Lodoxamide

Lodoxamide is a mast-cell stabilizer for topical administration into the eye. Mast-cell stabilizers, first one approved being cromolyn sodium, are used in treatment of ocular hypersensitivity reactions such as vernal conjunctivitis. These conditions often require treatment with anti-inflammatory medications such as ophthalmic NSAIDs or topical steroids which may cause systemic or toxic effects long-term. Although less effective than topical steroids at decreasing inflammation, mast-cell stabilizers offer another treatment option and exhibit minimal adverse effects. Lodoxamide is marketed under the brand name Alomide by Alcon.

Lodoxamide ophthalmic solution is used in the eye to treat certain disorders of the eye caused by allergies. It works by acting on certain cells, called mast cells, to prevent them from releasing substances that cause the allergic reaction. ALOMIDE® (Lodoxamide tromethamine ophthalmic solution) 0.1% is indicated in the treatment of the ocular disorders referred to by the terms vernal keratoconjunctivitis, vernal conjunctivitis, and vernal keratitis.

Lodoxamide ophthalmic solution is used in the eye to treat certain disorders of the eye caused by allergies. It works by acting on certain cells, called mast cells, to prevent them from releasing substances that cause the allergic reaction.

Lodoxamide is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Usual Adult Dose for Seasonal Allergic Conjunctivitis

Instill 1 or 2 drop in affected eye(s) 4 times a day

Duration of therapy: Up to 3 months

Comments:

-The effect of therapy depends upon administration at regular intervals.

Use: For the treatment of symptoms of vernal keratoconjunctivitis, vernal conjunctivitis, and vernal keratitis.

Usual Adult Dose for Keratitis

Instill 1 or 2 drop in affected eye(s) 4 times a day

Duration of therapy: Up to 3 months

Comments:

-The effect of therapy depends upon administration at regular intervals.

Use: For the treatment of symptoms of vernal keratoconjunctivitis, vernal conjunctivitis, and vernal keratitis.

Usual Adult Dose for Keratoconjunctivitis

Instill 1 or 2 drop in affected eye(s) 4 times a day

Duration of therapy: Up to 3 months

Comments:

-The effect of therapy depends upon administration at regular intervals.

Use: For the treatment of symptoms of vernal keratoconjunctivitis, vernal conjunctivitis, and vernal keratitis.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Seasonal Allergic Conjunctivitis

Age: 2 years and older:

Instill 1 or 2 drop in affected eye(s) 4 times a day

Duration of therapy: Up to 3 months

Comments:

-The effect of therapy depends upon administration at regular intervals.

Use: For the treatment of symptoms of vernal keratoconjunctivitis, vernal conjunctivitis, and vernal keratitis.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Keratitis

Age: 2 years and older:

Instill 1 or 2 drop in affected eye(s) 4 times a day

Duration of therapy: Up to 3 months

Comments:

-The effect of therapy depends upon administration at regular intervals.

Use: For the treatment of symptoms of vernal keratoconjunctivitis, vernal conjunctivitis, and vernal keratitis.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Keratoconjunctivitis

Age: 2 years and older:

Instill 1 or 2 drop in affected eye(s) 4 times a day

Duration of therapy: Up to 3 months

Comments:

-The effect of therapy depends upon administration at regular intervals.

Use: For the treatment of symptoms of vernal keratoconjunctivitis, vernal conjunctivitis, and vernal keratitis.

Renal Dose Adjustments

No adjustment recommended

Liver Dose Adjustments

No adjustment recommended

Precautions

Safety and efficacy have not been established in patients younger than 2 years.

Consult WARNINGS section for additional precautions.

Dialysis

Data not available

Other Comments

Administration advice:

-For ophthalmic use only; not for injection

-Soft contact lenses should be removed during treatment due to preservative (benzalkonium chloride).

General:

-Administer at regular intervals for optimal benefit.

-Drops should generally be continued for the duration of the allergy season during which allergic eye symptoms occur.

-Instillation of eye drops may cause initial discomfort but generally decline with ongoing treatment.

Patient advice:

-Patients should be instructed not to touch bottle tip to eyes, hands, or any other surface in order to prevent contamination of the bottle.

-Patients should be instructed to administer eye drops at regular intervals for optimal benefit.

-Patients should be instructed to remove soft contact lens during treatment.

See also:
What is the most important information I should know about Lodoxamide?

Pseudomembranous colitis caused by antibiotic use; acute diarrhea associated with organisms that penetrate intestinal wall (eg, toxigenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Shigella ); conditions in which constipation should be avoided; bloody diarrhea; fever; acute ulcerative colitis (potential for toxic megacolon).

Use Lodoxamide as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Lodoxamide is for use in the eye only. Do not get Lodoxamide in the nose or mouth.
• To use Lodoxamide, first, wash your hands. Tilt your head back. Using your index finger, pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to form a pouch. Drop the medicine into the pouch and gently close your eyes. Immediately use your finger to apply pressure to the inside corner of the eye for 1 to 2 minutes. Do not blink. Remove excess medicine around your eye with a clean tissue, being careful not to touch your eye. Wash your hands to remove any medicine that may be on them. To prevent germs from contaminating your medicine, do not touch the applicator tip to any surface, including your eye. Keep the container tightly closed.
• Lodoxamide contains benzalkonium chloride, a preservative that may be absorbed by soft contact lenses. Check with your doctor before wearing contact lenses while you are using Lodoxamide.
• If you miss a dose of Lodoxamide, use it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not use 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Lodoxamide.

Nonclinical data have shown that loperamide is a P-glycoprotein substrate. Concomitant administration of loperamide (16 mg single dose) with a 600 mg single dose of either quinidine, or ritonavir, both of which are P-glycoprotein inhibitors, resulted in a 2- to 3- fold increase in loperamide plasma levels. Due to the potential for enhanced central effects when loperamide is coadministered with quinidine and with ritonavir, caution should be exercised when loperamide is administered at the recommended dosages (2 mg, up to 16 mg maximum daily dose) with P-glycoprotein inhibitors.

When a single 16-mg dose of loperamide is coadministered with a 600 mg single dose of saquinavir, loperamide decreased saquinavir exposure by 54%, which may be of clinical relevance due to reduction of therapeutic efficacy of saquinavir. The effect of saquinavir on loperamide is of less clinical significance. Therefore, when loperamide is given with saquinavir, the therapeutic efficacy of saquinavir should be closely monitored.

See also:
What are the possible side effects of Lodoxamide?

Applies to Lodoxamide ophthalmic: ophthalmic solution

Side Effects of This Medicine

In addition to its needed effects, some unwanted effects may be caused by Lodoxamide ophthalmic. In the event that any of these side effects do occur, they may require medical attention.

Severity: Moderate

If any of the following side effects occur while taking Lodoxamide ophthalmic, check with your doctor or nurse as soon as possible:

Less common:

• Blurred vision
• feeling of something in eye, itching, discomfort, redness, tearing or discharge, or other eye or eyelid irritation (not present before you started using this medicine or becoming worse while you are using this medicine)

• Dizziness
• mucus from eye, eye pain, or swelling of eye or eyelid (not present before you started using this medicine or becoming worse while you are using this medicine)
• headache
• sensitivity of eyes to light
• skin rash

Minor Side Effects

Some of the side effects that can occur with Lodoxamide ophthalmic may not need medical attention. As your body adjusts to the medicine during treatment these side effects may go away. Your health care professional may also be able to tell you about ways to reduce or prevent some of these side effects. If any of the following side effects continue, are bothersome or if you have any questions about them, check with your health care professional:

More common:

• Burning or stinging (when medicine is applied)

• Aching eyes
• crusting in corner of eye or on eyelid
• drowsiness or sleepiness
• dryness of nose or eyes
• feeling of heat in eye
• heat sensation on body
• nausea or stomach discomfort
• scales on eyelid or eyelash
• sneezing
• sticky feeling of eyes
• tired eyes