Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For nasal mupirocin, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to mupirocin. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy—Nasal mupirocin has not been studied in pregnant women. However, nasal mupirocin has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in animal studies.

Breast-feeding—It is not known whether nasal mupirocin passes into breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are using this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children—Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients and there is no specific information comparing use of nasal mupirocin in children with use in other age groups. However, a study in newborns and infants found that significant amounts of nasal mupirocin were absorbed into the body.

Older adults—No information is available comparing use of nasal mupirocin in the elderly with use in other adults. However, it has not been reported to cause different side effects or other problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are using nasal mupirocin, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are using any of the following:

• Other medicines used in the nose—Use at the same time as intranasal mupirocin is not recommended