Fluorometholone Acetate

Description

DESCRIPTION FLAREX ® (fluorometholone acetate ophthalmic suspension) 0.1% is a corticosteroid prepared as a sterile topical ophthalmic suspension. The active ingredient, fluorometholone acetate, is a white to creamy white powder with an empirical formula of C 24 H 31 FO 5 and a molecular weight of 418.5. Its chemical name is 9-fluoro-11β, 17-dihydroxy-6α-methylpregna-1, 4-diene-3, 20-dione 17-acetate. The chemical structure of Fluorometholone Acetate is presented below: Each mL of FLAREX (fluorometholone acetate ophthalmic suspension) 0.1% contains: Active: fluorometholone acetate 1 mg (0.1%). Preservative: benzalkonium chloride 0.01%. Inactives: sodium chloride, monobasic sodium phosphate, edetate disodium, hydroxyethyl cellulose, tyloxapol, hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide (to adjust pH), and purified water. The pH of the suspension is approximately 7.3, with an osmolality of approximately 300 mOsm/kg. flarex-01.jpg

What Is Fluorometholone Acetate Used For?

INDICATIONS AND USAGE FLAREX (fluorometholone acetate ophthalmic suspension) 0.1% is indicated for use in the treatment of steroid responsive inflammatory conditions of the palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva, cornea, and anterior segment of the eye.

Dosage and Administration

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Shake Well Before Using. One to two drops instilled into the conjunctival sac(s) four times daily. During the initial 24 to 48 hours the dosage may be safely increased to two drops every two hours. If no improvement after two weeks, consult physician. Care should be taken not to discontinue therapy prematurely. Not more than one bottle should be prescribed initially, and the prescription should not be refilled without further evaluation [see PRECAUTIONS ] .

Side Effects (Adverse Reactions)

ADVERSE REACTIONS Glaucoma with optic nerve damage, visual acuity and field defects, cataract formation, secondary ocular infection following suppression of host response, and perforation of the globe may occur. Postmarketing Experience The following reaction has been identified during post-marketing use of FLAREX ® (fluorometholone acetate ophthalmic suspension) 0.1% in clinical practice. Because reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of unknown size, estimates of frequency cannot be made. The reaction, which has been chosen for inclusion due to either its seriousness, frequency of reporting, possible causal connection to FLAREX, or a combination of these factors, includes: dysgeusia. The following rare adverse reactions have been reported: Cushing's syndrome and adrenal suppression may occur after very frequent use of topical ophthalmic corticosteroids, particularly in very young children.

Contraindications

CONTRAINDICATIONS Contraindicated in acute superficial herpes simplex keratitis, vaccinia, varicella, and most other viral diseases of cornea and conjunctiva; mycobacterial infection of the eye; fungal diseases; acute purulent untreated infections, which like other diseases caused by microorganisms, may be masked or enhanced by the presence of the steroid; and in those persons who have known hypersensitivity to any component of this preparation.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Fluorometholone has been shown to be embryocidal and teratogenic in rabbits when administered at low multiples of the human ocular dose. Fluorometholone was applied ocularly to rabbits daily on days 6-18 of gestation, and dose-related fetal loss and fetal abnormalities including cleft palate, deformed rib cage, anomalous limbs and neural abnormalities such as encephalocele, craniorachischisis, and spina bifida were observed. There are no adequate and well controlled studies of fluorometholone in pregnant women, and it is not known whether fluorometholone can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Fluorometholone should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Nursing Mothers Systemically administered corticosteroids appear in human milk and could suppress growth, interfere with endogenous corticosteroid production, or cause other untoward effects. It is not known whether topical administration of corticosteroids could result in sufficient systemic absorption to produce detectable quantities in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when FLAREX (fluorometholone acetate ophthalmic suspension) 0.1%, is administered to a nursing woman.

How Supplied

HOW SUPPLIED FLAREX (fluorometholone acetate ophthalmic suspension) 0.1% is supplied in white low density polyethylene (LDPE) bottles, with natural LDPE dispensing plugs and pink polypropylene closures. The product is supplied as 5 mL in an 8 mL bottle. 5 mL: NDC 82667-010-01 STORAGE Store upright between 2°C to 25°C (36°F to 77°F). After opening, FLAREX can be used until the expiration date on the bottle. Protect from freezing.