Corticosteroids (Ophthalmic)
Before Using This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine,
the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will
do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For ophthalmic corticosteroids,
the following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction to corticosteroids. Also tell your health care professional
if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives,
or dyes.
Pregnancy - Although studies on birth defects with ophthalmic
corticosteroids have not been done in humans, these medicines have not been
reported to cause birth defects or other problems. However, in animal studies,
dexamethasone, fluorometholone, hydrocortisone, and prednisolone caused birth
defects when applied to the eyes of pregnant animals. Also, fluorometholone
and medrysone caused other unwanted effects in the animal fetus.
Breast-feeding - Ophthalmic corticosteroids have not been reported
to cause problems in nursing babies.
Children - Children less than 2 years of age may be especially
sensitive to the effects of ophthalmic corticosteroids. This may increase
the chance of side effects. If this medicine has been ordered for a young
child, you should discuss its use with your child's doctor. Be sure you follow
all of the doctor's instructions very carefully.
Older adults - Although there is no specific information about the
use of ophthalmic corticosteroids in the elderly, they 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. Tell your health care
professional if you are using any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter
[OTC]) ophthalmic medicine.
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of ophthalmic corticosteroids. Make sure you tell
your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Cataracts - Corticosteroids may cause cataracts or make them
worse
-
Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) - Patients with diabetes may
be more likely to develop cataracts or glaucoma with the use of corticosteroids
-
Glaucoma (or family history of) - Corticosteroids may cause glaucoma
or make it worse
-
Herpes infection of the eye or
-
Tuberculosis of the eye (active or history of) or
-
Any other eye infection - Ophthalmic corticosteroids may make
existing infections worse or cause new infections
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