Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes Mupirocin. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of Mupirocin with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking Mupirocin. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

• dry skin
• skin burning, itching, pain, rash, redness, stinging, or swelling

Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:

• Diarrhea (watery and severe; may also be bloody)
• signs of a serious allergic reaction (e.g., abdominal cramps, difficulty breathing, nausea and vomiting, or swelling of the face and throat)

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking Mupirocin.

Each gram of ointment contains mupirocin 20 mg (2%) in a bland water-soluble ointment base. Nonmedicinal ingredients: polyethylene glycol 400 and Polyethylene Glycol 3350.

Do not use Mupirocin if you are allergic to mupirocin or any ingredients of the medication.

Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications that you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. In many cases, interactions are intended or are managed by close monitoring. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Mupirocin.

Diarrhea: Although less common with antibiotics applied to the skin, people using Mupirocin may develop diarrhea caused by an infection with the bacteria C. difficile. If you have loose, watery, and bloody bowel movements, with or without Fever, or stomach cramps after using clindamycin topical solution, get medical attention as soon as possible. Diarrhea caused by C. difficile infection can lead to serious health problems if it is not properly treated.

Ointment caution: Polyethylene glycol (PEG) can be absorbed from open wounds and damaged skin. It is removed from the body by the kidneys. As with other PEG-based ointments, mupirocin ointment should not be used in conditions where absorption of large quantities of PEG is possible, especially in people with known kidney problems.

Overgrowth of organisms: Use of mupirocin occasionally allows the overgrowth of organisms not killed by the medication. If your condition worsens or does not improve in the expected time, call your doctor.

Pregnancy: The safety of Mupirocin for the treatment of infections during pregnancy is unknown. If you are or may be pregnant, talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks of using mupirocin.

Breast-feeding: If you are breast-feeding, talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks of using Mupirocin.

If you are using Mupirocin to treat a cracked nipple, your doctor may advise you to use a breast pump to pump the milk from the affected breast while you are using Mupirocin. The milk from the affected breast should be discarded.

Mupirocin belongs to the class of medications called topical antibiotics. It is applied topically (to the skin) to treat skin infections such as impetigo, caused by certain bacteria. It may also be used to prevent infections from developing in scrapes and minor cuts and injuries. It works by killing the bacteria that cause the skin infection.

Mupirocin may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of Mupirocin may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of Mupirocin may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.

Your doctor may have suggested Mupirocin for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are using Mupirocin, speak to your doctor. Do not stop using Mupirocin without consulting your doctor.

Do not give Mupirocin to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take Mupirocin if their doctor has not prescribed it.