Emadine (OPHTHALMOLOGICALS)

EMADINE (emedastine difumarate ophthalmic solution) 0.05% is supplied as follows: 5 mL in opaque, plastic DROP-TAINER® dispensers.

5 mL: NDC 0065-2000-05

Storage

Store at 4°C - 30°C (39° - 86°F)

Revised: August 2002. Alcon Laboratories, Inc. Fort Worth, Texas 76134. FDA rev date: 5/12/2003

EMADINE® (emedastine difumarate ophthalmic solution) 0.05% is indicated for the temporary relief of the signs and symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis.

The recommended dose is one drop in the effected eye up to four times daily.

EMADINE® is contraindicated in persons with a known hypersensitivity to emedastine difumarate or any of EMADINE (emedastine difumarate ophthalmic solution ) 's components.

WARNINGS

FOR TOPICAL OPHTHALMIC USE ONLY - NOT FOR INJECTION OR ORAL USE.

PRECAUTIONS

Information for Patients: To prevent contaminating the dropper tip and solution, care should be taken not to touch the eyelids or surrounding areas with the dropper tip of the bottle. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use. Do not use if the solution has become discolored.

Patients should be advised not to wear a contact lens if their eye is red. EMADINE ® (emedastine difumarate ophthalmic solution) 0.05% should not be used to treat contact lens related irritation. The preservative in EMADINE ® (emedastine difumarate ophthalmic solution) 0.05%, benzalkonium chloride, may be absorbed by soft contact lenses. Patients who wear soft contact lenses and whose eyes are not red, should be instructed to wait at least ten minutes after instilling EMADINE ® (emedastine difumarate ophthalmic solution) 0.05% before they insert their contact lenses.

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

Emedastine difumarate demonstrated no carcinogenicity effects in lifetime studies in mice and rats at dietary doses more than 80,000 times and more than 26,000 times the maximum recommended ocular human use level of 0.002 mg/kg/day for a 50 kg adult, respectively. Higher dose levels were not tested. Emedastine difumarate was determined to be nonmutagenic in an in vitro bacterial reverse mutation (Ames) test, an in vitro modification of the Ames test, an in vitro mammalian chromosome aberration test, an in vitro mammalian forward mutation test, an in vitro mammalian DNA repair synthesis test, an in vivo mammalian sister chromatid exchange test and an in vivo mouse micronucleus test. There was no evidence of impaired fertility or reproductive capacity in rats at 15,000 times the maximum recommended ocular human use level.

Pregnancy: Pregnancy Category B

Teratology and peri- and post-natal studies have been conducted with emedastine difumarate in rats and rabbits. At 15,000 times the maximum recommended ocular human use level, emedastine difumarate was shown not to be teratogenic in rats and rabbits and no effects on peri/post-natal development were observed in rats. There are, however, no adequate and well controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal studies are not always predictive of human response, this drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Nursing Mothers

Emedastine has been identified in breast milk in rats following oral administration. It is not known whether topical ocular administration could result in sufficient systemic absorption to produce detectable quantities in breast milk. Nevertheless, caution should be exercised when EMADINE (emedastine difumarate ophthalmic solution ) is administered to a nursing mother.

Pediatric Use

Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients below the age of 3 years have not been established.

Geriatric Use

No overall differences in safety or effectiveness have been observed between elderly and younger patients.

SIDE EFFECTS

In controlled clinical studies of EMADINE (emedastine difumarate ophthalmic solution ) lasting for 42 days, the most frequent adverse reaction was headache (11%). The following adverse experiences were reported in less than 5% of patients: Abnormal dreams, asthenia, bad taste, blurred vision, burning or stinging, corneal infiltrates, corneal staining, dermatitis, discomfort, dry eye, foreign body sensation, hyperemia, keratitis, pruritus, rhinitis, sinusitis, and tearing. Some of these events were similar to the underlying disease being studied.

DRUG INTERACTIONS

No information provided.

In controlled clinical studies of EMADINE (emedastine difumarate ophthalmic solution ) lasting for 42 days, the most frequent adverse reaction was headache (11%). The following adverse experiences were reported in less than 5% of patients: Abnormal dreams, asthenia, bad taste, blurred vision, burning or stinging, corneal infiltrates, corneal staining, dermatitis, discomfort, dry eye, foreign body sensation, hyperemia, keratitis, pruritus, rhinitis, sinusitis, and tearing. Some of these events were similar to the underlying disease being studied.

Somnolence and malaise have been reported following daily oral administration. Oral ingestion of the contents of a 15 mL DROP-TAINER would be equivalent to 7.5 mg. In case of overdosage, treatment is symptomatic and supportive.