any doctors or pharmacists out there who can help me?

[laksa]

Hi guys,

I need help with a question re an eye ointment that a pharmacist sold me containing Dibromopropamidine isethionate BP.

I used this ointment and then read the instruction leaflet ( I know I should have read it first but the pharmacist didn't mention anything about pregnancy and I was obviously with bump) which says you shouldn't take whilst pregnant or breastfeeding. There was no warning on the box or tube itself.

My question is, what are the side effects. I have searched online but can't find them. Please tell me I haven't done anything to harm my baby

xx

No-one's tested dibromopropamidine isethionate for its safety in pregnancy because it's damned hard to get ethical approval for that kind of study, which is why they have to put the disclaimer in the leaflet.

However, it's really, really, really unlikely to have harmed the baby as it's a topical oinmtment that won't get much farther than wherever you smear it - very different to taking a tablet.

What was wrong with your eye that you needed it? Is it better now even though you've (sensibly) stopped using the cream? If not, get to the GP.

I'm no doctor or pharmacist - but it isn't on the list of drugs to be avoided in pregnancy.

Did it specifically say not to be taken, or to consult your pharmacist? If the former I would ring the chemist straight away & speak to the pharmacist in question.

Hopefully a doctor/pharmacist will be able to answer soon, but try not to worry too much as every medicine I've seen as the "consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking if pregnant/breastfeeding" - it's a catch-all get out clause similar to the "may contain traces of nuts" on virtually every food you buy....

thanks mrskrabadger, it feels like the beginning of a stye so thought I would tackle it before it reared its ugly head. I can get by without some as it wasn't that serious. I also thought a topical ointment wouldn't do any harm but the leaflet scared me a bit.

betsy, it actually said not to be taken whilst pregnant or breastfeeding which is why I was concerned.