Tetrahydrozoline Ophthalmic

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take tetrahydrozoline. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Use care when driving or doing other tasks that call for clear eyesight.
• This medicine may cause harm if swallowed. If this medicine is swallowed, call a doctor or poison control center right away.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks of using tetrahydrozoline while you are pregnant.
• Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about any risks to your baby.

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Tingling.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

• Store at room temperature.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Check with your pharmacist about how to throw out unused drugs.

Ocular decongestant: Relieves redness of the eye due to minor eye irritation and protects against further irritation; temporarily relieves burning and discomfort from dryness of the eye or exposure to wind and sun.

Documentation of allergenic cross-reactivity for ophthalmic sympathomimetics is limited. However, because of similarities in chemical structure and/or pharmacologic actions, the possibility of cross-sensitivity cannot be ruled out with certainty.

For ophthalmic use only; wash hands prior to use. Do not touch tip of container to any surface, the eyelids, or the surrounding area. Remove contact lenses prior to administering products containing benzalkonium chloride; after instilling drops, wait at least 10 minutes before inserting contact lenses. Do not insert contacts if eyes are red.

There are no known significant interactions.

Frequency not defined.

Cardiovascular: Hypertension, palpitations, tachycardia

Central nervous system: Headache, transient burning or stinging in the eyes

Neuromuscular & skeletal: Tremor

Ophthalmic: Blurred vision

Use exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Using the medication too long or too often may worsen your symptoms and cause damage to the blood vessels in your eyes.

Wash your hands before using the eye drops.

To apply the eye drops:

• Tilt your head back slightly and pull down your lower eyelid to create a small pocket. Hold the dropper above the eye with the tip down. Look up and away from the dropper and squeeze out a drop.

• Close your eye and gently press your finger to the inside corner of the eye for about 1 minute, to keep the liquid from draining into your tear duct.

• Use only the number of drops recommended.

Do not touch the tip of the eye dropper or place it directly on your eye. A contaminated dropper can infect your eye, which could lead to serious vision problems.

Do not use the eye drops if the liquid has changed colors or has particles in it.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not freeze. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.

Before using tetrahydrozoline, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients (such as preservatives like benzalkonium chloride), which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: glaucoma, heart problems (e.g., heart attack, chest pain), high blood pressure, diabetes, eye infection/injury, overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).

This drug may cause temporary blurred vision after you apply it. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires clear vision until you are sure you can perform such activities safely.

Caution is advised when using this product in children because they may be more sensitive to the effects of the product, especially eye irritation.

During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.

It is not known whether this drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.