Both drugs are available in the form of eye drops by one Belgian pharmaceutical company Alcon. As part of both Tobrex and Tobradex, the modern antibiotic Tobramycin is used as the main active ingredient, which means that the circle of susceptible pathogens is similar.
Like other antibacterial drugs, these drugs should be prescribed by the attending physician strictly according to indications and are dispensed from pharmacies with a prescription.
With severe itching, lacrimation, pain, as well as the established bacterial etiology of the disease, the use of Toradex is effective. Before use, you should make sure that there is no damage to the corneal epithelium, as well as any concomitant pathology, such as glaucoma, cataract, fungal or viral infection of the eye.
In children under 12 years of age, postoperative patients, with a protracted and complicated course of the disease, it is recommended to appoint Tobrex as a safer drug. The use of these drugs during pregnancy and lactation is undesirable, since their safety for the fetus has not been proven. However, in the absence of an alternative, it is nevertheless necessary to give preference to a single drug.
Tobrex and Tobradex are pharmaceuticals used to treat infectious and inflammatory eye diseases. Despite the similarity of names and a single manufacturer, these are two different drugs. To determine how they differ from each other, and to understand which one to give preference to, it is necessary to consider in detail the mechanism of action, undesirable effects, as well as the scope of each of them.
Tobrex: pharmacological action, indications, contraindications, side effects
An antibacterial drug used more often in ophthalmic practice. The active substance – tobramycin, is a broad-spectrum antibiotic with a bactericidal effect. Belongs to the group of third-generation aminoglycosides.
In a bacterial cell, Tobramycin disrupts the permeability of the cytoplasmic membrane and protein synthesis, leading to its death. Affects both gram-negative and gram-positive strains of the pathogen, such as:
- E. coli.
- Proteus.
- Enterobacteria.
- Shigella.
- Haemophilus influenzae.
- Salmonella.
Inactive against streptococcus in general and enterococcus in particular.
The drug is available in the form of eye drops for topical use. Also described is a form for intravenous and intramuscular injection for systemic diseases.
Indications for the use of Tobrex are infectious and inflammatory eye diseases caused by bacteria strains sensitive to the active substance, and severe damage to other systems by these pathogens.
The dosage regimen is determined individually by the attending physician. Prescription drug.
Among the side effects of systemic use, there is a toxic effect on the organs of hearing, kidneys, and impaired neuromuscular transmission. Therefore, the drug is used with caution in hearing loss, myasthenia gravis, parkinsonism, renal failure, and also during pregnancy and lactation. An allergic reaction to the administration of the drug, nausea, vomiting, headache, disturbances in the blood coagulation system, anemia is possible.
When applied topically, drops may cause discomfort after instillation, conjunctival redness, lacrimation, burning, pain in the eye. The only contraindication to the use of this form of medication is the individual intolerance of its components.
Tobradex: pharmacological effect, indications, contraindications, side effects
This is a combined ophthalmic drug containing a broad-spectrum antibiotic and a glucocorticosteroid. It has a pronounced antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect.
The drug is used to treat infectious diseases of the eyes without damaging the corneal epithelium caused by bacterial strains sensitive to tobramycin. These include the following pathogens:
- Staphylococcus aureus, including golden and epidermal.
- Streptococcus.
- Pseudomonas.
- Klebsiella.
- E. coli.
- Haemophilus influenzae.
- Moraxella.
- Proteus.
- Neisseria.
Dexamethasone as part of the drug has anti-inflammatory and desensitizing effects.
Tobradex is available on prescription and its dosage, as well as the order of admission, is determined by the ophthalmologist based on the severity of the disease. When applied topically, the following side effects from the organ of vision are found:
- Allergic reaction at the place of use.
- The development of a secondary infection due to a decrease in local immunity.
- Progression of fungal, viral infection.
- Postcapsular cataract.
- Increased intraocular pressure.
- The development of dry eye syndrome.
- Visual impairment.
The use of the drug is contraindicated in case of individual intolerance to its components, as well as in children under 12 years of age, nursing women. Tobradex is not prescribed for diseases accompanied by damage to the corneal epithelium: erosion or corneal ulcer, a condition after removal of a foreign body, penetrating an organ of vision. The drug is effective only against bacterial infections, it can not be used for fungal, viral and mycoplasma lesions of the eyes.
What are the differences between Tobrex and Tobradex
First of all, it is worth noting that Tobrex is a single drug and contains one active substance. Tobradex is a combination drug, in addition to tobramycin, it contains a glucocorticosteroid dexamethasone. The difference in indications, contraindications, side effects of these drugs follows from this.
Dexamethasone is a synthetic steroid hormone. Along with anti-inflammatory effect, it has a large number of local and general undesirable effects. Therefore, the list of contraindications and side effects in Tobradex is significantly longer than in Tobrex.
Why, then, use this product in general if the single drug, ceteris paribus, is safer and twice cheaper? Not everything is so simple. As noted above, dexamethasone in the composition gives a good anti-inflammatory, desensitizing, anti-allergic effect. Its combination with tobramycin is prescribed for a more severe inflammatory reaction, severe symptoms of an infectious eye lesion.
Another difference of Tobradex is its use is possible only in ophthalmic practice. In various sources there is a description of not only local, but also systemic use of Tobrex for injection for severe infectious diseases. The combined drug is available only in drops for the treatment of the organ of vision
