GENERIC NAME: PHYSOSTIGMINE - OPHTHALMIC OINTMENT (fye-so-STIG-meen, off-THAL-mick)

Medication Uses | How To Use | Side Effects | Precautions | Drug Interactions | Overdose | Notes | Missed Dose | Storage | Medical Alert

USES: This medication reduces pressure in the eye. It is used to treat glaucoma.

HOW TO USE: Wash hands first. Avoid touching the tip of the tube to any surface. Tilt head back and pull down lower eyelid to make a pouch. Place the tube as near as possible to the eyelid without touching it. Squeeze a 1/2 inch ribbon of ointment into the pouch of the eyelid. Blink your eyes a few times to allow dispersion of the medication over the eye surface. Wipe off any excess from the eyelids and eyelashes with tissue. Close lid tightly. Wash hands again to remove any ointment that may have come into contact with your hands.

SIDE EFFECTS: Headache, brow ache, or temporary burning or stinging may occur initially. These effects should disappear as your body adjusts to the medication. Vision may be temporarily blurred or unstable after applying medication. Use caution if driving or performing duties requiring clear vision. This medication may cause vision problems in poor light. Use caution especially when driving at night. Crusting of ointment on eyelids or eyelashes may occur causing them to stick together. If this occurs, wash them with water. Notify your doctor if you develop: vision changes, eye pain, increased sweating, increased salivation, increased urination, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, irregular heartbeat, difficulty breathing. Also, contact your doctor if blurred vision persists more than several hours in the morning after bedtime use. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

PRECAUTIONS: Tell your doctor if you have: other eye problems, asthma, intestinal disease, ulcers, low or high blood pressure, heart disease, an overactive thyroid gland, seizures, Parkinson's disease, obstruction of the urinary tract, drug allergies. Before having surgery with a general anesthetic, tell the doctor or dentist that you use this medication. This drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. It is not known if this medication appears in breast milk. Consult with your doctor before breast-feeding.