Dosing and uses of Cystaran (cysteamine ophthalmic)
Adult dosage forms and strengths
ophthalmic solution
- 0.44%
Corneal Cystine Crystals
Cystine-depleting agent indicated for corneal cystine crystal accumulation in patients with cystinosis
Instill 1 gtt in each eye, every waking hour (ie, q1hr while awake)
Administration
Do not touch dropper tip to any surface to avoid contamination
Keep bottle tightly closed when not in use Discard drops after 1 week of use
Pediatric dosage forms and strengths
ophthalmic solution
- 0.44%
Corneal Cystine Crystals
Cystine-depleting agent indicated for corneal cystine crystal accumulation in patients with cystinosis
Instill 1 gtt in each eye, every waking hour (ie, q1hr while awake)
Administration
Do not touch dropper tip to any surface to avoid contamination
Keep bottle tightly closed when not in use Discard drops after 1 week of use
Cystaran (cysteamine ophthalmic) adverse (side) effects
>10%
Light sensitivity
Ocular redness
Eye pain/irritation
Headache
Visual field defects
Warnings
Contraindications
None
Cautions
For topical ophthalmic use only
Avoid touching eyelids or surrounding areas with the dropper tip of the bottle to avoid contamination
Benign intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri) reported with cysteamine PO; there have also been reports associated with cysteamine ophthalmic, however, all of these patients were on concurrent cysteamine PO
Contains benzalkonium chloride, which may be absorbed by soft contact lenses; contact lenses should be removed prior to application and may be reinserted after 15 minutes
Pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy category: C
Lactation: Unknown whether distributed in breast milk
Pregnancy categories
A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.
B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.
C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.
D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.
X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.
NA: Information not available.
Pharmacology of Cystaran (cysteamine ophthalmic)
Mechanism of action
Acts as a cystine‑depleting agent by converting cystine to cysteine-cysteamine mixed disulfides and reduces corneal cystine crystal accumulation
Absorption
Negligible; incremental increase in systemic cysteamine levels derived from cysteamine ophthalmic applied topically to the eye in patients treated with oral cysteamine was observed to be negligible
