BNF for Children (BNFC) 2018-2019

lUNLICENSED USEMaxidex®not licensed for use in
children under 2 years.Dropodex®andDexafree®not
licensed for use in children.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

MHRA/CHM ADVICE: CORTICOSTEROIDS: RARE RISK OF CENTRAL

SEROUS CHORIORETINOPATHY WITH LOCAL AS WELL AS SYSTEMIC

ADMINISTRATION (AUGUST 2017)

See Corticosteroids, general use p. 434.

lINTERACTIONS→Appendix 1 : corticosteroids

lSIDE-EFFECTS
▶Common or very commonEye discomfort
▶UncommonPhotophobia.taste altered

lPREGNANCYDexamethasone readily crosses the placenta.

lPRESCRIBING AND DISPENSING INFORMATIONAlthough
multi-dose Dexamethasone eye drops commonly contain
preservatives, preservative-free unit dose vials may be
available.

lMEDICINAL FORMS
There can be variation in the licensing of different medicines
containing the same drug. Forms available from special-order
manufacturers include: eye drops
Eye drops
EXCIPIENTS:May contain Benzalkonium chloride, disodium edetate,
polysorbates
▶Dexamethasone (Non-proprietary)
Dexamethasone sodium phosphate 1 mg per 1 mlMinims
dexamethasone 0. 1 % eye drops 0. 5 ml unit dose| 20 unit doseP
£ 11. 46 DT = £ 11. 46
▶Dexafree(Thea Pharmaceuticals Ltd)
Dexamethasone sodium phosphate 1 mg per 1 mlDexafree
1 mg/ 1 ml eye drops 0. 4 ml unit dose| 30 unit doseP£ 9. 70
▶Dropodex(Rayner Pharmaceuticals Ltd)
Dexamethasone sodium phosphate 1 mg per 1 mlDropodex 0. 1 %
eye drops 0. 4 ml unit dose| 20 unit doseP£ 10. 48 DT = £ 10. 48
▶Maxidex(Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd)
Dexamethasone 1 mg per 1 mlMaxidex 0. 1 % eye drops|
5 mlP£ 1. 42 DT = £ 1. 42 | 10 mlP£ 2. 80 DT = £ 2. 80
Combinations available:Dexamethasone with framycetin
sulfate and gramicidin,p. 670 .Dexamethasone with
hypromellose, neomycin and polymyxin B sulfate,p. 670

Fluorometholone 21-Dec-2017

lINDICATIONS AND DOSE

Local treatment of inflammation (short term)

▶TO THE EYE

▶Child 2–17 years:Apply every 1 hour for 24 – 48 hours,

then reduced to 2 – 4 times a day

lUNLICENSED USENot licensed for use in children under
2 years.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

MHRA/CHM ADVICE: CORTICOSTEROIDS: RARE RISK OF CENTRAL

SEROUS CHORIORETINOPATHY WITH LOCAL AS WELL AS SYSTEMIC

ADMINISTRATION (AUGUST 2017)

See Corticosteroids, general use p. 434.

lSIDE-EFFECTSCataract.eye discomfort.eye disorders.
eye infection.eye inflammation.rash.taste altered.
vision disorders

lMEDICINAL FORMS
There can be variation in the licensing of different medicines
containing the same drug.
Eye drops
EXCIPIENTS:May contain Benzalkonium chloride, disodium edetate,
polysorbates

▶FML Liquifilm(Allergan Ltd)

Fluorometholone 1 mg per 1 mlFML Liquifilm 0. 1 % ophthalmic

suspension| 5 mlP£ 1. 71 DT = £ 1. 71 | 10 mlP£ 2. 95 DT =

£ 2. 95

Prednisolone 21-Dec-2017

lINDICATIONS AND DOSE

Local treatment of inflammation (short-term)

▶TO THE EYE

▶Child:Apply every 1 – 2 hours until controlled then

reduce frequency

lUNLICENSED USEPred Forte®not licensed for use in

children (age range not specified by manufacturer).

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

MHRA/CHM ADVICE: CORTICOSTEROIDS: RARE RISK OF CENTRAL

SEROUS CHORIORETINOPATHY WITH LOCAL AS WELL AS SYSTEMIC

ADMINISTRATION (AUGUST 2017)

See Corticosteroids, general use p. 434.

lINTERACTIONS→Appendix 1 : corticosteroids

lSIDE-EFFECTSEye discomfort.increased risk of infection.

taste altered.visual impairment

lPRESCRIBING AND DISPENSING INFORMATIONAlthough

multi-dose prednisolone eye drops commonly contain

preservatives, preservative-free unit dose vials may be

available.

lMEDICINAL FORMS

There can be variation in the licensing of different medicines

containing the same drug. Forms available from special-order

manufacturers include:eye drops

Eye drops

EXCIPIENTS:May contain Benzalkonium chloride, disodium edetate,

polysorbates

▶Prednisolone (Non-proprietary)

Prednisolone sodium phosphate 5 mg per 1 mlMinims

prednisolone sodium phosphate 0. 5 % eye drops 0. 5 ml unit dose|

20 unit doseP£ 12. 25 DT = £ 12. 25

▶Pred Forte(Allergan Ltd)

Prednisolone acetate 10 mg per 1 mlPred Forte 1 % eye drops|

5 mlP£ 1. 82 DT = £ 1. 82 | 10 mlP£ 3. 66 DT = £ 3. 66

Ear/eye drops solution

EXCIPIENTS:May contain Benzalkonium chloride, disodium edetate

▶Predsol(RPH Pharmaceuticals AB)

Prednisolone sodium phosphate 5 mg per 1 mlPredsol 0. 5 %

ear/eye drops| 10 mlP£ 2. 00 DT = £ 2. 00

CORTICOSTEROIDS›CORTICOSTEROID

COMBINATIONS WITH ANTI-INFECTIVES

Betamethasone with neomycin

The properties listed below are those particular to the

combination only. For the properties of the components

please consider, betamethasone p. 668.

lINDICATIONS AND DOSE

Local treatment of eye inflammation and bacterial

infection (short-term)

▶TO THE EYE USING EYE DROP

▶Child:(consult product literature)

lINTERACTIONS→Appendix 1 : corticosteroids.neomycin

lLESS SUITABLE FOR PRESCRIBINGBetamethasone with

neomycin eye-drops are less suitable for prescribing.

BNFC 2018 – 2019 Inflammatory eye conditions 669

Eye

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