Tropicamide (Ophthalmic)

Tropicamide is used to dilate (enlarge) the pupil, allowing the doctor to see into the back of your eye. It is used before eye exams, like 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 you will have blurry 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 cannot see well.
• Your eyes will become more sensitive to light than usual. When you go out during the day, even on cloudy days, wear sunglasses that block ultraviolet (UV) light to protect your eyes from sunlight and other bright lights. Regular sunglasses may not provide enough protection. If you have questions about what kind of sunglasses to wear, check with your doctor.
• If these effects last longer than 24 hours after using the medicine, check with your doctor.

In deciding to use a medicine, you need to consider the risks against the benefits. This is a decision you will make with your doctor. For this medicine, consider the following:

Allergies

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

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 chance or severity of some side effects during treatment.

Geriatric

Older adults 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 while breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Some medicines should not be used together at all, while in other cases, two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction could happen. In these situations, your doctor may want to adjust the dose, or other precautions may be needed. When taking this medicine, it is very important for your healthcare professional to know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been chosen based on their potential significance and are not necessarily a complete list.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or adjust some of the other medicines you take.

• 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 change the dose or frequency of 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

Certain medicines should not be taken around the time of eating or with certain foods, as interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

Having other medical problems may impact the use of this medicine. Be 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 intended effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Not all of these side effects may happen, but if they do, they may require medical attention.

Contact your doctor right away 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 happen that usually do not require medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Your health care professional may also be able to offer ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue, 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, consult 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.