Drugs List

Therapeutic Indications

Uses

Eye redness due to minor irritations : short-term symptomatic relief

Contraindications

Children under 12 years
Wearing of contact lenses
Glaucoma
History of intra-ocular surgery
Severe ocular disorder

Precautions and Warnings

Cardiac disorder
Depression
Diabetes mellitus
Hypertension
Hyperthyroidism

Advise patient blurred vision may affect ability to drive/operate machinery
Contains benzalkonium chloride
Discard any remaining solution 28 days after opening
Discontinue if the solution changes colour or becomes cloudy
In combined therapy, administer eye products at least five minutes apart
To reduce systemic absorption compress lacrimal sac during administration
Prolonged use may lead to rebound ocular hyperaemia
Discontinue if irritation persists/worsens or continued redness occurs
Discontinue if patient develops decreased visual acuity +/or ocular pain
Do not exceed recommended dosages and frequency of administration
Advise patient to avoid touching the eye/other surfaces with container tip
Advise patient to consult a doctor if symptoms persist for more than 24hrs
Remove contact lenses before use and re-insert 15 minutes after use

Pregnancy and Lactation

Pregnancy

Naphazoline hydrochloride with hamamelis is considered safe for use in pregnancy.

The manufacturer notes that although the safety of this medication during pregnancy has not been established, it is unlikely that sufficient of the active ingredients will reach the foetus to be harmful.

The use of all medication in pregnancy should be avoided whenever possible; particularly in the first trimester. Non-drug treatments should also be considered. When essential, a medication with the best safety record over time should be chosen, employing the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Polypharmacy should be avoided. Teratogens taken in the pre-embryonic period, often quoted as lasting until 14 to 17 days post-conception, are believed to have an all-or-nothing effect. Where drugs have a short half-life, and when the date of conception is certain, this may allow women to be reassured where drug exposure has occurred within this time frame. Further advice may be available from the UK National Teratology Information Service (NTIS) and through ToxBase, available via password on the internet ( www.toxbase.org ) or if this is unavailable at the backup site ( www.toxbasebackup.org ).

Lactation

Naphazoline hydrochloride with hamamelis is considered safe for use in breastfeeding.

The manufacturer notes that although the safety of this medication during breastfeeding has not been established, it is unlikely that sufficient of the active ingredients will reach the breast-fed infant to be harmful.

Neonates, infants born prematurely, those with low birth weight, those with an unstable gastrointestinal function or who have serious illnesses may require special consideration. For any infant, if a drug is prescribed to the nursing mother, it should be at the lowest practical dose and for the shortest time. When drug administration is unavoidable and breastfeeding is to continue, minimisation of exposure of the infant to the drug may sometimes be achieved by timing the maternal doses to just after a feeding episode. Infants exposed to drugs via breast milk should be monitored for unusual signs or symptoms. Interactions between the drug received by the infant from the mother's milk and medication prescribed for the infant should also be considered, for example, when the drug given to the infant may prevent metabolism of the drug received via breast milk.
Specialist advice is available from the UK Drugs in Lactation Advisory Service at https://www.midlandsmedicines.nhs.uk/content.asp?section=6&subsection=17&pageIdx=1

Side Effects

Blurred vision (transient)
Local transient irritation
Ocular hyperaemia
Stinging (transient)

Presentation

Eye drops containing naphazoline hydrochloride with hamamelis

Drugs List

Therapeutic Indications

Uses

Eye redness due to minor irritations : short-term symptomatic relief

Dosage

Adults

Elderly

Children

Contraindications

Children under 12 years
Wearing of contact lenses
Glaucoma
History of intra-ocular surgery
Severe ocular disorder

Precautions and Warnings

Cardiac disorder
Depression
Diabetes mellitus
Hypertension
Hyperthyroidism

Advise patient blurred vision may affect ability to drive/operate machinery
Contains benzalkonium chloride
Discard any remaining solution 28 days after opening
Discontinue if the solution changes colour or becomes cloudy
In combined therapy, administer eye products at least five minutes apart
To reduce systemic absorption compress lacrimal sac during administration
Prolonged use may lead to rebound ocular hyperaemia
Discontinue if irritation persists/worsens or continued redness occurs
Discontinue if patient develops decreased visual acuity +/or ocular pain
Do not exceed recommended dosages and frequency of administration
Advise patient to avoid touching the eye/other surfaces with container tip
Advise patient to consult a doctor if symptoms persist for more than 24hrs
Remove contact lenses before use and re-insert 15 minutes after use

Pregnancy and Lactation

Pregnancy

Naphazoline hydrochloride with hamamelis is considered safe for use in pregnancy.

The manufacturer notes that although the safety of this medication during pregnancy has not been established, it is unlikely that sufficient of the active ingredients will reach the foetus to be harmful.

The use of all medication in pregnancy should be avoided whenever possible; particularly in the first trimester. Non-drug treatments should also be considered. When essential, a medication with the best safety record over time should be chosen, employing the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Polypharmacy should be avoided. Teratogens taken in the pre-embryonic period, often quoted as lasting until 14 to 17 days post-conception, are believed to have an all-or-nothing effect. Where drugs have a short half-life, and when the date of conception is certain, this may allow women to be reassured where drug exposure has occurred within this time frame. Further advice may be available from the UK National Teratology Information Service (NTIS) and through ToxBase, available via password on the internet ( www.toxbase.org ) or if this is unavailable at the backup site ( www.toxbasebackup.org ).

Lactation

Naphazoline hydrochloride with hamamelis is considered safe for use in breastfeeding.

The manufacturer notes that although the safety of this medication during breastfeeding has not been established, it is unlikely that sufficient of the active ingredients will reach the breast-fed infant to be harmful.

Neonates, infants born prematurely, those with low birth weight, those with an unstable gastrointestinal function or who have serious illnesses may require special consideration. For any infant, if a drug is prescribed to the nursing mother, it should be at the lowest practical dose and for the shortest time. When drug administration is unavoidable and breastfeeding is to continue, minimisation of exposure of the infant to the drug may sometimes be achieved by timing the maternal doses to just after a feeding episode. Infants exposed to drugs via breast milk should be monitored for unusual signs or symptoms. Interactions between the drug received by the infant from the mother's milk and medication prescribed for the infant should also be considered, for example, when the drug given to the infant may prevent metabolism of the drug received via breast milk.
Specialist advice is available from the UK Drugs in Lactation Advisory Service at https://www.midlandsmedicines.nhs.uk/content.asp?section=6&subsection=17&pageIdx=1

Side Effects

Blurred vision (transient)
Local transient irritation
Ocular hyperaemia
Stinging (transient)

Overdosage

It is strongly recommended that the UK National Poisons Information Service be consulted on cases of suspected or actual overdose where there is doubt over the degree of risk or about appropriate management.

The following number will direct the caller to the relevant local centre (0844) 892 0111

Information may be obtained if you have access to ToxBase the primary clinical toxicology database of the National Poisons Information Service. This is available via password on the internet ( www.toxbase.org ) or if this is unavailable at the backup site ( www.toxbasebackup.org ).

Further Information

Last Full Review Date: October 2015

Reference Sources

Summary of Product Characteristics: Optrex Bloodshot Eye Drops. Optrex Limited. Revised 06-15.