Anesthetics (Ophthalmic)
Before Receiving This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be
weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor
will make. For local anesthetics used in the eye, the following should be
considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction after use of a local anesthetic in the eye. Such a reaction
may include severe itching, pain, redness, or swelling of the eye or eyelid,
or severe and continuing watering of the eyes. Also, tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction
to tetracaine or other local anesthetics, such as benzocaine, butacaine, butamben,
chloroprocaine, procaine, or propoxycaine, when given by injection or applied
to the skin.
In addition, tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction
to aminobenzoic acid (also called para-aminobenzoic acid [PABA]), or if you
are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy - Although studies on effects in pregnancy have not
been done in either humans or animals, proparacaine and tetracaine have not
been reported to cause birth defects or other problems in humans.
Breast-feeding - It is not known whether proparacaine or tetracaine
passes into breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in
small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers
who receive this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this
with their doctor.
Children - Although there is no specific information comparing
use of ophthalmic anesthetics in children with use in other age groups, these
medicines are not expected to cause different side effects or problems in
children than they do in adults.
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. Although there is no specific information
comparing use of ophthalmic anesthetics in the elderly with use in other age
groups, these medicines are not expected to cause different side effects or
problems in older people than they do in younger adults.
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. Before receiving a
local anesthetic in the eye, tell your doctor if you are taking any other
prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of local anesthetics in the eye. Make sure you
tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Allergies - The risk of unwanted effects may be increased
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