Pred-G (gentamicin / prednisolone) is an antibiotic-steroid combination eye medication that works well to treat eye inflammation and bacterial eye infections. It's only available as a brand medication, and it can cause high eye pressure and eye injury if used for a long time.
Inflamed eyes that have a bacterial infection
Inflamed eyes that could become infected with bacteria
Pred-G (gentamicin / prednisolone) contains two medications that work together to treat or prevent inflammation and bacterial infections of the eye.
Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic. It kills bacteria by blocking their ability to make proteins that are necessary for their protective covering.
Prednisolone is a corticosteroid. It lessens eye inflammation and relieves eye pain.
Source: DailyMed
Applied directly where the swelling or infection is
Causes fewer serious side effects than oral medications
Available as an eye drop and eye ointment
Has to be used multiple times a day, especially in the beginning
Prednisolone raises your risk of eye damage and glaucoma if used too long (longer than 10 days).
Not for use in children
Only available as a brand medication, so it can be more expensive than alternative medications
Be sure to use Pred-G (gentamicin / prednisolone) for the full amount of time your healthcare provider instructed, even if you start to feel better. Stopping Pred-G (gentamicin / prednisolone) too soon can cause your infection to come back and be harder to treat.
Wash your hands before and after using Pred-G (gentamicin / prednisolone). Don't touch the tip of the container with your eye, hands, or any other surface. This will help you avoid contaminating the medication and your eyes with germs or bacteria.
Eye drops: Shake the bottle well before each use. After placing the drop(s) in your eye, close your eye and put one finger to the inner corner of your eye by the nose for 1 to 2 minutes. This helps make sure your eye absorbs the drop.
Eye ointment: Gently pull down your lower eyelid and put the ointment into the space between your eyelid and eyeball. Then, let go of the eyelid, look downwards, and close your eye for 1 to 2 minutes. This helps the medication reach all the necessary parts of the eye.
Don't put any other medications in the eye for at least 5 minutes before or after Pred-G (gentamicin / prednisolone).
Don't wear contacts while using Pred-G (gentamicin / prednisolone). It's usually best not to wear contacts while you have an eye infection, since this can affect how quickly your symptoms improve. Be sure to throw away the contacts you were wearing before you started using Pred-G (gentamicin / prednisolone), as they most likely have bacteria on them. Your provider will let you know when it is safe to wear contacts again.
If you finish your prescription of Pred-G (gentamicin / prednisolone) and feel like you need a refill, you will need follow-up eye exams with your provider to make sure the medication is working and not causing side effects.
If your symptoms don't start to get better after 2 days or if they get worse, contact your provider.
Pred-G (gentamicin / prednisolone) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Risk factors: Using Pred-G (gentamicin / prednisolone) for a long time
Because it contains a steroid, using Pred-G (gentamicin / prednisolone) for a long time can lead to high eye pressure (glaucoma), which can damage your eye nerves and affect your vision. Let your provider know right away if you notice any eye pain, discomfort, or change in vision that doesn't go away. If you are going to be using Pred-G (gentamicin / prednisolone) for a while (for 10 days or longer), you should follow up with your provider or eye specialist to check the pressure in your eyes.
Risk factors: Using Pred-G (gentamicin / prednisolone) for a long time | History of herpes eye infection
Since Pred-G (gentamicin / prednisolone) contains a steroid, which slows the immune system, there is a chance of getting a fungal or viral eye infection. Steroids can also affect the symptoms of the infection by making them better or worse. If your eye(s) feel worse while using Pred-G (gentamicin / prednisolone) or if your symptoms don't start to get better after a couple of days, talk to your provider right away. You will need to follow up with your provider if you finish your prescription of Pred-G (gentamicin / prednisolone) and feel like you need a refill.
Risk factors: Using steroids in the eye for a long time | Thin corneas or sclera (the white part of your eye)
The steroid in Pred-G (gentamicin / prednisolone) can make certain parts of your eye thinner. When the corneas or sclera (the white part of your eye) get too thin, they can tear and cause more serious damage. Your risk of these problems is higher if you already have thin corneas or sclera or if you are using this medication for a long time. Call your provider right away if you experience eye pain or discomfort, if your eye is tearing up more than usual, or if your vision gets worse.
Eye drops: Place 1 drop inside the lower eyelid(s) of the affected eye(s) 2 o 4 times daily. For the first couple days, you may need to start off using Pred-G (gentamicin / prednisolone) every hour, then use it less often as your symptoms improve. The eye drops contain 0.3% of gentamicin and 1% of prednisolone.
Eye ointment: Place a small amount (about a half-inch sized ribbon) of ointment inside the lower eyelid(s) of the affected eye(s) 1 to 3 times daily. The eye ointment contains 0.3% of gentamicin and 0.6% of prednisolone.
Inflamed eyes that have a bacterial infection
Inflamed eyes that could become infected with bacteria
Eye inflammation from a bacterial infection in the eye
Eye inflammation when there's a risk for a bacterial infection in the eye
Eye inflammation from a bacterial infection in the eye
Eye inflammation when there's a risk for a bacterial infection in the eye
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