VETERINARY TEAM REFERENCE

DEA & state schedules

Scheduling applies to the medication, not to the patient. This independent reference is not affiliated with the DEA.

Gentamicin + betamethasone + clotrimazole

FEDERAL STATUS

Not federally scheduled

The identified ingredients in this entry are not listed in the reviewed federal schedules. Prescription-only status, product restrictions and state law are separate questions.

Federal source ↗

State / prescribing or dispensing jurisdiction

STATE STATUS

Select a jurisdiction

Choose the state relevant to prescribing or dispensing. Patient residence alone may not determine every applicable rule.

What each federal schedule means

Highlighted rows match the verified federal or selected state schedule. The schedule describes legal control and abuse potential; it does not rank clinical usefulness or establish a dose.

Federal Schedules I–V: meaning and practice implications
Schedule	Meaning and practice
I	High abuse potential; no currently accepted medical use in U.S. treatment; lacks accepted safety under medical supervision. In practice: Not available for routine veterinary prescribing. Authorized research is a separate pathway.
II	High abuse potential; accepted medical use, sometimes with severe restrictions; abuse can cause severe dependence. In practice: No prescription refills under federal law. Strict prescribing, security and record requirements apply.
III	Less abuse potential than I or II; accepted medical use; abuse can cause moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence. In practice: Federal prescriptions allow up to five authorized refills within six months. State rules may be stricter.
IV	Lower abuse potential than III; accepted medical use; limited dependence risk relative to III. In practice: The same federal five-refill / six-month prescription limit applies. Controlled-drug handling still applies.
V	Lower abuse potential than IV; accepted medical use; limited dependence risk relative to IV. In practice: Still controlled. Check authorized refills and state limits; do not automatically apply the III–IV refill rule.

What this means for the chart

For a controlled medication, confirm the prescriber’s authority for the applicable schedule, the exact formulation and quantity, authorized refills, secure handling, and required inventory / dispensing records. Check the state’s veterinary rules and any prescription monitoring program (PDMP) requirements or exemptions.

A PDMP reporting requirement does not by itself make a drug scheduled. “Not federally scheduled” does not mean over the counter, risk-free, or exempt from state law. States may use additional categories, such as Schedule VI, outside the federal I–V system.

← Medication & Supplement Reference

VETERINARY TEAM REFERENCE · MEDICATION

Gentamicin + betamethasone + clotrimazole

An antibiotic–corticosteroid–antifungal combination identified by Otomax. The label addresses canine otitis externa associated with susceptible bacteria and/or yeast; selection should follow ear examination and appropriate organism assessment.

Otic antibacterial–corticosteroid–antifungalProduct-specific clinical reference

Updated October 16, 2026 · Sources and review status below

For veterinarians and veterinary staff. Product-label information is distinct from extra-label clinical practice. This is not a complete prescribing formulary or an automated interaction screen. Verify the current label, exact formulation, patient and species-specific clinical reference before use. Independent veterinary/pharmacy review remains pending.

Prescribing overview

Otomax combines antibacterial and antifungal treatment with inflammatory relief for canine otitis externa. Eardrum integrity and organism susceptibility must be assessed before treatment.

Key prescribing checks

Do not use with a known perforated eardrum; inspect the tympanic membrane before treatment.
Avoid concurrent ototoxic drugs. Hearing loss, head tilt or other vestibular changes need immediate clinical reassessment.
Review pregnancy and systemic steroid risks, prevent ingestion, and reassess hypersensitivity or resistant-organism overgrowth.

Uses by species

Approval and evidence apply to the named product, species, route and indication. An extra-label use requires its own prescribing assessment; a human indication is not an animal approval.

Dogs

FDA-approved Otomax indication

Acute/chronic otitis externa with susceptible yeast or bacteria

Not for perforated eardrums.

Use / indication source ↗

Pharmacology & pharmacokinetics

Mechanism and clinical role

Gentamicin inhibits bacterial protein synthesis; betamethasone reduces inflammation; clotrimazole supplies antifungal activity.

Absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination

No quantitative canine PK data are established by this label; inflamed skin can increase corticosteroid absorption.

SAFETY REFERENCE · PRODUCT & SPECIES SPECIFIC

Contraindications & cautions

Contraindications identify circumstances where the source says a product should not be used. Precautions call for assessment or monitoring. Interactions identify combinations to review. They are distinct categories; this summary does not replace a full interaction check or the current product label.

Otomax

U.S. canine otic-ointment label.

Contraindications · when not to use

Known eardrum perforation; discontinue if component hypersensitivity occurs.

Precautions & monitoring

Inspect eardrum; assess pregnancy, infection and systemic steroid risks. Stop for hearing/vestibular dysfunction.

Safety sources checked: October 16, 2026. Selected label information; independent veterinary or veterinary-pharmacy review remains pending. A label for dogs, cats, horses or humans does not establish safety for another species.

Adverse effects

Potential cochlear/vestibular toxicity and systemic corticosteroid effects.

These are selected source-reported effects, not incidence estimates or an exhaustive list. Spontaneous postmarketing reports do not by themselves establish frequency or causality.

Dosing & administration

Verify the source before prescribing. The regimens below summarize selected veterinary product labels, not every accepted veterinary use. They are not automatic substitutions between brands or formulations. Renal/hepatic disease, concurrent therapy, age, indication and clinical response can require a different plan.

Selected product-label regimens — not a patient-specific prescription
Species & indication	Labeled regimen	Eligibility & source
DogsLabeled otitis externaOtomax ointment	<30 lb: 4 drops; ≥30 lb: 8 drops from 7.5/15 g tubes or 15/30 g bottles. From 215 g bottle: respectively 2 or 4 drops Ear canal · Twice daily 7 consecutive days	Clean/dry ear and verify intact eardrum; massage after administration. Verify full dosing label ↗

Drop counts depend on container size.

Extra-label prescribing and food-animal residue requirements are separate from labeled regimens. FDA extra-label-use guidance ↗

Drug & supplement interactions

This is a selected interaction reference, not an automated or comprehensive combination checker. Reconcile prescription drugs, nonprescription products, supplements and recent treatment changes.

Otomax

U.S. canine otic-ointment label.

Avoid concurrent ototoxic medicines; this restriction appears in the contraindications section.

Interaction source ↗

Monitoring

Check clinical response and hearing/balance.

Client counseling

Stop and contact the veterinarian for hearing/vestibular changes; avoid concurrent ototoxic medicines.

This section supports the veterinary team's discharge discussion; it does not replace the product’s Client Information Sheet where one is required.

Storage & handling

2–25°C; shake bottle presentations before use.

Brands, formulations & ingredient identity

Active ingredients

Gentamicin sulfate · Betamethasone valerate · Clotrimazole

Other searchable names: Otomax ointment

Otomax contains gentamicin, betamethasone and clotrimazole, not the four Animax ingredients.

Products with similar ear-medication names may contain different steroids, antibiotics or vehicles.

The cited product is a canine ear ointment; a shared ingredient or similar name does not create cross-species approval.

Shared ingredients do not establish interchangeable concentrations, routes, release properties, species labeling or regional availability.

Otomax

Formulation: Otic ointment
Label / product scope: Dogs

Canine ear medication; eardrum and organism assessment required.

Product label / source ↗

References & review status

Clinical reference updated October 16, 2026. Independent veterinary or veterinary-pharmacy review not yet completed. Evidence gaps remain explicitly identified; this page does not claim equivalence to a comprehensive, professionally reviewed veterinary formulary.

01DailyMed: Otomax, March 2026 label ↗

Search another medication or supplement →

Prescribing overview

Key prescribing checks

Uses by species

Dogs

Pharmacology & pharmacokinetics

Mechanism and clinical role

Absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination

Contraindications & cautions

Contraindications · when not to use

Precautions & monitoring

Adverse effects

Dosing & administration

Drug & supplement interactions

Otomax

Monitoring

Client counseling

Storage & handling

Brands, formulations & ingredient identity

Active ingredients

Otomax

References & review status

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