Description
Tafluprost eye drops are used to lower pressure inside the eye that is caused by open-angle glaucoma or ocular (eye) hypertension.
This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.
This product is available in the following dosage forms:
- Solution
Before Using
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Because of safety concerns, the use of tafluprost to treat open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension in children is not recommended.
Geriatric
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of tafluprost eye drops in the elderly.
Drug Interactions
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
Other Interactions
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
Other Medical Problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Aphakia (no lens in the eyes) or
- Torn artificial lens in the eyes—Use with caution. May increase the risk of a serious side effect called macular edema.
- Eye disease (eg, eye infection, eye surgery, iritis, uveitis), or history of—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
Proper Use
Use this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not use more of it, do not use it more often, and do not use it for it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.
This medicine comes with a patient information leaflet and patient instructions. Read and follow the instructions in the insert carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.
To use the eye drops:
- Do not open the pouch until you are ready to use it.
- First, wash your hands. Open the foil pouch. Take the strip of single-dose containers from the foil pouch. Hold the single-dose container upright. Twist open the top, do not touch the top after opening the container.
- Tilt your head back. Press your finger gently on the skin just beneath the lower eyelid and pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to make a space. Gently squeeze the medicine into this space. Let go of the eyelid and gently close the eyes. Do not blink. Keep the eyes closed and apply pressure to the inner corner of the eye with your finger for 1 or 2 minutes to allow the medicine to be absorbed by the eye.
- To keep the medicine as germ-free as possible, a new single-dose container must be opened each time you are ready to use.
Remove contact lenses before you use the eye drops. Wait for at least 15 minutes before putting the contact lenses back in.
If you are using more than one eye product, apply these medicines at least 5 minutes apart.
Dosing
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
- For ophthalmic dosage form (eye drops):
- For glaucoma or ocular hypertension:
- Adults—One drop in the affected eye(s) once a day in the evening.
- Children—Use is not recommended.
- For glaucoma or ocular hypertension:
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage
Keep out of the reach of children.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.
Unopened foil pouches: Store in the refrigerator. Do not freeze.
Opened foil pouches: Write down the date of first opening the foil pouch. You may store unopened single-dose containers in the opened foil pouch at room temperature for up to 30 days. Throw away any unused single-dose containers 30 days after opening the pouch.
Precautions
It is very important that your eye doctor (ophthalmologist) check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects.
While you are using this medicine, the iris (colored part) of your treated eye(s) may slowly become darker in color. The change in color of the iris is noticeable usually within several months or years from the start of treatment with tafluprost. Check with your doctor if you have any concerns about this.
If itching, redness, swelling, or other signs of eye or eyelid irritation occur, check with your doctor. These signs may mean that you are allergic to tafluprost.
Your eyelashes may become longer and thicker. These changes to the lashes usually reverse after stopping the treatment. Also, these changes to the lashes will affect only the eye being treated with tafluprost. Check with your doctor if you have any concerns about this.
This medicine may cause eye swelling (eg, macular edema). Check with your doctor right away if you have blurred vision or other vision problems.
Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
- Blurred vision
- burning, dry, or itching eyes
- decreased vision
- eye discharge or excessive tearing
- eye pain
- redness, pain, or swelling of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of the eyelid
Incidence not known
- Sensitivity of the eyes to light
- tearing
- throbbing pain
- trouble breathing
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
- Headache
- stinging or irritation of the eye
Less common
- Cough
- darker color of the eyelashes
- dry eyes
- increased growth of the eyelashes
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
DRG-20075545
