一药难求！那他霉素滴眼液为何如此稀缺？

Keratitis is one of the common ophthalmological diseases in my country. Because the cornea is located at the front of the eyeball, it is more susceptible to various microorganisms or physical damage, which can cause inflammation. There are various causes of keratitis, the more common one is caused by sensitive microorganisms. Natamycin eye drops are one of the most commonly used drugs for the treatment of fungal keratitis and corneal ulcers, and are also one of the most effective drugs against fungal infection and inflammation. Because of its excellent therapeutic effects, it is usually the drug of choice for most patients. Because of this, natamycin eye drops are out of stock everywhere.

1. Why can natamycin eye drops fight fungi?

Natamycin eye drops are a drug suitable for fungal blepharitis, conjunctivitis and keratitis caused by microorganisms that are sensitive to this product, including Fusarium solani keratitis.

Natamycin is a tetraene polyene antibiotic extracted from Streptomyces natalensis. It has in vitro activity against a variety of yeasts and filamentous fungi, including Candida, Aspergillus, Cephalosporium, Fusarium and Penicillium. Its mechanism of action is through the combination of drug molecules with the sterol molecules in the fungal cell membrane to form a polysterol complex, thereby changing the permeability of the cell membrane and depleting the basic cellular components in the fungal cells, thus achieving the effect of killing fungal cells.

2. Why is natamycin eye drops preferred for fungal eye infections?

There are many types of fungal eye infections and inflammations, such as fungal blepharitis, conjunctivitis and keratitis, etc. The treatment process of this type of inflammation is more troublesome. Currently, there are relatively few types of antifungal drugs, and patients have relatively few options.

Compared with other similar drugs, natamycin eye drops have good permeability after being instilled into the eyes. After instillation, they can reach a good therapeutic concentration in the aqueous humor and have a good therapeutic effect. Therefore, natamycin eye drops are the first choice for this type of inflammation, and the demand is greater than other drugs of the same type.

Compared with eye drops of the same type, what are the outstanding advantages of natamycin eye drops? What are the differences?

3. What is the difference between natamycin eye drops and fluconazole eye drops?

The causes of eye inflammation are generally divided into two types. One is infectious inflammation, including bacterial, viral, and fungal infections; the other is aseptic inflammation, such as intraocular uveitis. Fungal infections require antifungal treatment. Commonly used antifungal infection drugs include fluconazole eye drops, natamycin eye drops, etc.

Fluconazole eye drops are mainly used to treat fungal keratitis caused by Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Cryptococcus and Coccidioides and have broad-spectrum antifungal effects. Its mechanism of action is to kill fungi by inhibiting the biosynthesis of ergosterol, an important component of the fungal cell membrane. However, there are many contraindications for using this drug, and fluconazole is prone to cross-allergic reactions with other azole drugs, which can cause mild transient increases in AST and ALT, and occasionally fatal hepatotoxicity and many other serious adverse reactions. It is not safe and has certain intolerability.

Like fluconazole eye drops, natamycin is also a broad-spectrum fungal antibiotic with good antifungal effects. A trial evaluated the efficacy of natamycin eye drops in the treatment of fungal corneal ulcers. A total of 23 patients were treated with natamycin eye drops. A total of 18 patients were cured, and the treatment was effective in 5 patients. Among all patients, 10 patients had a visual acuity of 0.1 or above. It can be seen that natamycin eye drops have excellent therapeutic effect and can improve the quality of life of patients. It is an ideal drug for the treatment of superficial fungal corneal ulcers. The main adverse reactions include foreign body sensation, irritation, pain, conjunctival congestion, mild corneal epithelial erosion and other minor and easy-to-find adverse reactions. Overall, it is safe and well tolerated.

Therefore, the usual drug of choice for patients is natamycin eye drops.

4. How to use natamycin eye drops and precautions

How to use:

1. Please shake well before use.

2. The optimal starting dose of 5% natamycin for the treatment of fungal keratitis is 1 drop each time, once every 1-2 hours, and drip it into the conjunctival sac. After 3-4 days of use, switch to 1 drop each time, 6-8 times a day. Treatment generally lasts 14-21 days, or until the inflammation subsides.

3. In most cases, it is necessary to gradually reduce the drug dosage every 4-7 days to ensure the elimination of pathogen replication.

4. The initial dose for treating fungal blepharitis and conjunctivitis can be smaller, 1 drop each time, 4-6 times a day.

Things to note:

1. As with other types of purulent keratitis, the initiation and duration of treatment for fungal keratitis should be determined based on clinical diagnosis, laboratory tests such as smears and corneal scraping cultures, and response to medications. If possible, the activity of natamycin against the fungi of interest should be determined in vitro. The effectiveness of natamycin alone in the treatment of fungal endophthalmitis has not been established.

2. It is only suitable for eye drops and cannot be used for injection.

3. If the keratitis does not improve 7-10 days after using this product, it means that the microorganism causing the infection is not sensitive to natamycin. The decision to continue treatment should be based on clinical re-examination and other laboratory test results.

4. Apply this product regularly to the epithelial ulcer or drop it on the fornix.

5. Due to the limited number of cases using this product, adverse reactions that we have not yet observed may occur. Therefore, it is recommended that patients using this product be checked at least twice a week. If a suspected drug toxic reaction occurs, use should be stopped immediately.

6. Instructions for patients: Do not touch the buckle of the medicine bottle to prevent contamination of the medicine liquid.

5. Natamycin Eye Drops Market Current Situation

Natamycin eye drops are one of the most effective antifungal drugs. Due to its efficacy and serious shortage, its price is more expensive than other similar products. Please consult your medical companion for details.

6. How can I buy natamycin eye drops?

Natamycin eye drops are currently out of stock in China, and pharmacies and hospitals across the country do not have them on sale or in stock. However, there are some formal medical institutions (such as Medical Companion Travel) that can purchase natamycin eye drops through formal overseas channels.

Summary

Treating diseases requires prescribing the right medicine. Although Natamycin Eye Drops is one of the best drugs for treating eye inflammation due to fungal infections and is the first choice for most patients, you must not blindly follow the trend. Patients need to go to a regular hospital for timely treatment to ensure that their symptoms meet the requirements for using Natamycin Eye Drops, and use Natamycin Eye Drops under the guidance of a doctor. The purchase of medicines must also be done through formal channels. Patients and friends in need can send private messages to customer service to inquire about the purchase process.

【1】Source: Some information comes from China Medical Information Query Platform (https://www.dayi.org.cn/drug)

【2】Source: Some information comes from China Medical Information Query Platform (https://www.dayi.org.cn/drug)

【3】Source: Some information comes from China Medical Information Query Platform (https://www.dayi.org.cn/drug)