Tetrahydrozoline Ophthalmic (patient information)

Why is this medication prescribed

Tetrahydrozoline is used to relieve minor eye irritation and redness caused by colds, pollen, and swimming.

This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

How should this medicine be used

Tetrahydrozoline comes as eyedrops. The eyedrops usually are applied to the affected eyes three or four times a day. Follow the directions on the package label or your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use tetrahydrozoline exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than directed by your doctor.

To use the eyedrops, follow these instructions:

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
• Use a mirror or have someone else put the drops in your eye.
• Remove the protective cap. Make sure that the end of the dropper is not chipped or cracked.
• Avoid touching the dropper tip against your eye or anything else.
• Hold the dropper tip down at all times to prevent drops from flowing back into the bottle and contaminating the remaining contents.
• Lie down or tilt your head back.
• Holding the bottle between your thumb and index finger, place the dropper tip as near as possible to your eyelid without touching it.
• Brace the remaining fingers of that hand against your cheek or nose.
• With the index finger of your other hand, pull the lower lid of the eye down to form a pocket.
• Drop the prescribed number of drops into the pocket made by the lower lid and the eye. Placing drops on the surface of the eyeball can cause stinging.
• Close your eye and press lightly against the lower lid with your finger for 2-3 minutes to keep the medication in the eye. Do not blink.
• Replace and tighten the cap right away. Do not wipe or rinse it off.
• Wipe off any excess liquid from your cheek with a clean tissue. Wash your hands again.

What special precautions should I follow

Before using tetrahydrozoline eyedrops

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to tetrahydrozoline or any other drugs.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially eye medications, medications for high blood pressure, MAO inhibitors [phenelzine (Nardil) and tranylcypromine (Parnate)], and vitamins.
• tell your doctor if you have any eye disease or infection, heart disease, high blood pressure, or an overactive thyroid gland.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while using tetrahydrozoline, call your doctor immediately.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are using tetrahydrozoline. You may have to stop using tetrahydrozoline for a short time.
• tell your doctor if you wear soft contact lenses. If the brand of tetrahydrozoline you are taking contains benzalkonium chloride, wait at least 15 minutes after using the medicine to put in soft contact lenses.

What should I do if I forget a dose

Apply the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not apply a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Side Effects

Minor Side Effects

Tetrahydrozoline may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• stinging or burning of the eye
• blurred vision
• increased eye redness or irritation

Severe Side Effects

If you experience any of the following symptoms, stop using tetrahydrozoline and call your doctor immediately:

• headache
• sweating
• fast or irregular heartbeat
• nervousness

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

What storage conditions are needed for this medicine

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). If the medication becomes discolored, do not use it; obtain a fresh bottle. Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.

What other information should I know

Keep all appointments with your doctor.

Do not let anyone else use your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about tetrahydrozoline or your prescription.

If you still have symptoms of eye irritation after using tetrahydrozoline as directed, call your doctor.

Brand names

• Collyrium Fresh®
• Murine® Plus
• Optigene® 3
• Tyzine®
• Visine®
• Visine® Moisturizing

Brand names of combination products

• A.R.® Eye Drops containing Tetrahydrozoline Hydrochloride and Zinc Sulfate
• Visine® A.C. containing Tetrahydrozoline Hydrochloride and Zinc Sulfate