FDA-filed SPL labeling · retrieved through openFDA

Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B

Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B is a combination steroid and antibiotic eye treatment used for inflammatory eye conditions where bacterial infection is present or at risk.

Brand names Neomycin and Polymyxin B Sulfates and DexamethasoneNeomycin Polymyxin B Sulfates and DexamethasoneMaxitrol
Drug class ⓘ Corticosteroid
Rx Forms 2 Route Ophthalmic
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Reviewed by Last reviewed Jul 10, 2026
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand

The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 25 clinical label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →

At a glance
Linked label effectiveOct 24, 2025
Clinical labels in scope ⓘ25
AvailabilityRx
Earliest approval/marketing year ⓘ1964
FDA-listed product records ⓘ56
Boxed warningNone found in compared labels
How we combine label and product data →
✓No current FDA shortage listed · checked Sep 27, 2026
⭐ Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B at a glance The quick version — the full detail is in the Patient Information Guide below.
💊
HelloPharmacist Editorial Team Bottom Line
Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B is a prescription eye treatment that combines a steroid to calm inflammation with two antibiotics to fight or prevent bacterial infection. It is effective for several serious eye conditions, but it must be used exactly as prescribed — prolonged use without monitoring can raise eye pressure, promote cataracts, or allow new infections to develop. Never use it for viral or fungal eye infections, and always follow up with your eye doctor before refilling.

📖 Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B: Patient Information Guide

A plain-language walkthrough of Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B — what it treats, how it works, how it’s taken, side effects, warnings and interactions. Tap any section to expand it.

🎯What it's used for▾

This combination of dexamethasone (a steroid), neomycin, and polymyxin B (two antibiotics) is used in the eye for inflammatory conditions where bacterial infection is also a concern. Supported uses across the available products include:

  • Inflammation of the conjunctiva (tissue lining the eyelid and eye surface), cornea (clear front of the eye), and the anterior segment (front chamber) of the eye
  • Infective conjunctivitis (eye infections with inflammation) where the benefits of steroid use outweigh the risks
  • Chronic anterior uveitis (long-term inflammation inside the front part of the eye)
  • Corneal injury from chemical burns, radiation burns, or heat burns
  • Eye injury from penetration of a foreign body
  • Situations where bacterial infection risk is high or large numbers of bacteria are expected to be present in the eye
⚙️How it works▾

Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid that suppresses the inflammatory response in the eye — it dials down redness, swelling, and irritation. Neomycin and polymyxin B are antibiotics that target and kill common bacteria that can infect the eye, including Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and several others. Combining all three in one product ensures you get both the anti-inflammatory and the antibacterial effects together, with consistent dosing.

Note that this product does not cover all bacteria — it is not effective against Serratia marcescens or streptococci (including Streptococcus pneumoniae), so it may not be the right choice for infections caused by those organisms.

💊How it's taken▾

This medication comes as eye drops (suspension) and eye ointment — both for use in the eye only. Eye drops are instilled directly; the number of times per day depends on how severe the inflammation is, and your doctor will adjust the frequency as your eye improves. The ointment is applied inside the lower eyelid up to three or four times daily; Neomycin and Polymyxin B Sulfates and Dexamethasone Ophthalmic Ointment may also be used at bedtime alongside the eye drop form.

  • Eye drops: shake well before each use
  • Do not touch the dropper tip or ointment tube tip to your eye
  • Follow your prescriber's exact schedule — do not stop early or refill without re-evaluation
🤒Side effects — in detail▾

Side effects can come from the steroid, the antibiotic, or both components combined. Common reactions include:

  • Allergic eye sensitivity or irritation (most often from neomycin)
  • Elevated eye pressure, which can lead to glaucoma with long-term use
  • Posterior subcapsular cataract (a type of clouding at the back of the eye's lens) with prolonged use
  • Delayed wound or corneal healing
  • Keratitis (corneal inflammation), conjunctivitis, or corneal ulcers
  • Conjunctival hyperemia (eye redness)
  • Secondary bacterial or fungal eye infections
  • Headache

Serious reactions — including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (severe blistering of the skin and mucous membranes) and anaphylaxis (severe whole-body allergic reaction) — have been reported rarely. Stop using and get medical help right away if you notice worsening symptoms, a rash, or difficulty breathing.

⚠️Warnings & precautions▾
  • Do not use for viral eye infections — steroids can make herpes simplex, chickenpox, and other viral eye infections significantly worse. If you have a history of herpes simplex eye disease, your doctor will need to monitor you closely.
  • Prolonged use raises eye pressure — long-term steroid use in the eye can cause glaucoma (optic nerve damage) and cataracts. Eye pressure should be checked regularly if you use this for 10 days or more.
  • Risk of corneal thinning and perforation — steroids can thin the cornea or the white of the eye over time; this is more dangerous in people who already have thin tissue.
  • New infections can develop — by suppressing local immunity, the steroid can allow fungal or secondary bacterial infections to take hold. Any persistent eye sore or ulcer should be evaluated promptly.
  • Allergic reactions to neomycin — can range from local irritation to serious systemic (whole-body) reactions. People sensitive to neomycin may also react to other aminoglycoside antibiotics.
  • Steroid absorption in high doses — if used in excess of the recommended dose, especially in children or people taking certain other medications, enough dexamethasone may be absorbed to cause Cushing's syndrome or adrenal suppression.
🔀What it interacts with▾

The FDA label identifies one key drug interaction category to be aware of:

  • CYP3A4 inhibitors — drugs that slow the breakdown of dexamethasone in the body (such as certain antifungal medications, some antibiotics, and some HIV medications) can raise dexamethasone levels and increase the risk of steroid side effects like adrenal suppression or Cushing's syndrome, particularly in children and predisposed patients.

This is not a complete list of interactions. Always talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.

📋Before taking it▾
  • Do not use if you have a viral eye infection — including herpes simplex keratitis (dendritic keratitis), chickenpox (varicella), or vaccinia
  • Do not use if you have a fungal infection of the eye or a mycobacterial eye infection
  • Tell your doctor if you have ever had a herpes simplex eye infection — careful monitoring is required
  • Tell your doctor if you have glaucoma or high eye pressure — steroids can raise it further
  • Tell your doctor if you have had recent eye surgery — steroid use afterward may slow healing
  • Tell your doctor if you are allergic to neomycin or any other aminoglycoside antibiotic — cross-sensitivity can occur
  • Tell your doctor about all medications you take, especially CYP3A4 inhibitors (such as certain antifungals or HIV drugs)
  • Use with caution in children — monitoring eye pressure may be difficult, and systemic steroid effects can occur
  • Do not use if you are allergic to any ingredient in the product
📡Pharmacodynamics — effects in the body▾

The corticosteroid component (dexamethasone) measurably reduces inflammation in the eye — decreasing swelling, redness, and tissue irritation. However, it also partially suppresses the eye's immune defenses, which can slow healing and create an opening for secondary infections. The potency of the corticosteroid effect depends on its concentration and how it is released from the formulation.

📦How to store it▾

Store between 15°-25° C (59°-77° F). Store upright. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

📄 Written from Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B’s FDA-approved label information, summarized in plain language with AI, and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Every point is grounded in that labeling — nothing is invented. How we use AI →

🩺 Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.

What exactly is this eye medication treating — is it for an infection or for inflammation? ▾
It's actually treating both at once. This product combines a steroid (dexamethasone) to calm inflammation in your eye and two antibiotics (neomycin and polymyxin B) to fight or prevent a bacterial infection. Your doctor prescribed it because your eye condition involves both problems — or because there's a meaningful risk of a bacterial infection developing alongside the inflammation.
How do I use the eye drops correctly? ▾
Shake the bottle well before each use — the medication is a suspension and settles if left still. Tilt your head back, pull down your lower lid slightly, and place the drops into the pocket formed. Try not to let the dropper tip touch your eye or eyelid. Use it exactly as often as your doctor prescribed — for severe inflammation that might mean very frequent drops at first, tapering down as your eye improves. Never refill this prescription without checking back with your doctor first.
How do I apply the eye ointment without making a mess? ▾
Tilt your head back and place a finger gently under your eye to pull the lower lid down, forming a small 'V' pocket. Squeeze a small ribbon of ointment — about half an inch — into that pocket. Do not let the tip of the tube touch your eye. Then look downward and close your eye gently. The ointment will naturally spread. It may blur your vision briefly, so many people use it at bedtime.
What side effects should I just watch for versus what needs a call to the doctor? ▾
Some mild irritation or temporary blurring right after use can be normal. What you should call your doctor about: worsening redness, pain, or vision changes; any new eye sore or ulcer that isn't healing; a skin rash, hives, or swelling — especially around the eye — that suggests an allergic reaction to neomycin. In rare cases, serious allergic reactions can happen, so if you have trouble breathing or severe swelling, seek emergency care right away.
Can I use this if I've had a history of eye cold sores or herpes eye infections? ▾
You need to let your doctor know before using this. The steroid in this product can make herpes simplex eye infections significantly worse. If your doctor does prescribe it despite that history, they will need to monitor your eye closely — typically with a slit-lamp exam — during treatment. This product is also not safe for use with chickenpox or certain other viral eye infections.
Does it matter how long I use this medication? ▾
Yes — length of use really matters with this one. Steroids in the eye can raise your eye pressure over time, which can damage your optic nerve and lead to glaucoma. They can also cause a type of cataract with long-term use, and they can suppress your eye's natural defenses against fungal and bacterial infections. That's why your doctor needs to re-evaluate you before any refill, and if you use it for 10 days or more, your eye pressure should be checked regularly.
Is Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B available over the counter? ▾
Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B is dispensed by prescription according to its FDA labeling, so it isn't sold over the counter. Your prescriber and pharmacist will determine if it's appropriate for you.
When was Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B first available? ▾
Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B has been available in the United States since at least 1964, based on FDA approval history (Drugs@FDA) and product marketing records.
Who makes Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B? ▾
Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B is supplied by 18 manufacturers listed in the FDA NDC Directory, including A-S Medication Solutions, NuCare Pharmaceuticals,Inc., Bausch & Lomb Incorporated.

💬 Answers drafted from Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B’s FDA-approved label information, summarized in plain language with AI, and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Grounded in that labeling — nothing is made up. How we use AI →

🧰 Keep exploring

💊 How Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B comes

Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B is available in 2 forms. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.

Eye ointment

In the eye
Brands Maxitrol Neomycin and Polymyxin B Sulfates and Dexamethasone
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Treats steroid-responsive inflammation of the conjunctiva, cornea, and anterior segment of the eye where bacterial infection is present or at risk
  • Used for chronic anterior uveitis and eye injuries from chemical, radiation, or heat burns, or penetration of a foreign object
  • Neomycin and Polymyxin B Sulfates and Dexamethasone Ophthalmic Ointment may also be used at bedtime alongside the eye drop suspension
Important instructions
  • Tilt your head back, gently pull down your lower lid to form a small pocket, and apply a small amount (about ½ inch) of ointment into that pocket
  • Do not let the tip of the tube touch your eye
  • Look downward before closing your eye after application
  • Maxitrol Ointment and Neomycin and Polymyxin B Sulfates and Dexamethasone Ointment: no more than 8 g should be prescribed initially; do not refill without a follow-up evaluation
Available strengths 5 strengths
30 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Eye drops

In the eye
Brands Maxitrol Neomycin and Polymyxin B Sulfates and Dexamethasone Neomycin Polymyxin B Sulfates and Dexamethasone
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Treats steroid-responsive inflammation of the conjunctiva, cornea, and anterior segment of the eye where bacterial infection is present or at risk
  • Used for chronic anterior uveitis (ongoing inflammation inside the front of the eye)
  • Used for eye injuries from chemical, radiation, or heat burns, or penetration of a foreign object
Important instructions
  • Shake the bottle well before each use
  • Instill one to two drops into the eye(s) as directed — more frequently for severe inflammation, tapering as it improves
  • For topical use in the eye only — never inject or swallow
  • No more than 20 mL should be prescribed at first; do not refill without a follow-up evaluation by your doctor
Available strengths 3 strengths
26 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

📊 Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B across the U.S. market

How Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.

2
Dose forms ⓘ
18
Manufacturers
4
Brand names
56
FDA-listed product records ⓘ
1964
First marketed ⓘ

FDA-listed product records by dose form (tablet variants merged) — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

A-S Medication Solutions18%
NuCare Pharmaceuticals,Inc.16%
Bausch & Lomb Incorporated9%
Proficient Rx LP9%
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation7%
RPK Pharmaceuticals, Inc.7%
Other makers34%

Share of FDA-listed product records by manufacturer — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

📈 How widely Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B is used

A general measure of how commonly Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.

Think of this as a proxy for how widely Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.

327,807
Medicaid prescriptions filled (Q1–Q4 2025)
$5.7M gross Medicaid reimbursement (before mandatory rebates — net cost is lower)

How commonly is Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B prescribed? Of the 1,597 medications we measure, Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B ranks #314 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 80% of them.

Where Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B ranks among the drugs we measure · Q1–Q4 2025 · neighbors ±5

Utilization by Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B product

Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.

The 1 mg/mL / 3.5 mg/mL / 10000 units/mL ophthalmic suspension is the most-dispensed Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B product — about 62% of these Medicaid prescriptions.

dexamethasone 1 MG/ML / neomycin 3.5 MG/ML / polymyxin B 10000 UNT/ML Ophthalmic Suspension Most dispensed

203,509 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 62% of Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B prescriptions shown $3.6M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $18 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 3 of 20 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 309680

dexamethasone 0.001 MG/MG / neomycin 0.0035 MG/MG / polymyxin B 10 UNT/MG Ophthalmic Ointment

124,298 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 38% of Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B prescriptions shown $2.1M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $17 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 3 of 19 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 309679

Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.

Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 6 of 39 listed Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B NDCs with Medicaid activity.

🔍 Compare Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B products

A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)

Showing 56 of 56 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 56 Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B NDCs →

RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength

This page starts with one exact multiple-ingredient concept (MIN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). A product with a different ingredient combination belongs on a different page.

Multiple ingredients (MIN) Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B RxCUI 216525 2 dose forms · 2 strengths

Look up RxCUI 216525 in the RxCUI Atlas →

RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.

🏷️ Sold under these brand names

Neomycin and Polymyxin B Sulfates and Dexamethasone Neomycin Polymyxin B Sulfates and Dexamethasone Maxitrol

🏭 Manufacturers & labelers

A-S Medication Solutions 10 NuCare Pharmaceuticals,Inc. 9 Bausch & Lomb Incorporated 5 Proficient Rx LP 5 Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation 4 RPK Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 4 Sandoz Inc 3 Preferred Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 3 Sandoz Inc. 2 Harrow Eye, LLC 2 Advanced Rx Pharmacy of Tennessee, LLC 2 Nordic Pharma, Inc. 1 Alcon Laboratories, Inc. 1 Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc. 1 Direct_Rx 1 Direct Rx 1 medsource pharmaceuticals 1 Padagis US LLC 1

RxNorm drug class

Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B belongs to the Corticosteroid class.

Pharmacologic class Corticosteroid
Drug family (ATC) Corticosteroids for local oral treatment, Corticosteroids, Corticosteroids, moderately potent (group II)
How it works Corticosteroid Hormone Receptor Agonists

Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.

🔬 Where this comes from

Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.

📄
FDA-filed drug labels (SPL) Uses, dosing, warnings & side effects from SPL records retrieved through openFDA; the linked representative set can be verified on DailyMed. ✓ Linked label effective Oct 24, 2025
🏭
Forms, brands & labelersAggregated from ingredient-matched FDA National Drug Code Directory product records for Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B.
📈
Real-world reportsThe FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), served through openFDA.
🚨
Recalls & shortagesopenFDA drug-enforcement reports and the FDA drug-shortage database.
🧾 Clinical label set — FDA-filed SPL labels retained for Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching
Clinical labels in scope
25
NDC products indexed
56
Distinct labelers/manufacturers represented
18
Linked representative label ⓘ
Harrow Eye, LLC
Linked label effective
Oct 24, 2025
Composite sections available
14
Linked SPL Set ID
ecfb954f-5554-0ad2-e053-2995a90a7516
Linked SPL Document ID
41ef9a7f-c1aa-de10-e063-6394a90adeec
Open the linked representative label on DailyMed ↗

How we combine label and product data

HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records; we don’t author the underlying clinical facts. We identified 25 FDA-filed SPL label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. The representative label is the starting point for the displayed reference monograph; the 12 largest stored in-scope SPL records, which may include that representative, are compared section by section, and the longest available version of each section is retained. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, product-listed strengths, and product-record counts are aggregated separately from ingredient-matched FDA NDC Directory records; package records listed above are associated with the linked SPL; and the normalized concept hierarchy comes from NLM RxNorm.

For canonical ingredient pages, bounded product-attributed indication and administration excerpts may be added to the AI evidence, and the generator is instructed to preserve available product, brand, route, and form qualifiers instead of treating one label as universal. Where a section is identified as AI-written, its plain-language text is generated from bounded label evidence. New draft drug pages remain in the admin review queue before first publication. Harrow Eye, LLC is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates; it is not the sole source used for the page.

This is general education, not medical advice — always consult your doctor or pharmacist about your medications and any medical condition. For the exact wording of the linked representative label, view that label on DailyMed; some displayed composite sections may come from other in-scope SPL labels. Learn how we use AI and our data sources & update cadence.