Data Sheet

MINIMS TROPICAMIDE

Qualitative and Quantitative Composition

Clear, colourless, sterile eye drops containing tropicamide BP 0.5% w/v or 1.0% w/v.

Pharmaceutical Form

Single-use, sterile eye drops.

Clinical Particulars

Therapeutic Indications

As a topical mydriatic and cycloplegic.

Posology and Method of Administration

Adults (including the elderly):
1 drop followed by a second drop after an interval of 5 minutes. A further 1 drop may be instilled after 30 minutes, if required.

Children:
At the discretion of the physician.

Contraindications

Do not use in patients with a known hypersensitivity to tropicamide.

Tropicamide is contraindicated in narrow angle glaucoma and in eyes where the filtration angle is narrow, as an acute attack of angle closure glaucoma may be precipitated.

Special Warnings and Precautions for Use

Use with caution in an inflamed eye, as hyperaemia greatly increases the rate of systemic absorption through the conjunctiva.

Care should be exercised in small children.

Systemic absorption may be reduced by compressing the lacrimal sac at the medial canthus for a minute during and following the instillation of the drops. (This blocks the passage of the drops via the naso-lacrimal duct to the wide absorptive area of the nasal and pharyngeal mucosa. It is especially advisable in children.)

Interaction With Other Medicaments and Other Forms of Interaction

None known.

Pregnancy and Lactation

There is no evidence as to the drug's safety in human pregnancy, nor is there evidence from animal work that it is free from hazard. This product should only be used in pregnancy if considered essential by the physician.

Effects on Ability to Drive and Use Machines

Patient warning: Patients who receive a mydriatic may suffer from photophobia and this may impair their ability to drive under certain circumstances.

Undesirable Effects

Transient stinging, dry mouth and blurred vision may occur following the use of this product.

Overdose

Systemic effects from Minims Tropicamide are not expected. Should an overdose occur causing local effects, e.g. sustained mydriasis, pilocarpine or 0.25% w/v physostigmine should be applied.

Pharmacological Properties

Pharmacodynamic Properties

Tropicamide is a parasympatholytic agent, which acts by blocking the action of the parasympathetic nervous system. As acetylcholine is the neuro-humoral transmitter at the receptor site of the parasympathetic nervous system, tropicamide competes with acetylcholine for uptake at the receptor sites, thereby blocking its action. The results are mydriasis, due to unopposed action of the dilator pupillae, and cycloplegia.

Pharmacokinetic Properties

No data on the pharmacokinetics of topical tropicamide are available.

Preclinical Safety Data

There are no preclinical data of relevance to the prescriber which are additional to that already included in other sections of the data sheet.

Pharmaceutical Particulars

List of Excipients

Sodium hydroxide
Hydrochloric Acid
Purified Water

Incompatibilities

None known.

Shelf Life

30 months.

Special Precautions for Storage

Store at 2°-15°C. Do not freeze. Protect from light.

Medicine Classification

Prescription medicine.

Nature and Contents of Container

A sealed conical shaped container fitted with a twist and pull-off cap. Each Minims unit is overwrapped in an individual polypropylene/paper pouch. Each container holds approximately 0.5ml of solution.

Instructions for Use/Handling

Each Minims unit should be discarded after a single use.

Marketing Authorisation Holder

Bausch & Lomb (NZ) Ltd
C/o New Zealand Medical & Scientific
2a Fisher Crescent
Mt Wellington
Auckland
NEW ZEALAND

Date of Preparation

13  July 2006