross-hypersensitivity to other aminoglycosides can occur, and the possibility that patients who become sensitized to topical neomycin may also be sensitive to other topical and/or systemic aminoglycosides should be considered.
Adverse Reactions
openFDA Drug LabelingADVERSE REACTIONS Adverse reactions have occurred with steroid/anti-infective combination drugs which can be attributed to the steroid component, the anti-infective component, or the combination. Exact incidence figures are not available since no denominator of treated patients is available. Reactions occurring most often from the presence of the anti-infective ingredients are allergic sensitizations. The reactions due to the steroid component are: elevation of IOP with possible development of glaucoma, and infrequent optic nerve damage; posterior subcapsular cataract formation; and delayed wound healing. Secondary Infection: The development of secondary infection has occurred after use of combinations containing steroids and antimicrobials. Fungal infections of the cornea are particularly prone to develop coincidentally with long-term applications of steroid. The possibility of fungal invasion must be considered in any persistent corneal ulceration where steroid treatment has been used. Keratitis, conjunctivitis, corneal ulcers, and conjunctival hyperemia have occasionally been reported following use of steroids. Secondary bacterial ocular infection following suppression of host responses also occurs. Additional adverse reactions identified from post marketing use include ulcerative keratitis, headache, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome. The following additional adverse reactions have been reported with dexamethasone use: Cushing’s syndrome and adrenal suppression may occur after use of dexamethasone in excess of the listed dosing instructions in predisposed patients, including children and patients treated with CYP3A4 inhibitors. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Bausch & Lomb Incorporated at 1-800-553-5340 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Description
openFDA Drug LabelingDESCRIPTION: Neomycin and Polymyxin B Sulfates and Dexamethasone Ophthalmic Ointment USP is a multiple dose anti-infective steroid combination in a sterile ointment for topical application. The active ingredient dexamethasone, is represented by the following structural formula: C 22 H 29 FO 5 Mol. Wt. 392.47 Chemical Name: Pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione, 9-fluoro-11,17,21-trihydroxy-16-methyl-, (11β,16α)-. Neomycin Sulfate is the sulfate salt of neomycin B and C which are produced by the growth of Streptomyces fradiae Waksman (Fam. Streptomycetaceae). It has a potency equivalent to not less than 600 micrograms of neomycin base per milligram, calculated on an anhydrous basis. The structural formulae are: Polymyxin B Sulfate is the sulfate salt of polymyxin B 1 and B 2 which are produced by the growth of Bacillus polymyxa (Prazmowski) Migula (Fam. Bacillaceae). It has a potency of not less than 6,000 polymyxin B units per milligram, calculated on an anhydrous basis. The structural formulae are: Each Gram Contains: ACTIVES: Neomycin Sulfate (equivalent to 3.5 mg Neomycin), Polymyxin B Sulfate, equal to 10,000 polymyxin B units; Dexamethasone 1 mg (0.1%). INACTIVES: White Petrolatum, Lanolin, Mineral Oil. PRESERVATIVES ADDED: Methylparaben 0.05%, Propylparaben 0.01%. Neomycin Sulfate (structural formula) Neomycin Sulfate (structural formula) Polymyxin B Sulfate (structural formula)
How Supplied / Storage and Handling
openFDA Drug LabelingHOW SUPPLIED Neomycin and polymyxin B sulfates and dexamethasone ophthalmic ointment, USP is supplied as a sterile ointment in a pre-printed aluminum tube with a natural high density polyethylene (HDPE) cannula and a white HDPE cap. 3.5 g in a aluminum tube NDC 68788-8748-3 Storage: Store between 15°C to 25°C (59°F to 77°F). KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. FOR OPHTHALMIC USE ONLY Distributed by: Bausch & Lomb Americas Inc. Bridgewater, NJ 08807 USA Manufactured by: Bausch & Lomb Incorporated Tampa, FL 33637 USA © 2023 Bausch & Lomb Incorporated or its affiliates Revised: June 2023 Relabeled By: Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc. DO NOT USE
Adverse event reports
Source: openFDA FAERSAttributed to this product's most-reported active ingredient: DEXAMETHASONE. Combination products with more than six active ingredients are not attributed, because a report count summed across a long ingredient list measures the list, not the medicine.
Recalls
Source: FDA Enforcement| Classification | Reported | Firm | Reason | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class II | June 15, 2022 | Mckesson Medical-Surgical Inc. Corporate Office | cGMP deviations: Temperature abuse | Terminated |
Packaging and NDCs
Source: NDC Directory| Package NDC | Product NDC | Labeler | Description | Marketing start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50090-4435-0 | 50090-4435 | A-S Medication Solutions | 3.5 g in 1 TUBE (50090-4435-0) | July 22, 2019 |
| 50090-6181-0 | 50090-6181 | A-S Medication Solutions | 1 TUBE in 1 CARTON (50090-6181-0) / 3.5 g in 1 TUBE | October 20, 2022 |
| 80425-0229-1 | 80425-0229 | Advanced Rx Pharmacy of Tennessee, LLC | 1 TUBE in 1 CARTON (80425-0229-1) / 3.5 g in 1 TUBE | January 11, 2023 |
| 24208-795-35 | 24208-795 | Bausch & Lomb Incorporated | 1 TUBE in 1 CARTON (24208-795-35) / 3.5 g in 1 TUBE | July 25, 1994 |
| 68071-2428-3 | 68071-2428 | NuCare Pharmaceuticals,Inc. | 1 TUBE in 1 CARTON (68071-2428-3) / 3.5 g in 1 TUBE | June 1, 2021 |
| 68071-5281-3 | 68071-5281 | NuCare Pharmaceuticals,Inc. | 3.5 g in 1 TUBE (68071-5281-3) | June 12, 2020 |
| 68788-8748-3 | 68788-8748 | Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 1 TUBE in 1 CARTON (68788-8748-3) / 3.5 g in 1 TUBE | October 11, 2024 |
| 63187-395-35 | 63187-395 | Proficient Rx LP | 1 TUBE in 1 CARTON (63187-395-35) / 3.5 g in 1 TUBE | September 1, 2016 |
| 63187-669-35 | 63187-669 | Proficient Rx LP | 1 TUBE in 1 CARTON (63187-669-35) / 3.5 g in 1 TUBE | December 1, 2018 |
| 71205-330-35 | 71205-330 | Proficient Rx LP | 3.5 g in 1 TUBE (71205-330-35) | September 1, 2019 |
| 61314-631-36 | 61314-631 | Sandoz Inc | 3.5 g in 1 TUBE (61314-631-36) | February 21, 1996 |
| 50090-4435 | 50090-4435 | A-S Medication Solutions | — | February 21, 1996 |
| 50090-6181 | 50090-6181 | A-S Medication Solutions | — | July 25, 1994 |
| 80425-0229 | 80425-0229 | Advanced Rx Pharmacy of Tennessee, LLC | — | January 11, 2023 |
| 24208-795 | 24208-795 | Bausch & Lomb Incorporated | — | July 25, 1994 |
| 68071-2428 | 68071-2428 | NuCare Pharmaceuticals,Inc. | — | July 25, 1994 |
| 68071-5281 | 68071-5281 | NuCare Pharmaceuticals,Inc. | — | February 21, 1996 |
| 68788-8748 | 68788-8748 | Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc. | — | October 11, 2024 |
| 63187-395 | 63187-395 | Proficient Rx LP | — | July 3, 2014 |
| 63187-669 | 63187-669 | Proficient Rx LP | — | July 25, 1994 |
| 71205-330 | 71205-330 | Proficient Rx LP | — | February 21, 1996 |
| 61314-631 | 61314-631 | Sandoz Inc | — | February 21, 1996 |
Sources for this page
| Dataset | Agency | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| NDC Directory | FDA | Identity, ingredients, strengths, forms, routes, labelers, packages |
| Drugs@FDA | FDA | Application, sponsor, submissions, review documents, marketing status |
| Orange Book | FDA | Therapeutic equivalence codes, reference drug flags, patents, exclusivity |
| Drug Labeling | FDA / NLM | Prescribing information reproduced above |
| FAERS | FDA | Adverse event report counts |
| Enforcement | FDA | Recall records |
Generated September 25, 2026 · 13 sections on this page.