Maxitrol vs. Tobradex for Eye Infection: Important Differences and Potential Risks.

Maxitrol

Get free coupons

Save more on select medications with GoodRx Companion.

TobraDex

(tobramycin / dexamethasone)

Get free coupons

Save more on select medications with GoodRx Companion.

Summary for Maxitrol

Prescription only

Maxitrol is an eye drop medication and eye ointment that's used to treat and relieve bacterial eye infections. Maxitrol is a combination medication — it contains two antibiotics (neomycin and polymyxin B) and a corticosteroid (dexamethasone). The antibiotics help fight the infection, while the corticosteroid helps lessen eye inflammation. Maxitrol typically has few to no side effects when it's used as directed, but it's usually used multiple times throughout the day.

Indications for Maxitrol

Eye inflammation from a bacterial infection in the eye
Eye inflammation when there's a risk for a bacterial infection in the eye

Pros and Cons for Maxitrol

Pros

Relieves eye inflammation and treats bacterial eye infection at the same time
Combines three medications into one eye product for convenience
Can usually start to see improvement after 2 days of use
Available as a lower-cost generic

Cons

Need to use multiple times a day
Can cause temporary blurry vision
Requires an eye exam to check your eye pressure if you need to use for more than 10 days
Only treats some bacterial eye infections; it doesn't treat fungal or viral infections

Common Side Effects for Maxitrol

Eye irritation

Warnings for Maxitrol

Only use on the surface of the eye
Higher eye pressure
New or worsened eye infections
New eye problems (e.g., injury, cataracts)
Possible allergic reaction

Summary for Tobradex

Prescription only

TobraDex (tobramycin / dexamethasone) is available as eye drops and an eye ointment. It's used to treat and relieve bacterial eye infections. This medication contains tobramycin (an aminoglycoside antibiotic that helps fight the infection) and dexamethasone (a corticosteroid that helps lower eye inflammation). Most people have few to no side effects from the medication when they use it as directed. But the medication can raise your eye pressure if you use it for more than 10 days.

Indications for Tobradex

Eye inflammation from a bacterial infection in the eye
Eye inflammation when there's a risk for a bacterial infection in the eye

Pros and Cons for Tobradex

Pros

Relieves eye inflammation and treats bacterial eye infection at the same time
Combines two medications into one eye product for convenience
Applied directly where the infection is (in the eye)
Is safe and work wells for children as young as 2 years old
Eye drops are available as a lower-cost generic

Cons

Need to use multiple times a day
Must shake the eye drop bottle before each use, which can be easy to forget
Can cause eye irritation or allergic reactions for some people
Requires an eye exam after 10 days of use to check your eye pressure
Only treats some bacterial eye infections; it doesn't treat fungal or viral infections

Common Side Effects for Tobradex

Eye irritation
Eye redness
Itchy eyelids
Swollen eyelids

Warnings for Tobradex

Only use on the surface of the eye
Higher eye pressure
New or worsened eye infections
New eye problems (e.g., injury, cataracts)
Possible allergic reaction

Prices with our coupons for Maxitrol vs. Tobradex

Neomycin/Polymyxin B/Dexamethasone1 tube / 3.5g

$11.98$12.59

Get free coupons

More Information

Tobramycin/Dexamethasone1 eye dropper / 5ml of 0.3%/0.1%

$30.51$122.54

Get free coupons

More Information

Browse medications by letter

Show All

Browse prescription and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.

Compare
Maxitrol vs. Tobradex

Maxitrol

TobraDex

Summary for Maxitrol

Indications for Maxitrol

Pros and Cons for Maxitrol

Pros

Cons

Common Side Effects for Maxitrol

Warnings for Maxitrol

Summary for Tobradex

Indications for Tobradex

Pros and Cons for Tobradex

Pros

Cons

Common Side Effects for Tobradex

Warnings for Tobradex

Prices with our coupons for Maxitrol vs. Tobradex

Compare other Eye Infection drugs

Browse medications by letter

Good news for your inbox

Maxitrol

TobraDex

Summary for Maxitrol

Indications for Maxitrol

Pros and Cons for Maxitrol

Pros

Cons

Common Side Effects for Maxitrol

Warnings for Maxitrol

Summary for Tobradex

Indications for Tobradex

Pros and Cons for Tobradex

Pros

Cons

Common Side Effects for Tobradex

Warnings for Tobradex