Neosporin

Neosporin

Combination of
Polymyxin B	Antibiotic
Neomycin	Antibiotic
Bacitracin	Antibiotic
Clinical data
AHFS/Drugs.com	Micromedex Detailed Consumer Information
Licence data	US FDA:link
Pregnancy cat.	?
Legal status	OTC (US)
Routes	Topical
Identifiers
ATC code	?
ChemSpider	10481985 Y
Y(what is this?)  (verify)

Image of the Neosporin product.

Neosporin (from Neo, (Greek) new + Sporos, (Greek) seed) is the product branding & formulas now owned by Johnson & Johnson of an antibiotic over-the-counter topical created under Warner-Lambert Consumer Healthcare, now a part of Pfizer. It is used in the prevention and fighting of infection and speeding the healing of wounds, although the use of antibiotics has raised common concerns.

The original ointment contains three different antibiotics: bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B, in a relatively low molecular weight patented base of cocoa butter, cottonseed oil, sodium pyruvate, tocopheryl acetate, and petroleum jelly.

The generic name for these products, regardless of the base, is "Triple Antibiotic Ointment". In China, this product is called "Complex Polymyxin B Ointment," which is manufactured by Zhejiang Reachall Pharmaceutical. The product was also marketed by The Upjohn Company under the name "Mycitracin", until 1997 when that name was acquired by Johnson & Johnson^[1].

Some people have allergic reactions to neomycin, so a "Double antibiotic ointment" is sold that only contains bacitracin and polymyxin B, such as the co-brand Polysporin.

A "Plus" variant of the ointment exists that adds the analgesic pramoxine, but uses the cheap, simple, long-lasting, but heavier petroleum jelly base that is common to many OTC topicals. The latest version of this, a high-absorption cream (pharmaceutical), removes the bacitracin which is unstable in such a base, but keeps the analgesic.

References

1. ^ "McNeil Consumer Products Co. strengthens worldwide lead in OTC pain reliever market", Business Wire (Fort Washington, PA: Business Wire), 1997 June 5, http://www.thefreelibrary.com/-a019478196, retrieved June 28, 2011 

External links

• Official website
• PubMed Health page