Zymar 5 g Ointment

Zymar 5 g Ointment is a prescription eye ointment that contains gatifloxacin in each 5 g tube. Gatifloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic used to treat certain bacterial eye infections. Doctors may prescribe Zymar 5 g Ointment for conditions such as bacterial conjunctivitis when an ointment is preferred for nighttime or longer eye contact. It is meant for use in the eye only and should be used exactly as directed.

How it works: Gatifloxacin stops bacteria from copying their DNA, which prevents them from growing and spreading in the eye. As an ointment, Zymar 5 g Ointment coats the surface of the eye and can stay there longer, helping the antibiotic work locally where the infection is present.

This Zymar 5 g Ointment package provides a 5 g tube of ophthalmic ointment, which can be helpful when a doctor wants the medicine to stay on the eye surface longer than eye drops. Compared with liquid eye drops, an ointment can feel thicker and may blur vision for a short time after use, so it is often chosen for bedtime or for people who need a slower-release eye treatment. The doctor decides whether this ointment form is the best fit based on the infection and the patient’s eye exam.

• Bacterial conjunctivitis
• Bacterial eye infection treatment
• Antibiotic eye therapy prescribed by a doctor
• Eye infection control when an ointment is preferred

• Wash your hands before and after applying Zymar 5 g Ointment.
• Tilt your head back, pull down the lower eyelid, and place a thin ribbon of ointment into the eye as directed.
• Do not let the tube tip touch your eye, fingers, or any surface.
• Close the eye gently for 1 to 2 minutes after applying; vision may be blurred for a short time.
• If you also use eye drops, follow your doctor’s instructions on spacing them out; ointments are usually used last.
• Do not wear contact lenses while you have an active eye infection unless your doctor says it is okay.

Each tube of Zymar 5 g Ointment contains 5 g of ophthalmic ointment, but the amount used per dose is much smaller than the tube size. The exact number of applications per day and total daily use are decided by your doctor based on the infection and your response. Do not use more often or for longer than prescribed, because this is a prescription antibiotic eye ointment.

Do not change your dose or stop the medicine without speaking to your doctor.

Common side effects of Gatifloxacin may include:

• Temporary blurred vision after application
• Mild eye irritation or burning
• Eye discomfort or stinging
• Watery eyes or tearing
• Redness of the eye
• A gritty or sticky feeling in the eye

• Use only in the eye; do not swallow Zymar 5 g Ointment.
• Do not touch the tube tip to the eye to avoid contamination.
• Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergy to gatifloxacin or other quinolone antibiotics.
• Temporary blurred vision can make driving or using machinery unsafe right after use.
• Contact lens wearers should ask their doctor when it is safe to restart lenses.
• Finish the full course if your prescriber tells you to continue, even if symptoms improve.
• Use caution if you have a history of tendon problems or severe antibiotic reactions, and report unusual symptoms promptly.

• Other ophthalmic medicines, especially if used at the same time in the same eye
• Contact lenses, which may worsen irritation during active infection
• Any other antibiotic eye drops or ointments unless your doctor instructs you to combine them
• Systemic quinolone antibiotics, if you are taking one by mouth or injection
• Products that may irritate the eye, such as non-prescribed eye drops or cosmetic eye products

Store Zymar 5 g Ointment at room temperature and keep the tube tightly closed when not in use.