oxymetazoline ophthalmic

Oxymetazoline ophthalmic solution is an eye medication used to treat blepharoptosis, a disorder that causes the upper eyelid to droop, partially or fully blocking vision.

Blepharoptosis may be congenital in children, or because of aging, surgery, or disease in adults. Oxymetazoline ophthalmic is used to treat acquired blepharoptosis in adults, and not to be used for the treatment of congenital blepharoptosis in children.

Blepharoptosis is caused due to weakness of a particular eye muscle that lifts up the eyelid. Oxymetazoline ophthalmic is an alpha agonist drug that works by stimulating the alpha-adrenergic receptors in Mueller’s muscle in the eyelid. Alpha-adrenergic receptors are protein particles in smooth muscles that induce muscle contraction when stimulated. Contraction of the Mueller’s muscle lifts up the upper eyelid.

• Alpha agonists, including oxymetazoline ophthalmic may impact blood pressure. Use with caution in patients with:
  • Uncontrolled high or low blood pressure (hypertension or hypotension)
  • Positional (orthostatic) hypotension
  • Severe or unstable cardiovascular disease
• Use of oxymetazoline ophthalmic with caution in patients with cerebral or coronary vascular insufficiency, or Sjogren’s syndrome, it can worsen the condition.
• Use with caution in patients with untreated narrow-angle glaucoma, a condition that prevents normal drainage of the fluid in the eye resulting in increased intraocular pressure, damage to the optic nerve, and loss of vision. Use of oxymetazoline ophthalmic may increase the risk of angle closure.

Common side effects of oxymetazoline ophthalmic include:

• Application site pain
• Transient stinging or burning of the eyes
• Eye irritation
• Dry eye syndrome
• Red eye (conjunctival hyperemia)
• Blurred vision
• Corneal inflammation with pinpoint lesions (punctate keratitis)
• Headache

Call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms or serious side effects while using this drug:

• Serious heart symptoms include fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, shortness of breath, and sudden dizziness;
• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, severe weakness, vomiting, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady;
• Severe nervous system reaction with very stiff muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, and feeling like you might pass out; or
• Serious eye symptoms include blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights.

This is not a complete list of all side effects or adverse reactions that may occur from the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may also report side effects or health problems to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Ophthalmic Solution

• 0.1% (as hydrochloride [HCl] salt [0.09% as base])

Adult:

Blepharoptosis

• Indicated for acquired blepharoptosis in adults
• Instill 1 drop to affected eye(s) once daily

Pediatric:

• Safety and efficacy not established

Overdose

• Excessive use of oxymetazoline ophthalmic can worsen ocular side effects and result in systemic absorption which can cause headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, or blurred vision.
• Overdose from oral ingestion can cause nausea, vomiting, lethargy, decreased respiration, rapid or slow heart rate (tachycardia or bradycardia), low or high blood pressure (hypotension or hypertension), sedation, drowsiness (somnolence), pupil dilation (mydriasis), stupor, low body temperature (hypothermia), drooling, and coma.
• Overdose of oxymetazoline ophthalmic is treated with symptomatic and supportive care.

Inform your doctor of all medications you are currently taking, who can advise you on any possible drug interactions. Never begin taking, suddenly discontinue, or change the dosage of any medication without your doctor’s recommendation.

• Oxymetazoline, ophthalmic has no listed severe or serious interactions with other drugs.
• Moderate interactions of oxymetazoline, ophthalmic include:
  • safinamide
• Oxymetazoline, ophthalmic has no listed mild interactions with other drugs.

The drug interactions listed above are not all of the possible interactions or adverse effects. For more information on drug interactions, visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker.

It is important to always tell your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider about all prescription and over-the-counter medications you use, as well as the dosage for each, and keep a list of the information. Check with your doctor or healthcare provider if you have any questions about the medication.

• There is no information on the safety of oxymetazoline ophthalmic use in pregnant women, however, animal reproductive studies did not show evidence of fetal harm with use of the drug. Minimum effective dose of oxymetazoline ophthalmic should be used with caution in pregnancy, to reduce the risk of fetal exposure from systemic absorption.
• It is not known if ophthalmic administration can result in sufficient systemic absorption of oxymetazoline to be present in breastmilk, however, the drug is present in animal milk. Decision to breastfeed should be made after considering the benefit of treatment to the mother and the risk of drug exposure to the breastfed infant.

• Use oxymetazoline ophthalmic exactly as directed.
• Do not share your eye drop dispenser with others, in order to prevent the spreading of infection.
• Do not touch the tip of the ophthalmic solution container to any surface to avoid contamination.
• Exercise care to avoid contact with the container tip to the eye to prevent injury to the eye.
• Oxymetazoline ophthalmic solution is for topical ophthalmic use only.
• Store safely out of reach of children
• In case of accidental oral ingestion and overdose, seek immediate medical help or contact Poison Control.