Tropicacyl (Ophthalmic)

Tropicamide is used to make the pupil larger so that the doctor can see the back of your eye. It is used before eye exams, including 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.

After this medicine is applied to your eyes:

• Your pupils will become unusually large, and your vision may be blurred, especially for things that are close. Make sure your vision is clear before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if your eyesight is not good.
• Your eyes will be more sensitive to light than usual. When you go outside during the day, even if it’s cloudy, wear sunglasses that block ultraviolet (UV) light to protect your eyes from sunlight and other bright lights. Regular sunglasses may not offer enough protection. If you have questions about what type of sunglasses to wear, ask your doctor.
• If these effects last longer than 24 hours after using the medicine, consult your doctor.

In deciding to use a medicine, it's important to consider the risks and benefits. This is a choice you and your doctor will make together. For this medicine, keep the following in mind:

Allergies

Inform your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reactions to this medicine or any other medicines. Also let your healthcare professional know if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, carefully read the label or package ingredients.

Pediatric

Infants, young children, and children with blond hair or blue eyes may be more sensitive to the effects of tropicamide. This could increase the likelihood or severity of side effects during treatment.

Geriatric

Elderly people may be more sensitive to the effects of tropicamide. This could increase the chance of side effects during treatment.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women to determine the risk to infants when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the possible benefits against the possible risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Some medicines should not be used together at all, while others may be used together with caution. In these cases, your doctor may adjust the dose or take other precautions. When taking this medicine, it's particularly important for your healthcare professional to know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected based on their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may choose not to treat you with this medication or modify your other medicines.

• Potassium Citrate

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be necessary in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may adjust the dose or how often you take one or both of the medicines.

• Amantadine
• Amifampridine
• Buprenorphine
• Bupropion
• Clozapine
• Codeine
• Donepezil
• Glucagon
• Glycopyrrolate
• Glycopyrronium Tosylate
• Methacholine
• Oxycodone
• Quetiapine
• Revefenacin
• Scopolamine
• Secretin Human
• Tapentadol
• Tiotropium

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Some medicines should not be taken around the time of eating food or certain types of food due to possible interactions. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also lead to interactions. Talk to your healthcare professional about using your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

Having other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure to tell your doctor if you have any other medical issues, especially:

• Brain damage (in children) or
• Down's syndrome (Trisomy21) (in children and adults) or
• Glaucoma or
• Spastic paralysis (in children)—Tropicamide may worsen the condition.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do, 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

Some 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. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

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

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

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In the U.S.

• Mydral
• Mydriacyl
• Ocu-Tropic
• Tropicacyl

Available Dosage Forms:

• Solution

Therapeutic Class: Mydriatic-Cycloplegic

Pharmacologic Class: Antimuscarinic

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 this medicine 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 this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• 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.