Oftacril

For the prevention, relief and treatment of allergic conjunctivitis, including seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, allergic conjunctivitis and vernal-kerato conjunctivitis.

Adults (including the elderly) and children aged 6 years and over:

In seasonal allergic conjunctivitis: one drop into each eye twice daily, increasing when necessary to four times daily. In seasonal allergic conjunctivitis therapy should be restricted to 12 weeks.

In vernal kerato-conjunctivitis: one drop into each eye four times daily.

Adults (including the elderly):

In perennial allergic conjunctivitis: one drop into each eye twice daily, increasing when necessary to four times daily.

Oftacril should be used regularly to ensure optimum control of symptoms.

There is only limited clinical trial evidence with Oftacril in children aged below 6 years, therefore use in this age range cannot be recommended.

Oftacril Eye Drops is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to nedocromil sodium, benzalkonium chloride or other constituents of the formulation.

Patients should be advised not to wear soft contact lenses during treatment with Oftacril Eye Drops. Benzalkonium chloride, a constituent of the formulation, may accumulate in soft contact lenses. This preservative, when slowly released, could possibly irritate the cornea.

In patients who continue to wear hard or gas-permeable contact lenses during Oftacril Eye Drops treatment, the lenses should be taken out of the eye prior to instillation of the drops. They should be inserted again not earlier than 10 minutes after administration, in order to allow an even conjunctival distribution of the solution.

If more than one topical ophthalmic medicinal product is being used, the medicines must be administered at least 5 minutes apart.

Oftacril Eye Drops has no known effect on the ability to drive or operate machinery.

Additionally, no sedative effects have been reported following the administration of Oftacril Eye Drops.

The following frequency rating has been used, when applicable:

Very common (>=1/10); common (>=1/100 to <1/10); uncommon (>=1/1,000 to <1/100); rare (>=1/10,000 to <1/1,000); very rare (<1/10,000); not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data).

In clinical studies conducted in patients treated with nedocromil sodium 2% eye drops, the following adverse events have been reported at the corresponding frequencies:

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard

Animal studies have not shown evidence of significant toxic effects with nedocromil sodium even at high doses, nor have extended human studies with nedocromil sodium revealed any safety hazard with the drug. Overdosage is, therefore, unlikely to cause problems. However, if overdosage is suspected, treatment should be supportive and directed to the control of the relevant symptoms.

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Decongestant and other antiallergics

ATC code: S01G X04

Oftacril, the ophthalmic preparation of nedocromil sodium, displays specific anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory properties. Nedocromil sodium has been shown to prevent the release of inflammatory mediators from a range of inflammatory cell types.

Following topical ophthalmic administration, less than 4% of the dose is absorbed following multiple dosing. Absorption occurs primarily through the nasal mucosa as approximately 80% of the ophthalmic dose drains into the nose via the naso-lachrymal duct, although 1-2% of the dose may be absorbed orally.

Nedocromil sodium is reversibly bound to plasma proteins and is not metabolised, but is excreted unchanged in bile and urine. The drug is rapidly cleared from the plasma (plasma clearance 10.2 + 1.3 ml/min/kg - elimination half-life 5.3 + 0.9 min) and accumulation does not occur.

Animal studies have failed to reveal toxic effects with nedocromil sodium even at high doses.

Not applicable

No special requirements for disposal.