Tobradex ST (Tobramycin / Dexamethasone Ophthalmic Suspension 0.3%/0.05%): Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Interactions, Warning

side effects drug center tobradex st (tobramycin / dexamethasone ophthalmic suspension 0.3%/0.05%) drug

PROFESSIONAL CONSUMER SIDE EFFECTS

Drug Description

TOBRADEX® ST
(tobramycin / dexamethasone) Ophthalmic Suspension 0.3%/0.05%

DESCRIPTION

TOBRADEX® ST (tobramycin / dexamethasone ophthalmic suspension) 0.3%/0.05% is a sterile, isotonic, white, aqueous antibiotic and steroid suspension with a pH of approximately 5.7 and an osmolality of approximately 290 mOsm/kg.

The chemical name of tobramycin is O-3amino-3-deoxy-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)O-[2,6-diamino-2,3,6-trideoxy-α-D-ribohexopyranosyl-(1→6)]-2-deoxy- Lstreptamine. It has a molecular formula of C18H37N5O9 and a molecular weight of 467.52. The chemical structure is:

Tobramycin Structural Formula Illustration

The chemical name of dexamethasone is 9fluoro-11β,17,21-trihydroxy-16αmethylpregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione. It has a molecular formula of C22H29FO5 and a molecular weight of 392.47. The chemical structure is:

Dexamethasone Structural Formula Illustration

Each mL of TOBRADEX ® ST contains: Actives: tobramycin 3 mg and dexamethasone 0.5 mg. Preservative: benzalkonium chloride 0.1 mg. Inactives: xanthan gum, tyloxapol, edetate disodium, sodium chloride, propylene glycol, sodium sulfate, hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide (to adjust pH) and purified water.

Indications

INDICATIONS

TOBRADEX® ST (tobramycin / dexamethasone ophthalmic suspension 0.3%/0.05%) ophthalmic suspension is indicated for steroid-responsive inflammatory ocular conditions for which a corticosteroid is indicated and where superficial bacterial ocular infection or a risk of bacterial ocular infection exists.

Ocular steroids are indicated in inflammatory conditions of the palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva, cornea and anterior segment of the globe where the inherent risk of steroid use in certain infective conjunctivitides is accepted to obtain a diminution in edema and inflammation. They are also indicated in chronic anterior uveitis and corneal injury from chemical, radiation or thermal burns, or penetration of foreign bodies.

The use of a combination drug with an anti-infective component is indicated where the risk of superficial ocular infection is high or where there is an expectation that potentially dangerous numbers of bacteria will be present in the eye.

The particular anti-infective drug in this product is active against the following common bacterial eye pathogens: Staphylococci, including S. aureus and S. epidermidis (coagulase-positive and coagulase-negative), including penicillin-resistant isolates. Streptococci, including some Group A and other beta-hemolytic species, some nonhemolytic species, and some Streptococcus pneumoniae.Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter aerogenes, Proteus mirabilis, Morganella morganii , most Proteus vulgaris isolates, Haemophilus influenzae , H. aegyptius, Moraxella lacunata, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and some Neisseria species.

Dosage

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

Recommended Dosing

Instill one drop into the conjunctival sac(s) every four to six hours. During the initial 24 to 48 hours, the dosage may be increased to one drop every two hours. Frequency should be decreased gradually as warranted by improvement in clinical signs. Care should be taken not to discontinue therapy prematurely. Prescription Guideline

Not more than 20 mL should be prescribed initially and the prescription should not be refilled without further evaluation as outlined in WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS.

HOW SUPPLIED

Dosage Forms And Strengths

TOBRADEX ST (tobramycin / dexamethasone ophthalmic suspension 0.3%/0.05%) ophthalmic suspension contains 3 mg/mL tobramycin and 0.5 mg/mL dexamethasone.

Storage And Handling

TOBRADEX® ST (tobramycin / dexamethasone ophthalmic suspension 0.3%/0.05%) is supplied as a 2.5 mL, 5 mL, or 10 mL suspension in a 4 mL, 8 mL or 10 mL natural polyethylene DROP-TAINER® bottle with a natural polyethylene dispenser tip and a pink polypropylene overcap. Tamper evidence is provided with a shrink band around the closure and neck area of the bottle.

NDC 0065-0652-25: 2.5 mL
NDC 0065-0652-05: 5 mL
NDC 0065-0652-10: 10 mL

Storage

Store at 2 to 25°C (36 to 77°F). Protect from light.

Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Fort Worth, Texas 76134 USA. Revised: February 2009

Side Effects & Drug Interactions

SIDE EFFECTS

Adverse reactions have occurred with steroid/anti-infective combination drugs which can be attributed to the steroid component, the anti-infective component, or the combination. Exact incidence figures are not available.

The most frequent adverse reactions to topical ocular tobramycin (TOBREX® ) are hypersensitivity and localized ocular toxicity, including eye pain, eyelids pruritus, eyelid edema, and conjunctival hyperemia. These reactions occur in less than 4% of patients. Similar reactions may occur with the topical use of other aminoglycoside antibiotics.

The reactions due to the steroid component are: increased intraocular pressure (IOP) with possible development of glaucoma, and infrequent optic nerve disorder; subcapsular cataract; and impaired healing.

Secondary Infection.

The development of secondary infection has occurred after use of combinations containing steroids and antimicrobials. Fungal infections of the cornea are particularly prone to develop coincidentally with long-term applications of steroids. The possibility of fungal invasion must be considered in any persistent corneal ulceration where steroid treatment has been used. Secondary bacterial ocular infection following suppression of host responses also occurs.

Non-ocular adverse events occurring at an incidence of 0.5% to 1% included headache and increased blood pressure.

DRUG INTERACTIONS

No information provided.

Warnings & Precautions

WARNINGS

Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.

PRECAUTIONS

IOP increase

Prolonged use of corticosteroids may result in glaucoma with damage to the optic nerve, defects in visual acuity and fields of vision. If this product is used for 10 days or longer, IOP should be monitored.

Aminoglycoside sensitivity

Sensitivity to topically applied

aminoglycosides may occur.

Cataracts

Use of corticosteroids may result in posterior subcapsular cataract formation.

Delayed Healing

The use of steroids after cataract surgery may delay healing and increase the incidence of bleb formation. In those diseases causing thinning of the cornea or sclera, perforations have been known to occur with the use of topical steroids. The initial prescription and renewal of the medication order should be made by a physician only after examination of the patient with the aid of magnification such as slit lamp biomicroscopy and, where appropriate, fluorescein staining.

Bacterial infections

Prolonged use of corticosteroids may suppress the host response and thus increase the hazard of secondary ocular infections. In acute purulent conditions, steroids may mask infection or enhance existing infection. If signs and symptoms fail to improve after 2 days, the patient should be re-evaluated.

Viral infections

Employment of a corticosteroid medication in the treatment of patients with a history of herpes simplex requires great caution. Use of ocular steroids may prolong the course and may exacerbate the severity of many viral infections of the eye (including herpes simplex).

Fungal infections

Fungal infections of the cornea are particularly prone to develop coincidentally with long-term local steroid application. Fungus invasion must be considered in any persistent corneal ulceration where a steroid has been used or is in use.

Use with systemic aminoglycosides

If product is used in combination with systemic aminoglycoside antibiotics the patient should be monitored for total serum concentration.

Nonclinical Toxicology

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

No studies have been conducted to evaluate the carcinogenic or mutagenic potential. No impairment of fertility was noted in studies of subcutaneous tobramycin in rats at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg/day (equivalent to human doses of 8 and 16 mg/kg/day, at least 2 orders of magnitude greater than the topical ocular dose).

Use In Specific Populations

Pregnancy

Pregnanacy Category C. Corticosteroids have been shown to be teratogenic in animal studies. Ocular administration of 0.1% dexamethasone resulted in 15.6% and 32.3% incidence of fetal anomalies in two groups of pregnant rabbits. Fetal growth retardation and increased mortality rates have been observed in rats with chronic dexamethasone therapy. Reproduction studies have been performed in rats and rabbits with tobramycin at doses up to 100 mg/kg/day (equivalent to human doses of 16 and 32 mg/kg/day, respectively) and have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the fetus. There are no adequate and well controlled studies in pregnant women. TOBRADEX® ST (tobramycin / dexamethasone ophthalmic suspension 0.3%/0.05%) ophthalmic suspension should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Nursing Mothers

Systemically administered corticosteroids appear in human milk and could suppress growth, interfere with endogenous corticosteroid production, or cause other untoward effects. It is not known whether topical administration of corticosteroids could result in sufficient systemic absorption to produce detectable quantities in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when TOBRADEX® ST (tobramycin / dexamethasone ophthalmic suspension 0.3%/0.05%) is administered to a nursing woman.

Pediatric Use

Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients below the age of 2 years have not been established.

Geriatric Use

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

Overdosage & Contraindications

OVERDOSE

No information provided.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Nonbacterial Etiology

TOBRADEX ST (tobramycin / dexamethasone ophthalmic suspension 0.3%/0.05%) , as with other ophthalmic corticosteroids, is contraindicated in most viral diseases of the cornea and conjunctiva including epithelial herpes simplex keratitis (dendritic keratitis), vaccinia, and varicella, and also in mycobacterial infection of the eye and fungal diseases of ocular structures.

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity to a component of the medication.

Clinical Pharmacology

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY

Mechanism of Action

Dexamethasone is a potent corticoid. Corticoids suppress the inflammatory response to a variety of agents and they can delay or slow healing. Since corticoids may inhibit the body's defense mechanism against infection, a concomitant antimicrobial drug may be used when this inhibition is considered to be clinically significant.

Tobramycin is an antibacterial drug. It inhibits the growth of bacteria by inhibiting protein synthesis. Tobramycin is included in this combination product to provide action against susceptible bacteria.

Pharmacokinetics

In a multi-center, double-masked, parallel-group, randomized, single-dose pharmacokinetic study in male and female cataract surgery patients, mean dexamethasone concentrations following administration of TOBRADEX ST (tobramycin / dexamethasone ophthalmic suspension 0.3%/0.05%) were similar to dexamethasone concentrations following administration of TOBRADEX (tobramycin /dexamethasone ophthalmic suspension) 0.3%/0.1%. Aqueous humor concentrations reached a mean peak of 33.7 ng/mL 2 hours following single-dose administration of TOBRADEX ST (tobramycin / dexamethasone ophthalmic suspension 0.3%/0.05%) .

No data are available on the extent of systemic absorption of dexamethasone or tobramycin from TOBRADEX ST (tobramycin / dexamethasone ophthalmic suspension 0.3%/0.05%) ophthalmic suspension. Following multiple-dose (QID for 2 days) bilateral ocular administration of TOBRADEX (Tobramycin 0.3%/Dexamethasone 0.1% ophthalmic suspension) in healthy male and female volunteers, peak plasma concentrations of dexamethasone were less than 1 ng/mL and occurred within 2 hours post-dose across all subjects.

Microbiology

The antibiotic component (tobramycin) in the combination is included to provide action against susceptible bacteria. In vitro studies have demonstrated that tobramycin is active against susceptible isolates of the following bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus (includes penicillin-resistant isolates), Staphylococcus epidermidis (includes penicillin-resistant isolates), Streptococci, including some Group A other beta-hemolytic species, some nonhemolytic species, and some Streptococcus pneumoniae. Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus aegypticus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Moraxella lacunata, Morganella morganii, Neisseria perflava, Neisseria sicca, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

In vitro bacterial studies demonstrate that in some cases bacteria resistant to gentamicin are susceptible to tobramycin.

Medication Guide

PATIENT INFORMATION

Storage and Handling

Patients should be instructed to store the bottle upright and away from light. Shake well before using.

Avoid Contamination

Patients should be instructed not to touch dropper tip to any surface, as this may contaminate the contents.

Contact Lens Wear

Contact lenses should not be worn during the use of this product.

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