Brand Names

Category

• Cycloplegic
• Diagnostic aid, cycloplegic
• Diagnostic aid, mydriatic
• Mydriatic

Description

Tropicamide (troe-PIK-a-mide) is used to dilate (enlarge) the pupil so that the doctor can see into the back of your eye. It is used before eye examinations, such as cycloplegic refraction and examination of the fundus of the eye. Tropicamide may also be used before and after eye surgery.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage form:

Ophthalmic
• Ophthalmic solution (eye drops) (U.S. and Canada)

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For tropicamide, the following should be considered:

Allergies--Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to tropicamide. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as preservatives.

Pregnancy--Studies on effects in pregnancy have not been done in either humans or animals.

Breast-feeding--Tropicamide has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Children--Infants and young children and children with blond hair or blue eyes may be especially sensitive to the effects of tropicamide. This may increase the chance or severity of some of the side effects during treatment.

Older adults--Elderly people are especially sensitive to the effects of tropicamide. This may increase the chance of side effects during treatment.

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 using any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other medical problems--The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of tropicamide. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Brain damage (in children) or
• Down's syndrome (mongolism) (in children and adults) or
• Glaucoma or
• Spastic paralysis (in children)--Tropicamide may make the condition worse

Proper Use of This Medicine

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 them. 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 only as directed . Do not use more of it and do not use it more often than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of too much medicine being absorbed into the body and the chance of side effects.

Dosing--The dose of tropicamide will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of tropicamide. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

• For ophthalmic solution (eye drops) dosage form:
  • For cycloplegic refraction (eye examination):
    • Adults--One drop of 1% solution, repeated once in five minutes.
    • Children--One drop of 0.5 to 1% solution, repeated once in five minutes.
  • For examination of fundus of eye:
    • Adults and children--One drop of 0.5% solution fifteen to twenty minutes before examination.

Precautions While Using This Medicine

After this medicine is applied to your eyes:

• Your pupils will become unusually large and you will have blurring of vision, especially for close objects. 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 that block ultraviolet (UV) light to protect your eyes from sunlight and other bright lights . Ordinary sunglasses may not protect your eyes. 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 of This Medicine

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 as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

Symptoms of too much medicine being absorbed into the body

Clumsiness or unsteadiness; confusion; fast heartbeat; flushing or redness of face; hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there); increased thirst or dryness of mouth; skin rash; slurred speech; swollen stomach in infants; unusual behavior, especially in children; unusual drowsiness, tiredness, or weakness

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:

More common

Blurred vision; headache; sensitivity of eyes to light; stinging of the eye when the medicine is applied

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

Revised: 07/14/95

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