Pronunciation: RE-te-PAM-ue-lin
Generic Name: Retapamulin
Brand Name: Altabax
Altabax Ointment is used for:
Treating a certain skin infection (impetigo).
Altabax Ointment is an antibacterial. It works by killing certain bacteria that cause impetigo.
Do NOT use Altabax Ointment if:
- you are allergic to any ingredient in Altabax Ointment
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Altabax Ointment:
Some medical conditions may interact with Altabax Ointment. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Altabax Ointment. Because little, if any, of Altabax Ointment is absorbed into the blood, the risk of it interacting with another medicine is low.
Ask your health care provider if Altabax Ointment may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Altabax Ointment:
Use Altabax Ointment as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
- Apply a thin layer of medicine to the affected area as instructed by your doctor.
- You may cover the affected area with a sterile bandage or gauze dressing. This may be useful for children and infants to protect the treated area and help prevent them from getting the medicine on other areas (eg, eyes, nose, mouth).
- Wash your hands immediately after using Altabax Ointment unless they are part of the treated area.
- To clear up your infection completely, use Altabax Ointment for the full course of treatment. Keep using it even if you feel better in a few days.
- If you miss a dose of Altabax Ointment, use it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not use 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Altabax Ointment.
Important safety information:
- Altabax Ointment is for external use only. Do not get it in your eyes, nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum. If you get it in any of these areas, rinse at once with cool water.
- Altabax Ointment only works against bacteria; it does not treat viral infections.
- Be sure to use Altabax Ointment for the full course of treatment. If you do not, the medicine may not clear up your infection completely. The bacteria could also become less sensitive to this or other medicines. This could make the infection harder to treat in the future.
- Long-term or repeated use of Altabax Ointment may cause a second infection. Tell your doctor if signs of a second infection occur. Your medicine may need to be changed to treat this.
- Talk with your doctor before you use any other medicines or cleansers on your skin.
- If your symptoms do not get better within 3 to 4 days or if they get worse, check with your doctor.
- Tell your doctor right away if the treated area becomes irritated, red, or itchy, or if it burns, swells, blisters, or oozes.
- Altabax Ointment should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 9 months old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
- PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Altabax Ointment while you are pregnant. It is not known if Altabax Ointment is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Altabax Ointment, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.
Possible side effects of Altabax Ointment:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Mild redness or irritation at the application site.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blistering, burning, itching, oozing, swelling, or severe irritation or redness at the application site.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
See also: Altabax side effects (in more detail)
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately.
Proper storage of Altabax Ointment:
Store Altabax Ointment at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Altabax Ointment out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
- If you have any questions about Altabax Ointment, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- Altabax Ointment is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
- If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
- Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Altabax Ointment. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
More Altabax resources
- Altabax Side Effects (in more detail)
- Altabax Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Altabax Drug Interactions
- Altabax Support Group
- 9 Reviews for Altabax - Add your own review/rating
Compare Altabax with other medications
- Acne
- Impetigo
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