polysporin
Pharmaranks rates Polysporin 3.6/5 for recall safety — an independent score from its FDA recall history and its manufacturer's record. Polysporin is a combination medicine containing Bacitracin Zinc and Polymyxin B Sulfate.
Bacitracin Zinc and Polymyxin B Sulfate · by Glaxosmithkline
Based on 1 source · Recall-safety score from FDA recall history — this product's own recalls and its manufacturer's record. Not an efficacy or quality rating. methodology →
Key facts
- Active ingredient
- Bacitracin Zinc and Polymyxin B Sulfate
- Form
- Spray/Inhaler, Topical
- Strength
- Bacitracin Zinc 10,000 UNITS/GM; Polymyxin B Sulfate 2,000,000 UNITS/GM
- Type
- Prescription (Rx)
- Brand or generic
- Brand-name
- Manufacturer
- Glaxosmithkline
- FDA application
- NDA050167
- Availability
- Discontinued (per FDA)
Dosage forms
Spray/Inhaler and Topical
The forms currently marketed in the U.S., per the FDA National Drug Code Directory.
Ways to save
Ask for the generic
Same active ingredient, far cheaper. Is there a generic? →
Request a 90-day supply
Bulk fills usually lower the per-dose price vs monthly refills.
Use copay cards
Manufacturer copay cards & patient-assistance programs — especially for brand drugs.
Compare alternatives
A same-class option may cost less. See alternatives →
Frequently asked questions
- How is Polysporin rated?
- pharmaranks gives Polysporin a composite score of 3.6 out of 5, currently based on 1 weighted source (FDA regulatory recall-safety data weighted highest). See our methodology at /how-we-rate.
- Is there a coupon or discount for Polysporin?
- pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Polysporin. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.
- Who makes Polysporin?
- Polysporin is marketed by Glaxosmithkline. You can see Glaxosmithkline's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.
- Is Polysporin a brand-name or generic drug?
- Polysporin is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Bacitracin Zinc and Polymyxin B Sulfate.
- Is Polysporin available over the counter?
- No. Polysporin is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.
- What forms does Polysporin come in?
- Polysporin is currently marketed as spray/inhaler and topical, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.
- Is Polysporin FDA-registered?
- Polysporin is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA050167. You can verify this on its official FDA label.
- Has Polysporin been recalled by the FDA?
- Polysporin has no FDA recalls recorded under its own application in the openFDA enforcement database. Its recall-safety score reflects its manufacturer's overall recall record. This is general reference, not medical advice — check the FDA recall database for the latest alerts.
- Is Polysporin safe?
- There's no single safe-or-not verdict. pharmaranks gives Polysporin a recall-safety score of 72/100, based on its FDA recall history (no recalls under its own FDA application) — not an efficacy or side-effect rating. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings before use, and always consult a licensed professional.
Information is sourced from public FDA regulatory data. Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.
What people report to the FDA about BACITRACIN ZINC AND POLYMYXIN B SULFATE
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 102 reports naming BACITRACIN ZINC AND POLYMYXIN B SULFATE — the active ingredient in Polysporin, and the FDA flagged 57% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- weight increased14 reports
- headache13 reports
- wheezing13 reports
- hypersensitivity12 reports
- rash12 reports
- weight decreased12 reports
- wound12 reports
- wound infection12 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean BACITRACIN ZINC AND POLYMYXIN B SULFATE caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved September 25, 2026.
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polysporin
72/100