Dexamethasone Ophthalmic Solution 0.1% (5ml) (Manufacturer may vary)

Dexamethasone is a solution prescribed to help reduce inflammation found in the eye, including pinkeye. This easy-to-use medication helps to provide relief by reducing burning and redness. Plus, Dexamethasone comes with a convenient eye dropper for accurate dosing.

Key Benefits

• Reduces eye inflammation due to infection in cats and dogs
• Also treats swelling due to surgery or injury
• Lessens burning and redness

How It Works

Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Ophthalmic Solution is an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid.

Indications

For the treatment of the following conditions:

Ophthalmic: Steroid responsive inflammatory conditions of the palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva, cornea,and anterior segment of the globe, such as allergic conjunctivitis, acne rosacea, superficial punctatekeratitis, herpes zoster keratitis, iritis, cyclitis, selected infective conjunctivitis when the inherenthazard of steroid use is accepted to obtain an advisable diminution in edema and inflammation; cornealinjury from chemical or thermal burns, or penetration of foreign bodies.

Otic: Steroid responsive inflammatory conditions of the external auditory meatus, such as allergic otitisexterna, selected purulent and nonpurulent infective otitis externa when the hazard of steroid use isaccepted to obtain an advisable diminution in edema and inflammation.

Apply as directed by your veterinarian every 2-4 hours. When using the drops, shake the drops to make sure the medication is mixed well. If using more than 1 drop, wait about 1 minute between drops.

Contraindications:

Epithelial herpes simplex keratitis (dendritic keratitis). Acute infectious stages of vaccinia, varicella,and many other viral diseases of the cornea and conjunctiva.

Mycobacterial infection of the eye.

Fungal diseases of ocular or auricular structures.

Hypersensitivity to any component of this product, including sulfites (see Warnings).

Perforation of a drum membrane.

Warnings:

Prolonged use may result in ocular hypertension and/or glaucoma, with damage to the optic nerve,defects in visual acuity and fields of vision, and posterior subcapsular cataract formation. Prolongeduse may suppress the host response and thus increase the hazard of secondary ocular infections. Inthose diseases causing thinning of the cornea or sclera, perforations have been known to occur with theuse of topical corticosteroids. In acute purulent conditions of the eye or ear, corticosteroids may maskinfection or enhance existing infection. If these products are used for 10 days or longer, intraocularpressure should be routinely monitored even though it may be difficult in children and uncooperativepatients.

Employment of corticosteroid medication in the treatment of herpes simplex other than epithelial herpessimplex keratitis, in which it is contraindicated, requires great caution; periodic slit-lamp microscopy isessential.

This product contains sodium bisulfite, a sulfite that may cause allergic-type reactions includinganaphylactic symptoms and life-threatening or less severe asthmatic episodes in certain susceptiblepeople. The overall prevalence of sulfite sensitivity in the general population is unknown and probablylow. Sulfite sensitivity is seen more frequently in asthmatic than in nonasthmatic people.

Precautions:

General:

The possibility of persistent fungal infections of the cornea should be considered after prolongedcorticosteroid dosing.

There have been reports of bacterial keratitis associated with the use of multiple dose containers oftopical ophthalmic products. These containers had been inadvertently contaminated by patients who, inmost cases, had a concurrent corneal disease or a disruption of the ocular epithelial surface. (See Precautions, Information for Patients).

Information for Patients:

Patients should be instructed to avoid allowing the tip of the dispensing container to contact the eye orsurrounding structures.

Patients should also be instructed that ocular solutions, if handled improperly, can become contaminatedby common bacteria known to cause ocular infections. Serious damage to the eye and subsequent loss ofvision may result from using contaminated solutions. (See Precautions, General).

Patients should also be advised that if they develop an intercurrent ocular condition (e.g., trauma, ocularsurgery or infection), they should immediately seek their physician's advice concerning the continueduse of the present multidose container.

One of the preservatives in dexamethasone sodium phosphate ophthalmic solution, benzalkoniumchloride, may be absorbed by soft contact lenses. Patients wearing soft contact lenses should beinstructed to wait at least 15 minutes after instilling dexamethasone sodium phosphate ophthalmicsolution before they insert their lenses.

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

Long-term animal studies have not been performed to evaluate the carcinogenic potential or the effecton fertility of dexamethasone sodium phosphate ophthalmic solution.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Category C: Dexamethasone has been shown to be teratogenic in mice and rabbitsfollowing topical ophthalmic application in multiples of the therapeutic dose.

In the mouse, corticosteroids produce fetal resorptions and a specific abnormality, cleft palate. In therabbit, corticosteroids have produced fetal resorptions and multiple abnormalities involving the head,ears, limbs, palate, etc.

There are no adequate or well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Dexamethasone sodium phosphateophthalmic solution should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit to the mother justifiesthe potential risk to the embryo or fetus. Infants born of mothers who have received substantial doses ofcorticosteroids during pregnancy should be observed carefully for signs of hypoadrenalism.

Adverse Reactions:

Glaucoma with optic nerve damage, visual acuity and field defects, posterior subcapsular cataractformation, secondary ocular infection from pathogens including herpes simplex, perforation of theglobe.

Rarely, filtering blebs have been reported when topical steroids have been used following cataractsurgery.

Rarely, stinging or burning may occu

Storage:

Store between 15°-25°C (59°-77°F).