Overview

This medicine, in its topical ointment form, can be bought as a generic drug or the brand name, Centany. Though both forms work, and while the generic drug is less expensive than the brand name, there are some occasions when the drug in the generic form is not available in every strength making the one with the brand name more effective and powerful than its counterpart.  

Mupirocin is generally used along with other medications and is not a stand-alone medicine. It can be used as part of combination physical therapy as well.  

Why It Is Used

This type of medication functions as a treatment for a kind of skin infection that is caused by bacteria, and this condition is called Impetigo.  

How It Works

Mupirocin is used to stop the bacteria’s further growth, and at the same time, also works to eliminate the bacteria, which causes the infection. Some of these infections include the strains of staphylococcus aureus and streptococcus pyogenes. 

This thorazine medication comes from a class of drugs called topical antibacterial, which means that it belongs to a group of medicines that function similarly, thus also are used to treat conditions of similar nature.

Side Effects

Like any other medicine, this prescription drug may cause some side effects as well that may potentially range from mild to severe. It is not known to cause drowsiness but reveals to incur other possible side effects to its users.

If the user experiences any of the common side effects, and they appear to be severe or lasts for a long time and does not seem to go away, it is best to consult your doctor right away. However, if the side effects only seem mild, it should go away after a few days or a couple of weeks.

More Common Side Effects

• Burning
• Stinging pain
• Itching
• Rash
• Redness
• Dryness
• Tenderness
• Swelling of the treated skin
• Nausea
• Increased oozing at the infection site

If the symptoms of the side effects are on the more serious side, it is recommended that you see your healthcare provider right away, or the situation is life-threatening, call 911 for help.

Serious Side Effects

Its known serious side effect is to cause diarrhea that continues to persist, and this may be inflicted because of an infection triggered by the bacteria, Clostridium difficile, or C. diff.

Dosage and Administration

The usage for this medication, which includes the dosage and the number of times as well as for how long it should be used, depends on several different factors.  

These factors are:

• The user’s age
• The type of condition that is being treated
• How severe the condition is
• If the user has other medical conditions
• How the user’s body will react to the first dosage

Drug Forms and Strengths

This drug’s generic name is Mupirocin and comes in topical form. Its strength is 2%. While its brand name is called Centany and is available as a topical ointment as well. Centany also has the same strength, which is 2%.

Dosage for Impetigo

If this medicine is to be used to treat Impetigo, there are recommended average dosages for every age bracket.  

For the adult dosage, which is composed of the age group 18 years old and above, the usual dosage would be: to apply a small amount of the ointment to the skin that is infected. And it should be used three times each day for a maximum of 10 days only.

As for the child dosage which would have the age range of 2 months old up to 17 years old, the average recommended dose would be, to apply a small amount of the topical ointment to the skin that is infected for three times daily, and it can be used for up to 10 days.

For babies with ages 0 to 1 month old, there have not been any studies done yet for children who are younger than two months old, which is why it would be best to consult your pediatrician to check if this product will be safe for the baby. And in case it is, the doctor will also be able to give a recommendation for the safe dosage for this age group.

Drug Interaction

Before starting to use this product or any other medications, it is advised that you tell your doctor or the pharmacist about all your other medicines. If you are taking other drugs including vitamins, herbal, prescription or nonprescription drugs, it is best that your healthcare provider knows about them so they can tell you how this type of medication will work well along with the ones you are already taking, or if this product is even safe to use along with the others.

The reason for telling your doctor about your other medications is to avoid or prevent drug interactions because when this happens, the substance changes the way the medicine works. And the consequence is usually not good as it can only either be harmful or it may totally hinder the drug from working well or at all.

Telling your doctor about the other drugs that you are taking will not only prevent drug interactions, but he or she will also be able to manage all your medications properly. And you will be saved from experiencing side effects or other possible harmful effects that the drug interactions may cause.

Warnings and Precautions

If even while using this product and the skin infection does not seem to cause or show some improvements within the period of 3 to 5 days, or if the condition seems to be getting worse, it is best to see your doctor so he can assess your situation.  

The use of this medication may cause some discomfort, which is diarrhea, and it can be severe. Diarrhea can possibly occur for about two months or more after you stop using this medication.

In case you experience this type of side effect while under treatment using Mupirocin, it is recommended that you do not just start taking medicines for diarrhea without consulting your healthcare provider as it may cause further effects that may not be favorable to your health.

To be sure, and for your safety as well, ask your doctor if you have questions or concerns about the medicine or its potential side effects. If you are experiencing even just mild diarrhea but are persistent, do not hesitate to seek your doctor’s help.

However, if you start experiencing any of these symptoms such as severe itching causing skin rash, symptoms like burning, stinging, redness, swelling, or irritation on the skin, see your doctor as soon as possible.

Clinical Pharmacology

Mupirocin is a topical ointment that is used to treat the skin infection caused by bacteria called Impetigo. This product is available in two versions, which are generic drugs, and the brand name called Centany.  

This prescription drug comes in 3 different forms as well, which are: as a topical ointment, as a cream, and as a nasal ointment. The usage of the latter is that it is applied inside the nose.  

Medication Guide

Knowing your medicine properly is very important because you will be able to know the proper dosage, and what the drug actually does to your condition as well as the possible side effects that it may cause you. Knowing how to use it properly may let you avoid the experience of the medicine’s side effects. 

For the general application or use of this product:

• Apply the medicine three times each day with an interval of 8 hours per application
• This product, if in its topical ointment form, is only meant to be applied on the skin, and is never to be used in the nose. If you need the drug to be applied inside the nose, on the other hand, there is the nasal ointment that you can use instead. 

Proper storage of medicine is also highly necessary to maintain its efficacy and shelf life. So when reading the medication guide, it is also best to check about how to store the product appropriately.  

The proper storage for Mupirocin would be:

• The topical ointment form of this medicine should be maintained at room temperature at all times
• This medicine should be kept in temperatures between 20°C and 25°C 
• It is recommended not to freeze this prescription medicine
• Do not store or keep this product in moist or damp areas such as the bathroom.