Chloramphenicol

Yes, chloramphenicol is a pharmacy (P) medicine and can only be purchased over-the-counter. This means you’ll have to complete a quick health questionnaire before purchasing chloramphenicol on our website, just so our pharmacists can make sure this medicine is safe and suitable for you.

Always wash your hands before and after using chloramphenicol ointment to prevent passing the infection to your other eye. Remove the cap and place the nozzle close to your eye without touching the eyeball, then, gently pull the lower eyelid downwards and look up. Squeeze the tube gently and apply about 1cm of the ointment to the space between the lower eyelid and the eye. Keep your eye closed for a moment, then replace the cap securely.

Chloramphenicol is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections, most commonly eye infections like conjunctivitis and sometimes ear infections. As chloramphenicol is an antibiotic, you must finish the recommended course - typically 5 days - even if you’ve already started to feel better.

Chloramphenicol is an antibiotic medicine mainly used to treat eye infections like conjunctivitis, and occasionally ear infections. Chloramphenicol is available at pharmacies in eye ointments or eye drops and available as ear drops on prescription only. It can also be given intravenously or as capsules, however, this is only for serious infections and is usually always given in the hospital.