contains the active ingredient neomycin sulfate
CONSUMER MEDICINE INFORMATION
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Neosulf.
It does not contain all of the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have benefits and risks. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Neosulf against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with your medicine. You may need to read it again.
What Neosulf is used for
Neosulf is used to clean the lower intestines (bowels) before surgery to prevent infection.
Neosulf belongs to a group of medicines called aminoglycoside antibiotics. Aminoglycoside antibiotics work by killing bacteria.
Your doctor may have prescribed Neosulf for another reason. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Neosulf has been prescribed for you.
Neosulf is not recommended for use in children under the age of 18, as its safety and effectiveness has not been established.
Neosulf is available only with a doctor's prescription.
There is no evidence that Neosulf is addictive.
Before you take Neosulf
When you must not take it
Do not take Neosulf if you are allergic to medicines containing neomycin, or any other aminoglycoside medicine, eg. gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips or tongue which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing, wheezing or shortness of breath.
Do not take Neosulf if you have:
blockage of the bowel
ulcers of the bowel
inflammatory disease of the bowel.
Do not take Neosulf if the expiry date (Exp.) printed on the pack has passed.
Do not take Neosulf if the packaging shows signs of tampering or the tablets do not look quite right.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Neosulf may affect your developing baby if you take it during pregnancy. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of taking Neosulf during pregnancy.
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or wish to breastfeed.
Neosulf is not recommended for use while breastfeeding. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of taking Neosulf when breastfeeding.
Tell your doctor if you have, or have had, any medical conditions, especially the following:
kidney disease
dizziness, spinning sensation
hearing problems or loss, ringing in the ears.
Your doctor may want to take special care if you have any of these conditions.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start taking Neosulf.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may be affected by Neosulf, or may affect how well it works. These include:
other aminoglycoside antibiotics, including eye drops
other diuretics, also known as fluid tablets e.g. frusemide, ethacrynic acid
muscle relaxants
other antibiotics used to treat infection, e.g. pencillin, cephalosporins, vancomycin, clindamycin
methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, medicines used to treat cancer
digoxin, a medicine used to treat heart failure
warfarin, a medicine used to prevent blood clots
vitamin K tablets.
Your doctor can tell you what to do if you are taking any of these medicines.
If you are not sure whether you are taking any of these medicines, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Neosulf.
How to take Neosulf
How much to take
Take Neosulf exactly as directed by your doctor.
There are very specific instructions on how much to take and when to take Neosulf.
The usual adult dose is two tablets (1 gram) every hour for the first four hours, then two tablets (1 gram) every four hours for the rest of the 24 hour period, until a total of sixteen tablets have been taken.
How to take Neosulf
Swallow the tablets with a glass of water.
When to take Neosulf
Start taking Neosulf 24 hours before your surgery is due.
Neosulf can be taken with or without food.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
How long to take Neosulf for
Neosulf is taken over a 24 hour period.
If you take too much Neosulf (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor, or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26), or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think you or anyone else may have taken too much Neosulf. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
While you are taking Neosulf
Things you must do
Before starting any new medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking Neosulf.
Tell all the doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Neosulf.
If you become pregnant while taking Neosulf, tell your doctor.
If you get severe diarrhoea, tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately. Do this even if it occurs several weeks after you have stopped taking Neosulf.
Diarrhoea may mean that you have a serious condition affecting your bowel. You may need urgent medical care. Do not take any diarrhoea medicine without checking with your doctor.
If you get a sore, white mouth or tongue while taking or soon after stopping Neosulf, tell your doctor. Also tell your doctor if you get vaginal itching or discharge.
This may mean you have a fungal infection called thrush. Sometimes, the use of Neosulf allows fungi to grow and the above symptoms to occur. Neosulf does not work against fungi.
Things you must not do
Do not use Neosulf to treat any other conditions unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not give Neosulf to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Neosulf.
Like all other medicines, Neosulf may have unwanted side effects in some people. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
If you are over 65 years of age, or have kidney problems, you may have an increased chance of getting side effects.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.
You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
nausea (feeling sick) , vomiting
diarrhoea
oral thrush (white, furry, sore tongue and mouth)
vaginal thrush (sore and itchy vagina, vaginal discharge).
Tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
dizziness, spinning sensation
hearing problem or loss, ringing in the ears
watery and severe diarrhoea, which may also be bloody
passing less urine than normal, increased thirst
muscle weakness, drowsiness, difficulty breathing.
If any of the following happen, stop taking Neosulf and tell your doctor immediately, or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital:
swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, shortness of breath, wheezing or trouble breathing.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
After taking Neosulf
Storage
Keep Neosulf where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Keep your tablets in the bottle until it is time to take them.
If you take the tablets out of the bottle they may not keep well.
Keep the tablets away from light.
Keep your tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25 degrees C.
Do not store Neosulf or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave Neosulf in the car or on window sills.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking Neosulf, or your tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over.
Product description
What it looks like
Neosulf is a round, white, scored tablet.
Each bottle contains 25 tablets.
Ingredients
The active ingredient in Neosulf is neomycin sulfate. Each Neosulf tablet contains 500 mg of neomycin sulfate.
The tablets also contain:
lactose.
povidone
sodium starch glycollate
purified talc
magnesium stearate.
The tablets are gluten free.
