Over a year ago I went to the the doctor because I had conjunctivitis. They prescribed Chlorsig, which is an antibiotic ointment. My condition didn’t improve so I went back to the doctors- a different one this time- and they again prescribed Chlorsig. Upon recovery, I had severe eye problems where I couldn’t open my eyes in the morning. They were extremely dry and it was very painful to get my eyes moving and working. It took about 30 minutes for them to get going. I went to another doctor and he said use eye drops (water) and that the problem would probably resolve itself. It didn’t so I went to another doctor and he said it was common in old age (I’m 50) and to use eye drops to moisten the eye. I said it happened immediately upon using Chlorsig and I’d never had problems before. He wasn’t interested and finished off the consult. I insisted on seeing a specialist so he wrote me a referral and then told me there was nothing that could be done.

When I finally saw a specialist he seemed concerned that someone had prescribed Chlorsig. He said I probably wouldn’t have had conjunctivitis and should have washed the eyes and rode it out. He then said that Chlorsig was banned in most countries around the world except Australia and New Zealand.​

It would be nice for the Australian public (at the least your subscribers) to know that this drug is mostly banned around the world and that GPs here are prescribing it without thought or concern.