Neomycin Polymyxin Dexameth — Compare Prices at US & Canada Pharmacies

Neomycin-polymyxin B-dexamethasone (brand Maxitrol) combines two antibiotics with a corticosteroid in one eye drop or ointment, used when an eye needs both antibacterial coverage and reduction of inflammation — postoperative eye care after cataract or other ocular surgery, or bacterial conjunctivitis with significant associated inflammation and discomfort. The two-antibiotic combination (neomycin plus polymyxin B) broadens coverage against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms, while dexamethasone calms the redness, swelling, and discomfort that a bacterial infection or postoperative state can cause.

The corticosteroid component is the reason this combination requires more caution than a plain antibiotic eye drop. Ophthalmologists are careful about steroid eye drops in general because they can raise intraocular pressure (risking or worsening glaucoma), slow corneal wound healing, increase the risk of cataract with prolonged use, and — critically — can dramatically worsen certain eye infections, particularly herpes simplex keratitis and fungal infections, if the diagnosis is wrong. Because of this, a corticosteroid-antibiotic combination like this is meant to be prescribed only after an eye care professional has examined the eye and confirmed the infection is bacterial, not self-selected for undiagnosed "pink eye" or a red eye of unknown cause.

As with the plain triple-antibiotic ophthalmic products, the neomycin component carries a meaningful risk of contact allergy — worsening redness or irritation on this drug can be an allergic reaction to neomycin rather than a sign the infection or inflammation is getting worse, which is a distinction worth raising with the prescriber if symptoms aren't improving as expected.