Loteprednol (Ophthalmic)

Brand Names : Alrex, Lotemax

Before Using This Medicine

In 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 ophthalmic loteprednol, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to loteprednol, other cortisone-like medicines, or benzalkonium chloride. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Ophthalmic loteprednol has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in animals given loteprednol by mouth have shown that loteprednol in high doses causes birth defects or other unwanted effects in the animal fetus. Before using this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether enough loteprednol is absorbed from the eye to get into breast milk. Discuss with your doctor whether or not to breast-feed while using this medicine.

Children - There is no specific information comparing use of ophthalmic loteprednol in children with use in other age groups.

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 ophthalmic loteprednol 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 professional if you are taking or 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 loteprednol. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Certain eye diseases that cause the cornea to get thin - Use of ophthalmic loteprednol could cause a hole to form (perforation)

• Fungus infection of the eye or
• Herpes infection of the eye or
• Virus infection of the eye or
• Yeast infection of the eye or
• Any other eye infection - Ophthalmic loteprednol may make existing infections worse or cause new infections

• Glaucoma - Prolonged use of corticosteroids may result in glaucoma; caution should be used when corticosteroids are used in patients who have glaucoma