Oxymetazoline (Ophthalmic)

Brand Names : Visine L.R., OcuClear

Before Using This Medicine

If you are taking this medicine without a prescription, carefully read and follow any precautions on the label. For ophthalmic oxymetazoline, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to oxymetazoline or to any other decongestant used in the eye. Also tell your health care provider if you are allergic to any other substances, such as preservatives.

Pregnancy - Ophthalmic oxymetazoline may be absorbed into the body. However, studies on effects in pregnancy have not been done in either humans or animals.

Breast-feeding - Oxymetazoline may be absorbed into the body. However, oxymetazoline has not been shown to cause problems in nursing babies.

Children - Check with your doctor before using oxymetazoline eye drops in children up to 6 years of age. Eye redness in children can occur with illnesses, such as allergies, fevers, colds, and measles, that may require medical attention.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of oxymetazoline in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care provider if you are using any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of ophthalmic oxymetazoline. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Eye disease, infection, or injury - This medicine may mask the symptoms of these conditions

• Heart or blood vessel disease or
• High blood pressure or
• Overactive thyroid - If absorbed into the body, this medicine may cause side effects that may make the medical problem worse

• Use of soft contact lenses - Because of the preservative in this medicine, some eye conditions may get worse if this medicine is used on top of soft contact lenses