At what dosage is Pharmadex used (eye drops)? Instructions, analogues of local medicines are presented below. In addition, we will tell you about what is remarkable for this local medicine, and what contraindications it has.
basic information
Eye diseases can be organic and functional. In this case, the human visual analyzer is affected, which limits its ability to see.
Eye diseases are quite extensive, so they are usually grouped into sections. This greatly facilitates the diagnosis of the disease and the choice of treatment regimen.
Read more about the drug (form, packaging, composition)
What does a local drug like Pharmadex (eye drops) contain? The instruction says that the active element of this drug is dexamethasone sodium phosphate in terms of 100% dry matter. Also, the medication for the visual apparatus under consideration includes the following inactive components: boric acid, disodium edetate, sodium tetraborate, water for injection and benzalkonium chloride.
In what packaging is the Pharmadex medicine (eye drops) sold? Instructions for use of this solution are contained in a cardboard box. As for the medicinal substance itself, it is in a plastic bottle in an amount of 10 or 5 ml.
Pharmacological characteristics of the local agent
What is the drug "Pharmadex" (eye drops)? Instructions, reviews of doctors report that this drug is an anti-inflammatory drug that is actively used in ophthalmic practice.
The active ingredient of the drug in question (dexamethasone) is a synthetic glucocorticoid. This element is highly soluble, and also has a pronounced anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory activity, with a quick onset of action and a short duration.
Pharmacokinetics of the local drug for the eyes
What kinetic features does Pharmadex have (eye drops)? The instruction reports that after the instillation of the drug into the visual organs, it penetrates into almost all peri-ocular tissues. The metabolism of this drug is carried out mainly at the injection site.
We can not say that the mentioned medication almost does not enter the systemic circulation.
Indications for drug instillation
Why is Pharmadex indicated? Eye drops are actively used to treat diseases of the visual organs that are sensitive to steroids, non-infectious inflammatory or allergic origin (including diseases of the cornea, conjunctiva, anterior segment of the eye). It should also be noted that this tool is used in the treatment of inflammatory processes after surgery or eye injuries.
Eye Drops Prohibitions
When should you not use Pharmadex (eye drops)? The instruction says that contraindications to this drug are:
- conjunctival and corneal viral diseases (e.g. chickenpox or cowpox, superficial keratitis caused by Herpes simplex);
- hypersensitivity to the active or any other element of the drug;
- mycobacterial infections of the visual organs caused by Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and others;
- fungal diseases of the eye structures;
- untreated form of purulent infection of the visual organs.
The drug "Pharmadex" (eye drops): instructions
For children, this remedy is prescribed only in special cases. Basically, this drug is used in adults. It is intended for ophthalmic use only.
In acute or severe conditions, the medication should be instilled in the conjunctival sac in an amount of 1-2 drops (every hour). After improving the patient's condition, the frequency of instillations is reduced to 1-2 drops every 4 hours. Next, the dose is reduced to 1 drop three times a day.
For diseases of a chronic nature, the drug is used in an amount of 1-2 drops every 5-6 hours, until the desired effect is achieved.
With allergic manifestations, the drug is prescribed 1-2 drops every 4 hours until the desired result is achieved.
The duration of treatment with the drug in question is set by the ophthalmologist individually. As a rule, the course of therapy with this medicine is 2-8 days.
Side effects
What negative reactions does Pharmadex (eye drops) cause? The instruction states that, against the background of the use of this drug, the patient may experience
- decreased visual acuity, increased intraocular pressure, visual field disturbance, corneal perforation;
- short-term burning sensation, hyperemia, discomfort in the eye area, lacrimation, itching, local allergic reactions, tingling, swelling of the eyelids;
- glaucoma, mydriasis, keratitis, photophobia, ptosis, glaucoma with damage to the optic nerve, the formation of posterior cataract subcapsular.
It should also be noted that during glucocorticoid therapy, a person may develop bacterial, fungal or viral infections of the eyes, conjunctivitis or blepharitis.
An overdose of eye drops and interaction with other agents
There have been no reports of any systemic effects due to an overdose of Pharmadex. If adverse reactions occur, rinse your eyes with warm water in order to remove residual medication.
With prolonged use of the medication with “Iodoxuridine”, destructive processes in the corneal epithelium may intensify.
Other studies of the interaction of the drug "Pharmadex" with other drugs have not been conducted.
Pregnancy and Feeding Time
The safety of using the drug in question during pregnancy and lactation has not been established. However, it should be noted that with topical application of drops, its systemic manifestation is very low. In this regard, the risk is considered small.
Special information
The effectiveness and safety of the use of this drug for the treatment of children have not been established, therefore it is not recommended for babies.
Before the first use of the solution, the cap of the bottle should be screwed as much as possible so that the spike inside the cap punctures the hole.
Before using the medicine, it is recommended to hold it in the palm of your hand so that it warms up to the patient's body temperature.
Unscrewing the cap, it is removed. Then, slightly pressing on the body of the container, the solution is instilled into the eyes. After this, the drug is tightly closed again and stored in accordance with the recommendations specified in the attached instructions.
In the process of using this tool, it should be remembered that prolonged instillation of corticosteroids can lead to deterioration of visual acuity, ocular hypertension, loss of visual field, glaucoma, damage to the optic nerve, as well as to the development of cataract (subcapsular) of the posterior chamber of the eye.
In the process of treatment with this drug, it is recommended to constantly monitor the patient's pressure (intraocular). This is due to the fact that after using the medicine in some people, it can increase.
For people with glaucoma, the duration of therapy should be limited to 2 weeks.
Treatment with this drug is not recommended to be stopped prematurely. This is due to the possible development of repeated inflammation of the eye.
Pharmadex medication (eye drops), the instruction for which is indicated above, contains a preservative benzalkonium chloride. This element can easily lead to eye irritation, as well as discolor contact lenses. In this regard, before starting treatment, patients are required to remove the lenses, and should also be informed about the 15-minute interval between instillation and installation of the latter.
The safety of this medication has not been studied in people with liver and kidney disease. Due to the low systemic absorption of dexamethasone, this category of patients does not need dose adjustment.
As with other eye drops, temporary visual impairment, including blurring, can affect a person’s ability to drive vehicles.
The drug "Pharmadex" (eye drops): reviews and analogues
About what can replace the medication in question, the patient should tell his ophthalmologist. As a rule, with Pharmadex intolerance, the patient is prescribed such similar drugs as Taflotan, Vitasik, Tobradex, Thiotriazolin.
According to patient reviews, with diseases of the visual organs, this drug is capable of producing a lasting positive effect. Therefore, it is very often used in ophthalmic practice.
The only drawback of this tool is adverse reactions. Especially often they occur with prolonged use of the drug, as well as when exceeding the recommended doses. In this regard, you can use this medication only after consulting with an optometrist.