Composition:

Active. Tropicamide. Inactive. Water-purified, sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid. No preservatives are contained in the formulation.

Description:

Tropicamide is a white or almost white, crystalline powder, slightly soluble in water, freely soluble in ethanol and in methylene chloride. The solution is available as a 0.5% or 1% single-use, clear, colourless sterile ophthalmic solution. Chemical name: N-ethyl-N-(4-pyrdylmethyl) tropamide Formula: C17H20N2O2 MW 284.4 CAS 1508-75-4

Actions:

Minims tropicamide is a topical antimuscarinic ophthalmic preparation that blocks the responses of the sphincter muscle of the iris and the accommodative muscle of the ciliary body to cholinergic stimulation producing pupillary dilation (mydriasis) and paralysis of accommodation (cycloplegia). Tropicamide has an action similar to atropine but its cycloplegic and mydriatic effects have a more rapid onset and a shorter duration of effect. Tropicamide has the quickest recovery time of all the antimuscarinics. Mydriasis is produced within 20 to 40 minutes of instillation and usually lasts for about 6 hours; cycloplegia is maximal within about 30 minutes and is short lasting, with complete recovery of accommodation normally within 6 hours.

Indications:

Tropicamide is one of the antimuscarinics used to produce mydriasis and cycloplegia.

Contraindications:

Hypersensitivity to tropicamide or any other component listed in the formulation. Narrow angle glaucoma.

Precautions:

Studies in animals have not been conducted to evaluate these effects.

Use in Pregnancy

Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with tropicamide. It is not known whether tropicamide can cause foetal harm when administered to pregnant women or can affect reproductive capacity.

Use in Lactation

It is not know whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Use in the elderly In the elderly and others where increased ocular pressure may be encountered, mydriatics and cycloplegics should be used with caution. Use in children Tropicamide has been reported to be inadequate for cycloplegia in children. Avoid use in children.

Effects on ability to drive and use machines

This preparation may cause transient blurring of vision on application. Patients should be advised not to drive or operate hazardous machinery until vision is clear. Patients may experience sensitivity to light and should protect their eyes from bright illumination during dilation.

Interaction with other drugs

The effects of antimuscarinic agents such as tropicamide may be enhanced by the concomitant administration of other drugs with antimuscarinic properties. Prolonged mydriatic and cycloplegic effects of tropicamide were reported with preinstallation of procaine.

Other drug interactions

Drug interactions have been reported with co-administration of an anticholinergic agent cisapride counteracting gastromotility inducement; procainamide coadministered with tropicamide may result in additive antivagal effects on the anterioventricular nodal conduction.

Adverse Reactions:

BODY: Anaphylaxis CVS: Transient brachycardia followed by tachycardia, with palpitations and arrhythmias, CNS: Drowsiness and sedation, inability to concentrate and fatigue, psychotic reactions and behavioural disturbances - more common in children than adults. RESP: Dryness of the mouth with difficulty in swallowing and talking, thirst, reduced bronchial secretions, bronchospasm GIT: Difficulty in micturition, as well as reduction in the tone and motility of the gastro-intestinal tract leading to constipation. Occasionally vomiting may occur. SKIN: Rash erythematous and pruritis. Flushing and dryness of the skin, increased sweating OCULAR: Photophobia with or without corneal staining, significant increases in intraocular pressure, corneal irritation, smarting eyes, severe oedema of the eyelids and rhinitis. Dilation of pupils (mydriasis) with loss of accommodation (cycloplegia) and photophobia

Dosage and Administration:

Adults

To produce mydriasis, 1 or 2 drops of a 0.5% solution are instilled 15 to 20 minutes before examination of the eye. To produce cycloplegia 1 or 2 drops of a 1% solution are required, repeated after 5 minutes. A further drop may be necessary to prolong the effect after 20 to 30 minutes. Systemic absorption can be minimised by pressure on the tear duct immediately after application. Each Minims unit should be discarded after a single use.

Overdosage:

As Minims tropicamide are single dose units of 0.5mL overdose is unlikely to occur. Should overdosage occur causing local effects e.g. sustained mydriasis, physostigmine 0.25% w/v should be applied.

Presentation:

Single use clear colourless sterile eye drops available in cartons of 20 units available in two strengths 0.5% and 1%. Each unit contains approximately 0.5mL.

Storage:

Store at 2C to 8C. (Refrigerate. No not freeze. ). Do not expose to strong light.

Poisons schedule:

S4

Name and address of Sponsor:

Bausch & Lomb (Australia) Pty Limited Level 4, 113 Wicks Road North Ryde NSW 1670

Date of TGA Approval: 5 June 2000