What are Nevanak eye drops intended for? Contraindications to the use of this tool, its instructions for use, side effects and indications will be considered in the materials of this article. In addition, we will tell you about how much this drug costs, what composition it has and what experts think about it.
The composition of the medication, its release form and packaging
Nevanak eye drops are marketed as a 0.1% suspension, which can be either light yellow or light orange.
1 ml of such a drug contains 1 mg of nepafenac. As for auxiliary substances, the preparation includes the following components: 50% solution of benzalkonium chloride, sodium hydroxide, tyloxapol, mannitol, carbomer, disodium edetate, sodium chloride and purified water.
Nevanak eye drops can be bought in a dropper bottle made of low density polyethylene. Typically, such a medicine is placed in a cardboard box.
Pharmacological characteristics of the drug
Nevanak drops for the eyes are an active form of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.
After topical application, the active element of the drug penetrates through the cornea of the visual organ. There, with the help of hydrolases, it is converted into amfenac. This element inhibits the action of cyclooxygenase, that is, an enzyme that is necessary for the production of prostaglandins.
During the use of this medication, swelling of the eye tissues decreases noticeably, and all pain syndromes disappear. It should be noted that this drug does not have a special effect on pressure (intraocular).
Pharmacokinetics of the drug
How long is Nevanak (eye drops) absorbed? Reviews of experts say that this medication is fairly quickly absorbed through the cornea of the visual organ.
With daily instillation of the drug three times after 2 hours, low concentrations of the active substance are detected in the blood plasma.
With topical administration of the drug under the influence of intraocular hydrolases, the active element undergoes instant hydrolysis to amfenac. After that, its metabolism proceeds by hydroxylation of the aromatic ring. Subsequently, this leads to the appearance of conjugates with glucuronic acid.
It is impossible not to say that the eye drops "Nevanak", or rather, their active substance, is excreted only through the kidneys. But at the same time, the concentrations of amfenac and nepafenac in the urine cannot be accurately quantified.
The drug "Nevanak" (eye drops): instructions for use
The tool we are considering should be used only locally. Before use, the dropper bottle is shaken vigorously. Then it is opened and dripped one drop into the conjunctival sac. Do it three times a day.
As a rule, treatment with this drug is started exactly one day before the surgery, which should be carried out to eliminate cataracts. In addition, therapy with this agent is continued for the first two weeks of the postoperative period, including the day of surgery. By the way, 60-120 minutes before surgery, it is recommended to drip an extra drop of the drug.
Indications for the use of drops
What are Nevanak drops intended for? With farsightedness and myopia, they are prescribed only if the patient has inflammatory phenomena that arose against the background of surgical interventions regarding cataract removal. Also, this drug is used for the prevention and treatment of postoperative pain syndromes.
Contraindications to the use of drops
When can’t you use Nevanak eye drops? Analogues of this tool and the drug itself have the following contraindications:
- patient age up to 18 years (the efficacy and safety of the use of the drug in children have not been investigated);
- acute rhinitis, urticaria, and bronchial asthma caused by NSAIDs or acetylsalicylic acid;
- high sensitivity to the elements of the drug and to other NSAIDs.
Drug overdose
To date, cases of drug overdose "Nevanak" have not been identified. In case of excessive eye contact, the product must be washed off with warm water.
Side effects
What side effects do Nevanak eye drops have? According to the instructions that are attached to this tool, this medication has a fairly large number of negative effects. Therefore, before using it, the patient should always consult a doctor.
So what are the side effects of Nevanak eye drops? Analogs and the presented tool itself sometimes cause the following reactions:
- Local reactions . In some cases, patients who use this medication have pain and itching in the eye, as well as point keratitis, dry conjunctiva, blurred vision, the formation of crusts on the edges of the eyelids and a foreign body sensation. Also, this remedy can contribute to the appearance of iritis, keratitis, deposits in the cornea, discharge from the eyes, choroidal effusion, photophobia, eye irritation, allergic conjunctivitis, violation of the eyelids, eye discomfort, increased tearing and conjunctival hyperemia.
- Systemic side effects . Sometimes, patients using this drug have headaches, as well as increased blood pressure, nausea, sinusitis, vomiting, dry mouth, increased sensitivity and elongation of the skin (that is, dermatochalasis).
What other side effects can the Nevanak drug cause (eye drops)? Reviews of experts say that such a medication sometimes causes ulcerative keratitis, a defect or disease of the corneal epithelium, damage to the cornea, and the formation of inflammatory infiltrate that occurs on the anterior chamber of the eye. In addition, this tool can worsen the healing process of the cornea, reduce visual acuity and contribute to clouding of the cornea.
What to do in case of side effects?
If after applying the eye drops we are considering, you have side effects, it is recommended to immediately stop using the drug. In addition, the medication should in no case be used by those patients who have signs of corneal damage.
It cannot be said that the experience of using local non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs suggests that patients with complications after ophthalmic surgical interventions, corneal epithelial defects, corneal denervation, diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, as well as superficial eye diseases or repeated surgical operations, which were carried out in a short period of time, have an increased risk of side effects from the cornea. By the way, this fact can create a real threat of loss of vision.
Interaction with other medicines
According to studies, with the simultaneous use of Nevanak eye drops with other drugs, negative consequences are unlikely.
In addition, there is currently no information on the simultaneous use of the medication and prostaglandin analogues under consideration. But, given the mechanisms of action of these drugs, their simultaneous use is extremely undesirable.
In case of acute need, Nevanak eye drops can be used in combination with other drugs (ophthalmic), which are intended for topical use. In this case, the interval between their instillation should be at least five minutes.
Breastfeeding and Pregnancy
Is it possible to use Nevanak drops during pregnancy (with myopia or hyperopia)? Experts give a concrete answer to this question. During pregnancy, this medication is prohibited. Moreover, if the drops were prescribed to a young mother during lactation, then breastfeeding should be stopped immediately.
Tests on experimental animals revealed the reproductive toxicity of the drug we are considering. With a thorough study of the effect of the active substance on the reproductive organs of mice, the use of toxic doses (more than 10 mg / kg) each time led to dystocia, as well as an increase in the number of spontaneous abortions, a decrease in the growth and body weight of embryos and a decrease in their survival.
It is impossible not to say that in pregnant rabbits, taking this medication in low toxic doses (30 mg / kg) all the time led to an increase in rabbit malformations.
Special instructions for the use of eye drops
Where can I get Nevanak eye drops? In Grodno and other cities of Belarus, as well as in our country, this drug is sold in almost every pharmacy.
Those patients who have been prescribed this medicine should avoid prolonged sun exposure.
The use of non-steroidal agents (local) can quite easily lead to the formation of keratitis. In some susceptible patients, prolonged use of such medications causes thinning of the cornea, rupture of epithelial cells, as well as erosion of the cornea, its perforation and ulceration. Such side effects can contribute to vision loss. Patients with signs of rupture of epithelial cells should immediately stop using the medication. They also need to be under strict medical supervision.
The use of non-steroidal drugs (local) in combination with ophthalmic surgery can cause intense bleeding, including hyphema. Therefore, such eye drops should be prescribed with extreme caution to those patients who have a tendency to bleed. The same applies to patients who take drugs that increase blood coagulation time.
The medication we are considering contains a preservative such as benzalkonium chloride. According to experts, it can cause eye irritation, as well as discoloration of contact lenses. By the way, wearing the latter is highly not recommended during the postoperative period (after cataract removal). Also, contact lenses cannot be used during the treatment period with Nevanak.
It should also be noted that benzalkonium chloride, which is part of the drug, can cause toxic ulcerative keratitis and point keratitis in the patient. In this regard, with prolonged and frequent use of the medication, special medical monitoring of the condition of the patients is required.
The use of a local non-steroidal agent can prevent the timely detection of signs of acute eye infection, since they do not have antimicrobial properties. In the case of the development of such a disease, the single use of NSAIDs with antibacterial agents must be carried out in compliance with all precautions.
When using nepafenac, there is a likelihood of developing cross-sensitivity to phenylacetic acid derivatives, acetylsalicylic acid, and other non-steroidal agents.
During the use of this drug, it is highly recommended not to touch the tip of the vial with the medicine to any surface in order to avoid its contamination. After use, the vial should be well closed.
Analogs and cost of medication
How much are Nevanak eye drops (Belgium)? In pharmacies in Moscow and other cities of our country, this drug in a volume of 5 ml can be purchased for 500-600 Russian rubles. If for some reason you could not find this medication, then it should be replaced with an analog. As such a drug, Nepafenac eye drops can act.
Drops "Nevanak": expert opinion and patient reviews
Most experts are of the opinion that without eye drops "Nevanak" to carry out surgery for cataract removal is unsafe. Therefore, this drug is very often prescribed to patients with the mentioned diagnosis, especially if surgery is planned in the near future.
As for those people who were prescribed these drops, they do not observe a visible effect from them. Moreover, with prolonged use, this drug causes a rather large number of side effects. For example, some patients complain of haze in the eyes, while others complain of severe burning.
According to the instructions, with the mentioned side effects, the use of drops should be stopped immediately, which is very upsetting for many patients. After all, one bottle of this medicine is quite expensive.
Terms and conditions of storage of the drug
It is desirable to store Nevanak eye drops at a temperature of 5-8 degrees out of the reach of small children. The shelf life of this drug is 2 years. This drug should be fully used within four weeks after opening the dropper bottle. After the expiration date, which is indicated on the package, the medication in question is prohibited.