Experiences with

Fusidic acid

Fusidic acid is also sometimes known as sodium fusidate.

Fusidic acid is an antibiotic. It works by stopping bacteria from growing.

It's used to treat bacterial infections, such as skin infections including cellulitis and impetigo, and eye infections including conjunctivitis (red, itchy eyes).

Fusidic acid is only available on prescription. It comes as a cream, ointment, or eye drops. It's also available with a steroid as a combined cream.

It's also given by injection, as a liquid you swallow, or as tablets, but these are usually only used in hospital.

Who can use fusidic acid

Most adults can use fusidic acid cream, ointment and eye drops, including during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Children can also use it.

Who may not be able to use fusidic acid

Fusidic acid is not suitable for some people. To make sure it's safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to fusidic acid or any other medicine.

Using cream or ointment

The main difference between fusidic acid cream and ointment is how it feels – the ointment is greasier. Your doctor will probably prescribe cream if you have a lot of infected skin to cover, and ointment for smaller infected areas.

Dosage for fusidic acid cream or ointment

You'll usually put on fusidic acid cream or ointment 3 or 4 times a day. Check with your pharmacist or doctor if you're unsure.

How to use fusidic acid cream or ointment

1. Remove the cap. Check the seal is not broken before you first use the cream or ointment. There is a small spike in the top of the cap – push this spike through the seal on the tube.
2. Always wash your hands before using fusidic acid cream or ointment. Unless you're using the cream or ointment to treat your hands, always wash your hands afterwards, too.
3. Put a thin layer of cream or ointment onto the infected area and gently rub it in.
4. Be careful to avoid your eyes if you use it on your face.

If you accidentally get any medicine in your eye, wash it out with cold water straight away, then bathe your eye with eyewash if possible. Your eye may sting.

If you start to have any problems with your sight or your eye is sore, contact your doctor immediately.

If you have been told to cover the infected skin with any dressings or bandages, you may not need to use the medicine so often. Follow your doctor's advice.

Fusidic acid cream or ointment applied to the skin can dry onto your clothes and bedding. This makes them more likely to catch fire. Wash your clothes and bedding regularly to reduce build-up of fusidic acid, although this will not totally remove it. Avoid smoking or going near naked flames.

Your skin should start to improve after a few days. But it's very important to use the cream or ointment for as long as your doctor has prescribed it.

Treatment with fusidic cream or ointment is usually for 1 or 2 weeks, although sometimes it can be for longer.

Carry on using this medicine until you have finished the course, even if you feel better.

If you stop your treatment early, the infection could come back.

If you forget to use fusidic acid cream or ointment, put it on as soon as you remember. Then continue to use it at the usual time.

If you use too much fusidic acid cream or ointment

If you put on too much cream or ointment, or if you get some in your mouth, it's unlikely to harm you.

Talk to your pharmacist or doctor if you're worried, or if you or your child swallow a lot of the medicine.

Eye drops

Fusidic acid eye drops come as a gel in a tube. As the gel touches your eye it becomes runnier.

Dosage for fusidic acid eye drops

You'll usually put 1 drop into your eye twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.

How to use fusidic acid eye drops

1. Take the cap off the tube when you're ready to use the medicine. It's important that the tip of the tube does not touch your eye. If the tip of the tube touches your eye, squeeze out 2 or 3 drops straight away onto some tissue and rinse the tip of the tube with salt water.
2. Tilt your head back. Pull your lower eyelid down gently. Hold the tube over your eye and look up. Squeeze 1 drop into your lower eyelid.
3. Close your eye for a minute or two and press gently on the side of your nose where the corner of your eye meets your nose. This helps to stop the drop draining away and keeps it in your eye.

You might get some blurred vision straight after putting the drop into your eye, but this should clear after a few minutes.

If the eye drops are for a child, it might be easier to put the drops in while they're asleep or lying down.

If you normally wear contact lenses, wear your glasses instead until your symptoms have completely gone. Wait for 24 hours after the last dose of eye drops before using your contact lenses again. The eye drops can damage some contact lenses.

How long to use eye drops for

Your eye should start to feel better within a few days.

But it's very important to use the medicine for as long as your doctor has prescribed it. Even when your eye looks normal again, there may still be some bacteria in it.

As a general rule, use fusidic acid eye drops for at least 48 hours after you feel better and your eye looks normal. This will help make sure that all the bacteria have been killed.

Carry on using this medicine until you have finished the course, even if your eye feels better.

If you stop your treatment early, the infection could come back.

If you forget to put the drops in, do it as soon as you remember. Then continue to use the drops at the usual time.

If you use too many fusidic acid eye drops

If you accidentally put too many fusidic acid eye drops in your eye, or if you swallow the eye drops, it's unlikely to harm you.

Talk to your pharmacist or doctor if you're worried.

Common side effects of cream or ointment

It's unusual to have side effects with fusidic acid cream or ointment.

Some people get skin irritation where they put on the cream or ointment. This happens in less than 1 in 100 people.

Keep using the cream or ointment, but talk to your pharmacist or doctor if skin irritation bothers you or does not go away.

Common side effects of eye drops

These common side effects of fusidic acid eye drops happen in more than 1 in 10 people. There are things you can do to help cope with them:

Keep using the eye drops, but talk to your doctor if these side effects bother you or do not go away.

Serious side effects of cream, ointment or eye drops

Serious side effects of fusidic acid cream, ointment or eye drops are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1,000 people.

Call a doctor or call 111 now if you get:

• conjunctivitis – red, itchy eye
• hives (urticaria) – itchy, raised areas of skin that may look red, although the redness may be harder to see on brown or black skin

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to fusidic acid cream, ointment or eye drops.

These are not all the side effects of fusidic acid cream, ointment or eye drops. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.

Fusidic acid and pregnancy

It's safe to use fusidic acid cream, ointment or eye drops while you're pregnant. Very little of the medicine gets to your baby, and the small amount that does will not harm them.

Fusicid acid and breastfeeding

It's OK to use fusidic acid cream, ointment or eye drops while you're breastfeeding. It is very unlikely that any fusidic acid will get into your breast milk.

When using the cream or ointment, be careful that your baby does not come into contact with the areas of your body you have put it on. Wash your hands after you have applied it and before picking up your baby.

If you need to put the cream or ointment on your nipple area, wash it off before feeding your baby. It's easier to wash off the cream than the ointment.

If your baby is not feeding as well as usual, or if you have any other concerns about your baby, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, health visitor or midwife.

Fusidic acid and fertility

There's no evidence to suggest that using fusidic acid reduces fertility in either men or women.

Cautions with other medicines

There are no other medicines, herbal remedies or supplements known to cause problems if you take them at the same time as fusidic acid cream, ointment or eye drops.

Related links

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