Vira-A (Ophthalmic)

Vidarabine ophthalmic preparations are used to treat viral infections of the eye.

Vidarabine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

After you put in eye ointments, your vision may be blurry for a few minutes.

It is very important to keep your appointments with your doctor. If your symptoms get worse, contact your doctor sooner.

This medicine may make your eyes more sensitive to light than usual. Wearing sunglasses and limiting exposure to bright light may help reduce the discomfort.

In deciding to use a medicine, you and your doctor must consider the risks of taking the medicine against the benefits it may provide. For this medicine, the following points should be taken into account:

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 about any other allergies you may have, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, make sure to read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

There is no specific information comparing the use of vidarabine in children with its use in other age groups, but it is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.

Geriatric

Many medicines have not been specifically studied in older adults. Therefore, it may not be clear whether they work the same way in older people as they do in younger adults, or if they cause different side effects or problems in older individuals. There is no specific information comparing the use of vidarabine in the elderly with its use in other age groups.

Interactions with Medicines

Some medicines should not be taken together at all, while in other cases, two different medicines may be used together even if there is a possibility of interaction. In these situations, your doctor may want to adjust the dose or take other precautions. Inform your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be taken at or 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.

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:

• Increased sensitivity of eyes to light
• itching, redness, swelling, pain, burning, or other signs of irritation not present before use of this medicine

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, are bothersome, or if you have any questions about them:

• Excess flow of tears
• feeling of something in the eye

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.

• Vira-A

Pharmacologic Class: Antimetabolite

Chemical Class: Purine Nucleoside Analog

To use:

• First, wash your hands. Then pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to form a pouch. Squeeze a thin strip of ointment into the pouch. A 1.25-cm (approximately ½-inch) strip of ointment is usually enough unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Gently close the eyes and keep them closed for 1 or 2 minutes to allow the medicine to come into contact with the infection.
• To keep the medicine as germ-free as possible, do not touch the applicator tip to any surface (including the eye). After using vidarabine eye ointment, wipe the tip of the ointment tube with a clean tissue and keep the tube tightly closed.

Do not use this medicine more often or for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may cause problems in the eyes. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.

To help clear up your infection completely, keep using this medicine for the full time of treatment, even if your symptoms have disappeared. Do not miss any doses.

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 ointment dosage forms: For virus eye infection: Adults and children—Use in each eye every three hours (five times a day). After healing has occurred, the dose may be reduced to two times a day for seven days more.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, apply it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.