Dexamethasone and Tobramycin Ophthalmic

Dexamethasone and Tobramycin Ophthalmic is a combination antibiotic and steroid medicine used to treat eye inflammation caused by uveitis, eye injury, radiation, chemical burns, or certain other conditions.

• Dexamethasone and Tobramycin Ophthalmic are available under various brand names: Tobradex, TobraDex ST

Common side effects of Dexamethasone and Tobramycin Ophthalmic include:

• minor burning or stinging.

Serious side effects of Dexamethasone and Tobramycin Ophthalmic include:

• hives,
• difficult breathing,
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• severe eye redness, itching, or swelling;
• blurred vision, tunnel vision, seeing halos around lights;
• pain behind your eyes, sudden vision changes;
• slow healing after eye surgery; or
• signs of eye infection--redness, severe discomfort, crusting, or drainage.

Rare side effects of Dexamethasone and Tobramycin Ophthalmic include:

• none

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors;
• Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
• Serious heart symptoms include fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in the chest; shortness of breath; sudden dizziness, lightheartedness, or passing out.

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems that may occur because of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Adult and pediatric dosage

Ophthalmic ointment

• 0.1 %/0.3 %

Ophthalmic suspension

• 0.05 %/0.3 %
• 0.1 %/0.3 %

Ocular Inflammation & Bacterial Infection

Adult and pediatric dosage

Aged 2 years and above:

• Ophthalmic suspension: 1-2 drops to the affected eye(s) every 4-6 hours; if needed, may increase frequency to every 2 hours during the first 24-48 hours; then taper to less frequent intervals
• Ophthalmic ointment: Apply a small amount (ie, ~0.5-in ribbon) to conjunctival sac(s) every 6-8 hours.

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See “Dosages”

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first.

• Dexamethasone and Tobramycin Ophthalmic have severe interactions with the following drugs:
  • apixaban
  • artemether/lumefantrine
  • cariprazine
  • cobimetinib
  • dienogest/estradiol valerate
  • elbasvir/grazoprevir
  • elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir DF
  • lumacaftor/ivacaftor
  • lumefantrine
  • lurasidone
  • mifepristone
  • naloxegol
  • ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir & dasabuvir (DSC)
  • panobinostat
  • praziquantel
  • regorafenib
  • rilpivirine
  • roflumilast
  • vandetanib
• Dexamethasone and Tobramycin Ophthalmic have serious interactions with at least 143 other drugs.
• Dexamethasone and Tobramycin Ophthalmic have moderate interactions with at least 348 other drugs.
• Dexamethasone and Tobramycin Ophthalmic have minor interactions with at least 178 other drugs.

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all your products. Keep a list of all your medications with you and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your health care professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions or concerns.

Contraindications

• Allergic to dexamethasone or tobramycin.
• Fungal or viral infection in your eyes (including herpes simplex)

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Dexamethasone and Tobramycin Ophthalmic?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Dexamethasone and Tobramycin Ophthalmic?”

Cautions

• Do not touch the tip of the eye dropper or ointment tube or place it directly on your eye. A contaminated tip can infect your eye, which could lead to serious vision problems.
• If you use this medicine for longer than 10 days, you may need frequent vision tests to check the pressure inside your eyes.
• Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 2 days of treatment.
• You should not stop using this medicine suddenly. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose.
• Store this medicine at room temperature. Do not freeze. Keep the tube tightly closed when not in use. Store the eye drops in an upright position.
• Do not use them while wearing soft contact lenses. A preservative in this medicine could permanently stain the lenses. Use the medicine at least 15 minutes before inserting your contact lenses.

Pregnancy & Lactation

• It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant.
• Lactation
  • It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risks.