Adult Dosing
Adjunctive therapy to open-angle glaucoma
- 1 gtt in eye(s) tid-qid PRN; patients with heavily pigmented eyes may require higher doses
Mydriasis
- 1-2 gtt 2.5% in eye(s) x1
- Initiate 30-60 minutes before surgical procedures; Alt: 1 gtt 10% in eye(s) x1; may repeat after 1 hr; patients with heavily pigmented eyes may require higher doses
- Note: Administer anesthetic 5 minutes before each dose
Anterior uveitis
- 1 gtt in eye(s) tid PRN x 1-2 days; patients with heavily pigmented eyes may require higher doses
- For prevention or breaking posterior synechiae use with atropine and hot compresses
Ocular congestion
- 1-2 gtt 2.5% in eye(s) PRN; Max: 4 times/day; patients with heavily pigmented eyes may require higher doses
- Alt: 1 gtt 10% in eye(s) PRN
Ophthalmic procedures
- 1-2 gtt 2.5% in eye(s) x1; patients with heavily pigmented eyes may require higher doses except in blanching test
Refraction
- 1 gtt 2.5% in eye(s) x1; patients with heavily pigmented eyes may require higher doses
- Administer 5 min after cycloplegic
Pediatric Dosing
Mydriasis
- 1-2 gtt 2.5% in eye(s) x1
- Initiate 30-60 minutes before surgical procedures; may repeat after 1 hr; patients with heavily pigmented eyes may require higher doses
Anterior uveitis
- 1 gtt in eye(s) tid PRN x 1-2 days; patients with heavily pigmented eyes may require higher doses
- For prevention or breaking posterior synechiae use with atropine and hot compresses
Ocular congestion
- 1-2 gtt 2.5% in eye(s) PRN; Max: 4x/day
Ophthalmic procedures
- 1-2 gtt 2.5% in eye(s) x1; patients with heavily pigmented eyes may require higher doses except in blanching test
[Outline]
- Serious cardiovascular reactions including ventricular arrhythmias and myocardial infarctions are associated with the use of phenylephrine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution 10%; fatalities may usually occur in elderly patients with pre-existing cardiovascular diseases
- Systemic vasopressor response may occur on exceeding recommended dosages or applying this drug to the instrumented, traumatized, diseased or post surgical eye or adnexa, or to patients with suppressed lacrimation
- A significant elevation in blood pressure may occur. Exercise caution in administering the 10% solution to children of low body weight, the elderly, and patients with insulin-dependent diabetes, hypertension, hyperthyroidism, generalized arteriosclerosis, or cardiovascular disease. Carefully monitor the post-treatment blood pressure of these patients, and any patients who develop such symptoms
- This drug is contraindicated in patients with glaucoma, However, when temporary dilation of the pupil may free adhesions or when vasoconstriction of intrinsic vessels may lower intraocular tension these advantages are temporarily associated with outweighing the danger from coincident dilation of the pupil
- Rebound miosis may occur in older persons one day after receiving this drug; re-instillation of this drug may produce a reduction in mydriasis
- Transient pigment floaters may occur in the aqueous humor 30-45 minutes following the administration of this drug in older individuals
Cautions: Use cautiously in
- Hypersensitivity to sulfites
- Asthma
- Hyperthyroidism
- Bradycardia
- Partial heart block
- Myocardial disease
- Severe arteriosclerosis
- Diabetes mellitus
- Thyroid disorder
- Prostatic hypertrophy
- Pediatrics
- Geriatrics
Pregnancy Category:C
Breastfeeding: Phenylephrine ophthalmic drops are less likely to decrease lactation. Place pressure over the tear duct by the corner of the eye for 1 minute or more then remove the excess solution with an absorbent tissue for substantially diminishing the effect of the drug after using eye drops This information is based on LactMed database (available at http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT last accessed 26 April 2011). Manufacturer advises caution.
