colistin, hydrocortisone, neomycin, and thonzonium (otic)

Skip to the navigation

Pronunciation: koe LIS tin, HYE droe KOR ti sone, NEE oh MYE sin, thon ZOE nee um (OH tik)

Brand: Coly-Mycin S, Cortisporin-TC

What is the most important information I should know about this medicine?

You should not use colistin, hydrocortisone, neomycin, and thonzonium if you have a hole in your ear drum (ruptured ear drum).

What is colistin, hydrocortisone, neomycin, and thonzonium?

Colistin and neomycin are antibiotics that fight bacteria.

Hydrocortisone is a steroid. It reduces the actions of chemicals in the body that cause inflammation.

Thonzonium is a wetting agent.

Colistin, hydrocortisone, neomycin, and thonzonium otic (for the ears) is a combination medicine used to treat outer ear infections caused by bacteria.

This medicine will not treat a viral infection such as herpes or shingles.

Colistin, hydrocortisone, neomycin, and thonzonium otic may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my health care provider before using this medicine?

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to colistin, hydrocortisone, neomycin, or thonzonium, or if you have a hole in your ear drum (ruptured ear drum).

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether colistin, hydrocortisone, neomycin, and thonzonium otic will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine.

Colistin, hydrocortisone, neomycin, and thonzonium otic can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

This medicine should not be used on a child younger than 1 year old.

How should I use this medicine?

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Before using the medicine, clean and dry your ear canal with sterile cotton.

Shake the ear drops well just before each use.

To use the ear drops:

  • Lie down or tilt your head with your ear facing upward. Open the ear canal by gently pulling your ear back, or pulling downward on the earlobe when giving this medicine to a child.
  • Hold the dropper upside down over your ear and drop the correct number of drops into the ear.
  • Stay lying down or with your head tilted for at least 5 minutes. You may use a small piece of cotton to plug the ear and keep the medicine from draining out.
  • Do not touch the dropper tip or place it directly in your ear. It may become contaminated. Wipe the tip with a clean tissue but do not wash with water or soap.

As an alternative to dropping the medicine into your ear, you may insert a small piece of cotton into the ear canal and then drop the medicine directly onto the cotton to soak it. Leave the cotton in your ear for at least 24 hours, and keep it moist by adding a few drops of the medicine to the cotton every 4 hours. Replace the cotton at least every 24 hours. Follow your doctor's instructions about the use of cotton with this medication.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse while using colistin, hydrocortisone, neomycin, and thonzonium otic.

Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Skipping doses may also increase your risk of further infection that is resistant to antibiotics.

Do not use colistin, hydrocortisone, neomycin, and thonzonium otic for longer than 10 days in a row unless your doctor tells you to. Long-term use of neomycin may cause damage to your hearing.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Use the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

An overdose of this medicine is not expected to be dangerous. Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 if anyone has accidentally swallowed the medication.

What should I avoid while using this medicine?

This medicine is for use only in the ears. Avoid getting the medicine in your eyes, mouth, and nose, or on your skin. Rinse with water if this medicine gets in or on these areas.

What are the possible side effects of this medicine?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have:

  • severe burning or other irritation after using the ear drops;
  • hearing loss; or
  • skin rash, redness, swelling, itching, dryness, or scaling.

Common side effects may include:

  • mild itching after using the ear drops.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect this medicine?

It is not likely that other drugs you take orally or inject will have an effect on colistin, hydrocortisone, neomycin, and thonzonium otic used in the ears. But many drugs can interact with each other. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all medicines you use, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about colistin, hydrocortisone, neomycin, and thonzonium otic.


Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2017 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 2.02. Revision date: 9/24/2014.

Your use of the content provided in this service indicates that you have read, understood and agree to the End-User License Agreement, which can be accessed by clicking on this link.