FUCIDIN(R) OINTMENT 1

FUCIDIN(R) OINTMENT (few-si-din)Sodium fusidate, 2% in an ointment base.

CONSUMER MEDICINE INFORMATION

What is in this leaflet?

This leaflet answers some commonquestions about Fucidin(R)Ointment. It does not contain all theavailable information. It does nottake the place of talking to yourdoctor or pharmacist.

All medicines have risks andbenefits. Your doctor has weighedthe risks of you using this medicineagainst the benefits it is expected tohave for you.

If you have any concerns abouttaking this medicine, ask yourdoctor or pharmacist.

Keep this leaflet.

You may need to read it again.

What Fucidin(R)Ointment is used for

Fucidin(R) Ointment contains anantibiotic, called sodium fusidate.This antibiotic is used to killbacteria, especially those of the kindknown as Staphylococci. ("Staph")

Staphylococci are bacteria that cancause severe infections.

Fucidin(R) Ointment is made to beput directly on skin and wounds. Ittreats skin and wound infections,especially those caused byStaphylococci. Fucidin(R) Ointmentdoes not work against infectionscaused by viruses and other bacteria,which are resistant.

NOTE: Sodium fusidate, and therelated fusidic acid, are antibiotics

that can also be given to you as aninjection, as a liquid or as a tablet.The brand name for these products isalso "Fucidin."

Your doctor may have prescribedFucidin(R) Ointment for anotherreason. Ask your doctor why thismedicine has been prescribed foryou.

This medicine is not addictive.

This medicine is available only witha doctor's prescription.

This medicine is not expected toaffect your ability to drive a car oroperate machinery.

In babies during the first month oflife, sodium fusidate may causeserious side effects. Discuss withyour doctor if Fucidin(R) Ointmentis to be used to treat a baby.

Before you useFucidin(R) Ointment

When you must not use it

Do not use this medicine if youhave an allergy or have had anadverse reaction to:

* any medicine containing sodiumfusidate or fusidic acid.

* any of the ingredients listed at theend of this leaflet (see ProductDescription).

Some of the symptoms of an allergicreaction may include shortness ofbreath, wheezing or difficultybreathing; swelling of the face, lips,tongue or other parts of the body;

rash, itching or hives on the skin.

Do not use this medicine:

* after the expiry date printed onthe pack, or

* if the packaging is torn orshows signs of tampering.

Return the expired or damaged packto your pharmacist for disposal.

If you are not sure whether youshould start using this medicine,talk to your doctor.

Before you start to use it

Tell your doctor if you have aknown allergy to Fucidin(R)Ointment, sodium fusidate, fusidicacid or any ingredients listed at theend of this leaflet.

Tell your doctor if you arepregnant, plan to become pregnantor are breast-feeding.

Your doctor can discuss with you therisks and benefits involved.

If you have not told your doctorabout any of the above, tellhim/her before you start takingthis medicine.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if youare taking any other medicines,including any that you buy without aprescription from your pharmacy,supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines may be affected byFucidin(R) Ointment or may affecthow well Fucidin(R) Ointmentworks. You may need differentamounts of your medicines, or youmay need to take different medicines.

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Fucidin(R) Ointment applied on theskin will not generally interfere withother antibacterial treatment, forexample antibiotic tablets orinjections.

Your doctor and pharmacist havemore information on medicines to becareful with or avoid while using thismedicine.

How to use Fucidin(R)Ointment

Follow all directions given to youby your doctor or pharmacistcarefully.

They may differ from theinformation contained in this leaflet.

If you do not understand theinstructions on the pack and/ortube, ask your doctor orpharmacist for help.

How much to use* without a covering dressing:

usually apply two or three timesdaily.

* with a protective dressing:usually one application daily isenough.

The average treatment period isseven days. Some infections mayrequire longer treatment.

How to use it

Regarding the affected area of skin,ask your doctor or pharmacist:

* how much Fucidin(R) Ointmentto apply, and

* how thickly to spread theFucidin(R) Ointment.

Always wash your hands afterapplying Fucidin(R) Ointment ,unless the area being treated is on thehand.

When to use it

Use Fucidin(R) Ointment at aboutthe same time each day:

This ensures a steady antibiotic effectand helps you remember to use it.

How long to use it

Follow carefully all directionsgiven to you by your doctor andthe pharmacist.

These directions may differ from theinformation contained in this leaflet.

Continue using your medicine untilyour doctor tells you otherwise.

Do not stop using this medicinebecause you are beginning to feelbetter. If you do not complete thecourse of antibiotic treatment theinfection may return.

If you do not understand theinstructions on the pack, ask yourdoctor or pharmacist for help.

If you forget to use it

If it is almost time for your nextdose of Fucidin(R) Ointment, skipthe dose you missed and applyyour next dose when you are meantto.

Otherwise, apply it as soon as youremember, and then go back toapplying your medicine as youwould normally.

If you are not sure what to do, askyour doctor or pharmacist.

If you have trouble rememberingto use your medicine, ask yourdoctor or pharmacist for somehints.

If you take too much(overdose)

Fucidin(R) Ointment is for use on theskin. It is not to be swallowed.

It is most unlikely that you woulddevelop an overdose from therecommended use of Fucidin(R)Ointment on the skin.

However, if anyone swallows aquantity of Fucidin(R) Ointment ,immediately telephone your doctoror the Poisons Information Centre(telephone 13 11 26 in Australia)for advice, or go to Accident and

Emergency at the nearest hospital.Do this even if there are no signs ofdiscomfort or poisoning.

The person who has swallowed theFucidin(R) Ointment may needurgent medical attention.

While you are usingFucidin(R) Ointment

Things you must do

Tell your doctor immediately

* If you get diarrhoea while usingFucidin(R) Ointment, or even ifthe diarrhoea occurs severalweeks after Fucidin(R) Ointmenthas been stopped.

If you are about to be started onany new medicine, tell your doctorand pharmacist that you are usingFucidin(R) Ointment..

If you are going to have surgery,tell the surgeon or anaesthetist thatyou are using Fucidin(R)Ointment.

It may affect other medicines usedduring surgery.

If you become pregnant whileusing Fucidin(R) Ointment, tellyour doctor immediately.

If you are about to have any bloodtests, tell your doctor that you areusing Fucidin(R) Ointment as itmay interfere with the results ofsome tests.

Things you must not do

Do not use Fucidin(R) Ointment totreat any other complaints unlessyour doctor tells you to.

Do not give your medicine toanyone else, even if they appear tohave the same condition as you.

Do not stop using your medicinewithout checking with your doctor.

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Things to be careful of

Be careful not to get Fucidin(R)Ointment in your eye, especiallywhen you are treating your face orhands.

Fucidin(R) Ointment is notexpected to cause you anyproblems with driving or operatingmachinery. However, as withmany other medicines, Fucidin(R)Ointment may cause dizziness,tiredness or drowsiness in somepeople. If you have any of thesesymptoms, do not drive, operatemachinery or do anything else thatcould be dangerous.

Side effects

Similarly to all medicines,Fucidin(R) Ointment can cause someside effects. Side effects not listed inthis leaflet may occur in somepatients.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist ifyou have any unpleasant effectswhile you are using Fucidin(R)Ointment even if you do not thinkthe effect is connected with themedicine or is not listed in thisleaflet.

Do not be alarmed by the followinglists of side effects. You may notexperience any of them. Ask yourdoctor or pharmacist to answerany questions you may have.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist ifyou notice any of the following andthey worry you.

At the site of treatment:

* Mild irritation* Pain in leg ulcers* Hypersensitivity (allergy) to

sodium fusidate or fusidic acid orthe ingredients of the ointment.

Fucidin(R) Ointment rarely causesallergy.

Contact your doctor immediately ifyou develop itching, withswelling or skin rash or difficultybreathing while using Fucidin(R)Ointment.

The side effects above includeserious conditions that requiremedical attention. Serious sideeffects are rare.

Tell your doctor if you noticeanything that is making you feelunwell.

Other side effects not listed abovemay also occur in some people.

After using Fucidin(R)Ointment

Keep the Fucidin(R) Ointment tubein the pack until required.

Storage

Store Fucidin(R) Ointment in a cooldry place where the temperaturestays below 25 degrees C.

Do not store this medicine or anyother medicine in the bathroom ornear a sink. Do not leave it on awindow sill or in the car.

Heat and dampness can destroy somemedicines.

Keep Fucidin(R) Ointment wherechildren cannot reach it.

A locked cupboard at leastone-and-a-half metres above theground is a good place to storemedicines.

Do not use Fucidin(R) Ointmentafter the expiry date printed on thepack.

Disposal

If your doctor tells you to stoptaking this medicine or the expirydate has passed, ask yourpharmacist what to do with anymedicine that is left over.

Product description

What it looks like

Fucidin(R) Ointment is opaquewhite, and of firm consistency.

Ingredients

Fucidin(R) Ointment contains as theactive ingredient 2% w/w (20mg/g)of sodium fusidate . It also contains:

* Cetyl alcohol* Lanolin anhydrous (wool fat)* White soft paraffin* Liquid paraffin.This medicine does not containlactose, sucrose, gluten, tartrazine orany other azo dyes.

The Australian Registration Numberis AUST R 12990.

This is not all the informationavailable on Fucidin(R) Ointment. Ifyou have any more questions or areunsure about anything, ask yourdoctor or pharmacist.

Supplier

Fucidin(R) Ointment is supplied inAustralia by:

CSL Limited ABN 99 051 588 34845 Poplar RdParkville 3052 VICAUSTRALIA

And in New Zealand by:CSL (New Zealand) Limited666 Great South RoadCentral ParkAucklandNEW ZEALANDTelephone: 09 579 8105

And manufactured by:Leo Pharmaceutical Products LtdIndustriparken 55DK-2750 BallerupDenmark

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This leaflet was prepared inJanuary 2002.

Fucidin(R) is a registered trademarkof Leo Pharmaceutical Products Ltd.