Like all medicines, fusidic acid can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.
Common side effects of fusidic acid
Common side effects of cream or ointment
It's unusual to have side effects with fusidic acid cream or ointment.
Some people get skin irritation where they put the cream or ointment on. This happens in less than 1 in 100 people.
Keep using the cream or ointment, but talk to your pharmacist or doctor if skin irritation bothers you or does not go away.
Common side effects of eye drops
These common side effects of fusidic acid eye drops happen in more than 1 in 10 people. There are things you can do to help cope with them:
Burning, stinging, itching, soreness or dryness in the eye you're treating
Do not rub your eye as this can make things worse. Wet a clean flannel with cool water, close your eye and put the flannel over your eye for a few minutes to ease the symptoms.
Make sure you do not share the flannel with others, and wash it after you've used it.
Always wash your hands after touching your eyes to stop the infection spreading.
Blurred vision in the eye you're treating
Avoid driving, cycling or using tools or machines while this is happening. If it lasts for more than a day or two, speak to your doctor as they may need to change your treatment.
Keep using the eye drops, but talk to your doctor if the advice on how to cope does not help and these side effects bother you or do not go away.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects of fusidic acid are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1,000 people.
Call a doctor or call 111 now if:
- your eye infection gets worse after using the eye drops
- you have burning or stinging in your eye that does not go away
- you get itchy, raised areas of skin that may look red, although the redness may be harder to see on brown or black skin – this could be a sign of hives (urticaria)
Serious allergic reaction
In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to fusidic acid.
Immediate action required: Call 999 now if:
- your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
- you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
- your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
- your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
- you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
- someone faints and cannot be woken up
- a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)
You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.
These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.
Do not drive yourself to A&E.
The person you speak to at 999 will give you advice about what to do.
Other side effects
These are not all the side effects of fusidic acid cream, ointment or eye drops. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.
Reporting side effects
You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme.
Visit the Yellow Card website for more information about reporting side effects.