Opcon-A

Naphazoline is a vasoconstrictor. It works by tightening swollen blood vessels in the eyes to lessen eye redness.

Pheniramine is an antihistamine that decreases the effects of the natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can cause symptoms like itchy or watery eyes.

Opcon-A (for the eyes) is used for temporary relief of minor eye redness or itching caused by ragweed, pollen, grass, or animal dander and hair.

Opcon-A may also be used for reasons not mentioned in this medication guide.

Follow all instructions on your medicine label and package. Inform each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you are using.

You should not use Opcon-A if you are allergic to naphazoline or pheniramine.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to take this medicine if you have other medical conditions, especially:

• heart disease, high blood pressure;
• urination problems; or
• narrow-angle glaucoma.

It is not known whether Opcon-A will harm an unborn baby. Do not use this medicine without a doctor's advice if you are pregnant.

It is not known whether naphazoline and pheniramine ophthalmic passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medicine without a doctor's advice if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Opcon-A should not be given to a child younger than 6 years old without a doctor's advice.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Opcon-A may cause serious side effects. Stop using Opcon-A and call your doctor immediately if you have:

• ongoing or worsening eye redness;
• eye pain; or
• changes in your vision.

Common side effects of Opcon-A may include:

• mild burning or stinging of the eye;
• dilated pupils, blurred vision; or
• increased sensitivity to light.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

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 medicine too long or too often may worsen your symptoms and cause damage to 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. Call your pharmacist for new medicine.

Stop using this medicine and call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 3 days of treatment.

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

Throw away the eye drops after the expiration date on the medicine label has passed.

Since Opcon-A is used as needed, you may not have a specific dosing schedule. If you do have a schedule, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to compensate for the missed dose.

An overdose of Opcon-A is not expected to be dangerous. Seek emergency medical help or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 if anyone has accidentally swallowed the medication.

Keep this medicine out of the reach of children. Certain eye medications can cause serious medical problems in a young child who accidentally sucks on or swallows medicine from the eye dropper.

Do not use this medication while wearing contact lenses. Opcon-A may contain a preservative that can discolor soft contact lenses. Wait at least 15 minutes after using Opcon-A before putting in your contact lenses.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine if you are taking any other drugs, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used together. Not all possible interactions are included in this medication guide.