Hydroxyamphetamine and Tropicamide (Ophthalmic)
   
Hydroxyamphetamine and Tropicamide (Ophthalmic)
US Brand Names
• Paremyd
Description
Hydroxyamphetamine and Tropicamide (hi-DROX-ee-am-fet-uh-meen and troe-PIK-a-mide) is medicine that is put into your eye to make your pupil larger. It also reduces your body's ability to adjust your eye for near vision. These drops are used when you have your eyes examined by the eye doctor.
This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage form:
Special Considerations
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 hydroxyamphetamine and tropicamide drops, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to hydroxyamphetamine and tropicamide or other eye drops. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy
Studies on effects in pregnancy have not been done in either humans or animals.
Breast-feeding
It is not known whether hydroxyamphetamine and tropicamide passes into human breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.
Children
Infants and young children may be especially sensitive to the effects of hydroxyamphetamine and tropicamide. This may increase the chance or severity of some of the side effects during treatment.
Older adults
This medicine has been tested and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does 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 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 hydroxyamphetamine and tropicamide. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
Administration
Dosing
To use:
• First, wash your hands. Tilt the head back and, pressing your finger gently on the skin just beneath the lower eyelid, pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to make a space. Drop the medicine into this space. Let go of the eyelid and gently close the eyes. Do not blink. Keep the eyes closed and apply pressure to the inner corner of the eye with your finger for 2 or 3 minutes to allow the medicine to be absorbed by the eye. This is especially important in infants .
• Immediately after using the eye drops, wash your hands to remove any medicine that may be on the hand to keep the medicine applicator tip as germ-free as possible. If you are using the eye drops for an infant or child, be sure to wash the infant's or child's hands also, and do not let any of the medicine get in the infant's or child's mouth.
• To keep the medicine as germ-free as possible, do not touch the applicator tip to any surface (including the eye). Also, keep the container tightly closed.
Use this medicine exactly as directed. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . Do not use more of it or use it more often. This may cause more side effects.
• For ophthalmic dosage form (drops):
o For dilating your eye before an eye exam:
§ Adults-1-2 drops 15 minutes before the exam.
§ Children-Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
Storage
To store this medicine:
• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Protect from light.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Ask your health care professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
Precautions
After this medicine is put into your eyes:
• Your pupils will become unusually large and you will have blurring of vision, especially for things that are close to you. Make sure your vision is clear before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not able to see well .
• Your eyes will become more sensitive to light than they are normally. When you go out during the daylight hours, even on cloudy days, wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from sunlight and other bright lights . If you have any questions about the kind of sunglasses to wear, check with your doctor.
• If these effects continue for longer than 24 hours after the medicine is used, check with your doctor.
Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Rare
Blurred vision; chest pain or discomfort; confusion; dizziness; faintness or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; nausea; pain or discomfort in arms, jaw, back or neck; shortness of breath; sudden sweating; unusual tiredness or weakness.
Frequency of side effects not known
Agitation; anxiety; cold, clammy, pale skin; cough; difficulty swallowing; eye pain; failure to recognize people; hives; irritability; itching; hyperactivity or restlessness; loss of consciousness; loss of vision; mood or mental changes; nervousness; nightmares; pounding heartbeat or pulse; puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue; seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there; skin rash; tightness in chest; tremor; unusual behavior such as disorientation to time or place; unusual feeling of excitement; wheezing.
Symptoms of Overdose
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur
Bloating; blurred vision; chest pain or discomfort; diarrhea; dizziness; enlarged pupils; fainting; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; gas; headache; heartburn; indigestion; lightheadedness; loss of appetite; nausea; nervousness; pounding in the ears; pounding or rapid pulse; stomach pain; sweating; vomiting.
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome.
Frequency of side effects not known
Change in color vision; difficulty seeing at night; dry mouth; headache; increased sensitivity of eyes to sunlight; muscle stiffness or tightness; temporary stinging in the eyes.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
June 25, 2002 
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