Diopred

The recommended dose of prednisolone acetate eye drops varies depending on the condition being treated. You can use them as often as every hour until your condition improves. Your doctor will be able to provide you with more specific instructions on how often to instill the drops.

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

To use eye drops properly:

1. Wash your hands before using the eye drops.
2. Shake the container well before use to ensure the medication is evenly mixed throughout the bottle.
3. Remove the cap and place it in a clean location. To avoid possible contamination, keep the tip of the container away from contact with any surface.
4. Tilt your head back and look towards the ceiling.
5. With your index finger, gently pull your lower eyelid down and away from your eye to form a pouch.
6. Apply one drop into the pouch but do not allow the tip of the container to touch your eye or areas around your eye.
7. Gently apply pressure to the inner corner of your eye (at the bridge of the nose) for about 30 seconds. (This is called nasolacrimal occlusion.) This prevents the medication from dripping down through the tear duct and entering the bloodstream, which could cause you to experience some side effects.
8. Repeat with your other eye, if prescribed by your physician.
9. Wash your hands again to remove any medication.

If you are using more than one topical eye medication (eye drops or ointment), wait at least 5 minutes before putting another medication in your eye.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist to show you the correct method of applying eye drops. It is very important to avoid touching the dropper tip to any surface, skin, or your eye. This contamination can result in a bacterial infection. Report any signs of an eye infection (e.g., redness, irritation, pain) to your doctor immediately.

It is important to use Diopred (Prednisolone-eent) exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, instill it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not instil a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store Diopred (Prednisolone-eent) at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture and keep it out of the reach of children.

Safely discard any medication remaining in the dropper bottle after you have used the medication for the full length of time recommended by your doctor. Discard any remaining medication 28 days after opening the bottle.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

Each mL of sterile ophthalmic suspension contains: prednisolone acetate 1 %. Nonmedicinal ingredients: benzalkonium chloride 0.01% as preservative, boric acid, disodium edetate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, polysorbate 80, sodium bisulphite, sodium chloride, sodium citrate, and purified water.

Do not use prednisolone acetate eye drops if you:

• are allergic to prednisolone or any ingredients of the medication
• have had an allergic or sensitivity reaction to other corticosteroids
• have acute herpes simplex, Tuberculosis of the eye, vaccinia, Chickenpox, or other viral or fungal diseases of the eye
• have any eye infection associated with discharge
• have conjunctivitis or blepharitis associated with discharge
• have recently had a foreign body removed from the eye

Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications that you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Diopred (Prednisolone-eent).

Contact lenses: Using contact lenses with corticosteroid eye drops increases the risk of infection. It is advisable to avoid wearing contact lenses while using corticosteroid eye drops.

Glaucoma: The use of corticosteroids in the eyes may cause an increase in the pressure in the eye. If you are using this eye drop for 10 days or more, discuss with your doctor how Diopred (Prednisolone-eent) may affect your vision, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Infection: Corticosteroids such as prednisolone acetate reduce symptoms of inflammation by reducing the effect of the immune system. As a result, the use of Diopred (Prednisolone-eent) may hide the signs of new infections or worsening of existing infections. If you notice any new eye symptoms such as pain, redness, sensitivity to sunlight or vision changes, contact your doctor immediately. If the condition you are treating does not seem to improve in several days, contact your doctor.

Pregnancy: Very little prednisolone acetate in an eye drop form is absorbed into the body and available to affect an unborn baby. For this reason, prednisolone acetate eye drops are considered safe to use during pregnancy for short periods of time. If you are concerned about using Diopred (Prednisolone-eent), discuss the benefits and risks of using Diopred (Prednisolone-eent) with your doctor.

Breast-feeding: Corticosteroids pass into breast milk, however in an eye drop form, very little prednisolone acetate is absorbed into the body and available to pass into breast milk. The use of corticosteroid eye drops, including prednisolone acetate, is considered to be safe while breast-feeding.