Pred Forte

• Allergan, Inc.

• Stat Rx Usa Llc

Serious side effects have been reported with Pred Forte including the following:

• Glaucoma. Prolonged use of Pred Forte may result in glaucoma with damage to nerves of the eye, defects in visual ability and fields of vision, and cataract formation. Prolonged use may also suppress the immune system and increase the risk of eye infections. Only use Pred Forte for as long as your physician tells you to.
• Thinning of eye tissue. Long-term use of Pred Forte has been known to cause thinning of eye tissues. Only use Pred Forte for as long as your physician tells you to.
• Delayed wound healing. The use of Pred Forte after cataract surgery may delay healing and increase the risk of complications. Inform your physician if you have recently had cataract surgery.
• Reduced immune system function. Use of Pred Forte may prolong the course and potentially exacerbate the severity of many viral infections of the eye, including herpes simplex. Inform your physician if you have an eye infection.
• Allergic reactions. Pred Forte contains sodium bisulfite, a sulfite that may cause allergic-type reactions including life-threatening reactions and less severe asthmatic episodes in certain susceptible people. Sulfite sensitivity is seen more frequently in asthmatic than in nonasthmatic people. Inform your physician if you have asthma.
• Eye infections. This product is sterile when packaged. To prevent contamination, care should be taken to avoid touching the bottle tip to eyelids or to any other surface. The use of this bottle by more than one person may spread infection. Keep bottle tightly closed when not in use.

Pred Forte is not effective in the treatment of mustard gas keratitis and/or Sjögren's keratoconjunctivitis.

If inflammation or pain persists longer than 48 hours or your eye becomes aggravated,  discontinue use of Pred Forte and consult your physician.

Do not take Pred Forte if you:

• are allergic to Pred Forte or to any of its ingredients
• have or suspect you might have an eye infection of any kind

Pred Forte can also cause blurred vision. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Pred Forte affects you.

Take Pred Forte exactly as prescribed.

Pred Forte comes in eyedrop form and is typically administered 2 to 4 times daily. Shake Pred Forte well before using.

If inflammation or pain persists longer than 48 hours or your eye becomes aggravated,  discontinue use of Pred Forte and consult your physician.

If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Pred Forte at the same time.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to prednisolone or other steroids, or if you have certain types of infection (viral, fungal, or bacterial) that can affect your eyes.

Before using prednisolone ophthalmic, tell your doctor if you have glaucoma, herpes, or if you have recently had cataract surgery.

Do not use prednisolone ophthalmic while you are wearing contact lenses. This medication may contain a preservative that can be absorbed by soft contact lenses and cause discoloration. Wait at least 15 minutes after using prednisolone before putting your contact lenses in.

Shake the eye drops gently before each use.

Do not allow the dropper tip to touch any surface, including the eyes or hands. If the dropper becomes contaminated it could cause an infection in your eye, which can lead to vision loss or serious damage to the eye.

If you still have pain or swelling after 2 days of treatment, stop using this medication and call your doctor. Do not stop using prednisolone ophthalmic suddenly after long-term use without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely.

Do not wear any contact lens that has not been approved by your doctor.

Do not use prednisolone ophthalmic while you are wearing contact lenses. This medication may contain a preservative that can be absorbed by soft contact lenses and cause discoloration. Wait at least 15 minutes after using prednisolone ophthalmic before putting your contact lenses in.

Do not use any other eye medications unless your doctor has prescribed them.

Prednisolone ophthalmic can cause side effects that may impair your vision. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to see clearly.

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take this medicine. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Use care when driving or doing other tasks that call for clear eyesight.
• Long-term use may raise the chance of cataracts or glaucoma. Talk with the doctor.
• Have your eye pressure checked if you are on Pred Forte for a long time. Talk with your doctor.
• Do not use longer than you have been told by the doctor.
• If you are allergic to sulfites, talk with your doctor. Some products have sulfites.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks of using this medicine while you are pregnant.

Prednisolone acetate is a glucocorticoid that, on the basis of weight, has 3 to 5 times the anti-inflammatory potency of hydrocortisone. Glucocorticoids inhibit the edema, fibrin deposition, capillary dilation, and phagocytic migration of the acute inflammatory response, as well as capillary proliferation, deposition of collagen, and scar formation.

Pred Forte® is indicated for the treatment of steroid-responsive inflammation of the palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva, cornea, and anterior segment of the globe.

Prolonged use of corticosteroids may result in posterior subcapsular cataract formation and may increase intraocular pressure in susceptible individuals, resulting in glaucoma with damage to the optic nerve, defects in visual acuity and fields of vision. Prolonged use may also suppress the host immune response and thus increase the hazard of secondary ocular infections.

If this product is used for 10 days or longer, intraocular pressure should be routinely monitored even though it may be difficult in children and uncooperative patients. Steroids should be used with caution in the presence of glaucoma. Intraocular pressure should be checked frequently.

Various ocular diseases and long-term use of topical corticosteroids have been known to cause corneal and scleral thinning. Use of topical corticosteroids in the presence of thin corneal or scleral tissue may lead to perforation.

Acute purulent infections of the eye may be masked or activity enhanced by the presence of corticosteroid medication.

The use of steroids after cataract surgery may delay healing and increase the incidence of bleb formation.

Use of ocular steroids may prolong the course and may exacerbate the severity of many viral infections of the eye (including herpes simplex). Employment of a corticosteroid medication in the treatment of patients with a history of herpes simplex requires great caution; frequent slit lamp microscopy is recommended.

Pred Forte® suspension contains sodium bisulfite, a sulfite that may cause allergic-type reactions, including anaphylactic symptoms and life-threatening or less severe asthmatic episodes in certain susceptible people. The overall prevalence of sulfite sensitivity in the general population is unknown and probably low. Sulfite sensitivity is seen more frequently in asthmatic than in non-asthmatic people.

Shake well before using. Instill one to two drops into the conjunctival sac two to four times daily. During the initial 24 to 48 hours, the dosing frequency may be increased if necessary. Care should be taken not to discontinue therapy prematurely.

If signs and symptoms fail to improve after 2 days, the patient should be re-evaluated (see PRECAUTIONS).