Drops for eyes "Tropicamide" belong to the category of M-anticholinergics. The main ingredient that provides effectiveness is called tropicamide. The medication is made in the form of a liquid for ophthalmic use, and is not intended for people with high susceptibility to ingredients who have glaucoma, as well as against the background of increased pressure inside the eye. The drug is used very carefully if the patient is a pregnant or lactating woman, an infant. The tool is quite cheap, up to a hundred rubles per package.
Technical points
According to the rules, the drug "Tropicamide" is sold by pharmacies strictly upon presentation of the prescription of the attending doctor. There are two options for sale: drops with an effective compound content of 0.5% and twice as much. One bottle contains 5 ml of the substance. As additional components in the manufacture of the medicinal composition, special acids were used that normalize the level of acidity, undergone a high-quality purification process, water, sodium chloride, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid compounds.
When is it shown?
The use of Tropicamide drops is indicated if it is necessary to expand the patient’s pupil to diagnose the state of the ophthalmic system. Thus, it is possible to study the fundus and evaluate the quality and health of the lens. As part of the diagnosis, drops are prescribed if you need to study refraction, for this you should temporarily ensure paralysis of accommodation.
If the patient expects surgery, the use of Tropicamide is indicated to simplify laser surgery. Drops are prescribed if you need to operate the lens, retina, vitreous body.
As part of a therapeutic course, a medication is used if the patient has established the presence of an inflammatory focus in the visual system. Sometimes they resort to the drug after surgery if the lens is transplanted to the patient. You can use the tool to maintain the condition of the person who underwent surgery as part of the treatment of glaucoma.
Application rules
All ophthalmologists know what Tropicamide is: this product is designed for use in the treatment of eye diseases. Drops should fall into the conjunctival sac. During use, the funds are slightly pressed on the lacrimal canals. This helps limit absorption and minimize systemic effects.
To expand the pupil, one dose of a concentrated solution or two is sufficient if the content of the active compound reaches 0.5%. Between introductions make a five-minute pause. After a ten-minute gap, you can study the eye. If in the period up to half an hour after administration of the composition it is not possible to examine the organ, the agent is re-instilled for prolonged mydriasis.
The nuances of practice
As can be seen from the instructions, which describes in detail what Tropicamide is, the medicine is suitable if it is necessary to study the fundus of the patient. For the event, two drops of a weakly concentrated release are administered. It is advisable to perform the procedure after 0.3-2 hours after application of the product.
To ensure accommodative paralysis, it is better to use a highly concentrated release in the amount of two drops. A five minute pause is required between administrations. It is advisable to complete the study of the organ in 25-50 minutes after the second injection of the drug.
Features and Security
"Tropicamide" for children under the age of six is prescribed only in a weakly concentrated version.
If the need to use the drug occurs against a background of diseases, to achieve a therapeutic effect, it is necessary to select doses individually. The doctor assesses the condition of the patient. Self-prescribing these eye drops for eye diseases is strictly prohibited, as this is associated with unjustified health risks, including due to the systemic effect of the active compound.
Undesirable consequences
The instruction explaining what Tropicamide is and what possible side effects these drops can cause are somewhat scary: there are so many undesirable consequences of using the drug. Some develop allergies, dry in the mouth. When using the composition in children and adolescents, the probability of blood flow insufficiency is especially high, in adults, tachycardia is more common.
There is a risk of developing a psychotic syndrome. Using the tool can provoke behavioral abnormalities. This is more common for minors. Many adults note that the drug caused headaches. There is a risk of increased pressure inside the eye, a temporary deterioration in the quality of vision, increased sensitivity to light. Immediately after the administration of the medicine, active separation of tears and a slight burning sensation are possible. The duration of the reaction usually does not exceed a third of a minute.
Is it possible or not?
Due to its composition, Tropicamide is contraindicated in individuals with glaucoma. Especially high risks in the case of closed and combined forms. You can not use the tool with high sensitivity to any ingredient used in the manufacture of the medication.
If it is necessary to examine or prescribe a therapeutic course for a pregnant woman, the woman should be informed of all the possible risks not only for her, but also for the fetus. Therapy is prescribed only when the obvious benefits and the effect of "Tropicamide" exceed the possible risks.
Destination Features
Before administering the drug, if necessary, examination of the fundus, you need to check the ophthalmic system and exclude glaucoma. It is important to collect a medical history and do instrumental examinations. After the administration of the medicine, there is a risk of an acute attack of the disease. If glaucoma is diagnosed, the patient has a closed-angle type, then the doctor should examine the fundus, immediately after the analysis, you need to use a means of narrowing the pupil.
Sometimes in medical practice, a combination of tropicamide with phenylephrine is used. Such a combined preparation is also intended for use in ophthalmology, is available under various names. The most popular option is called Midrimax.
Safety and responsibility are key to success
When planning the use of Tropicamide, the doctor should immediately warn the patient or the person accompanying him that a temporary visual impairment is possible.
If a person uses contact lenses, it is necessary to remove them before installing the composition. Re-wear the lenses half an hour after the study or after a longer time period.
Using the medication, care must be taken and precautions, in particular, do not touch the tip of the dropper. This can lead to infection of the contents with pathological microorganisms, causing dirt to enter.
Pediatrics: subtleties
When planning to use Tropicamide drops to examine a child’s condition, the doctor must inform the adult accompanying the patient that it is possible to increase sensitivity to light and temporarily impair the ability to see.
With the introduction of drops to infants and young children, the probability of CNS disorders is especially high.
Note!
Ophthalmologists, who know well what Tropicamide is, recommend using the product to avoid work requiring a good ability to see and respond quickly. It is strictly forbidden to drive vehicles.
There is no official information about a possible overdose when using the drug in accordance with the instructions.
The combination of the drug with MAOI, antipsychotic drugs, quinidine leads to increased effectiveness of both types. A similar effect is observed when combined with anticholinergics, tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines. "Tropicamide" mutually enhances the effect of inhibiting histamine receptors, phenothiazines, procainamide.
Not so simple
It is known that many drugs at some point were used in medicine, and quite uncontrollably, for example, heroin - in the fight against cough. Morphine is also used today if it is necessary to alleviate very severe pain. Tropicamide eye drops have also become an attractive product for drug addicts. As studies have shown, if Tropicamide gets on the mucous membranes in a very high dose, there is a chance of coma, death.
As a drug, Tropicamide is injected into a vein. However, initially drug addicts used the drug in accordance with the instructions. Opiates lead to a sharp narrowing of the pupils, which allows you to notice the state of drug intoxication. To hide this symptom, many used drops that dilate the pupil.
New life-threatening practices
Drug-addicted drug-dependent people soon discovered yet another Tropicamide quality: this drug increases the effectiveness of other intoxicants. However, the risk of death from this is not reduced.
As the experiments of drug addicts showed, Tropicamide is also used independently as a drug, without dilution with other substances. The consequences of such health experiments are truly terrifying.
Consequences: extremely negative
A distinctive feature of people who have chosen Tropicamide as a narcotic is inappropriate behavior that immediately catches the eye of an outside observer. Some after an injection for a long time retain one pose, do not respond to the surrounding space and external stimuli. If there is a sufficiently large supply of funds, a person simply injects himself over and over again. This condition ends if the drug is depleted or the subject loses consciousness.
If Tropicamide is injected into a vein for several months in a row, the body responds with dire consequences. In general, manifestations of addiction are much more negative than, for example, when using opiates. The pupils of the addict are constantly dilated, due to which too much light enters them, which eventually leads to blindness. The skin becomes thin, translucent and as if waxed, the color is yellowish. In addition, the drug poisons the body as a whole. The liver suffers first - the risk of cirrhosis is increased.
Is it worth it?
As observations in hospitals have shown, people who are addicted to Tropicamide have a weak heart. The risk of an outbreak of inflammation in this organ increases, there is a possibility of arrhythmia. All this can cause death.
The introduction of "Tropicamide" into a vein leads to a deterioration in immunity. The addict is often sick, is characterized by increased susceptibility to the most harmless infections for the average person.
The concentration of hemoglobin in the circulatory system is significantly reduced, anemia is diagnosed. The addict loses weight, the activity of the nervous system is disrupted, the likelihood of psychosis and convulsions, epileptic attacks increases. Hallucinations are possible, there is a risk of insanity.
Consequences: lethal
It is noted that the effect of getting used to Tropicamide develops after the first injection of the drug into a vein. The phenomena described above are observed in some in the first weeks of admission, in others in the first few months. On average, the life of a drug addict who does not receive treatment is estimated at two years. There is unconfirmed information that the tool leads to the detachment of muscle tissue from the skeleton - this was observed in some patients who sought help. Until it has been precisely established, this phenomenon is possible with the introduction of Tropicamide into a vein on its own or in case of its combination with other narcotic substances.