Naphazoline

What is Naphazoline?

• Naphazoline (Privine and Sudafed) is, an ocular vasoconstrictor, an imidazoline derivative sympathomimetic amine used as a decongestant, and a vasoconstrictor added to eye drops to relieve red eye.

Naphazoline

Naphazoline Structural Formulae

Naphazoline

What are the uses of this medicine?

Naphazoline (Privine and Sudafed) used temporary relief of nasal congestion:

• due to a cold
• due to hay fever or other upper respiratory allergies
• shrinks swollen membranes so you can breathe more freely

As Eye drops (brand names Clear Eyes, and Cleari) used for temporary relief of redness and discomfort due to:

• minor eye irritations
• exposure to wind or sun
• dryness of the eye
• prevents further irritation

How does this medicine work?

• Naphazoline constricts the vascular system of the conjunctiva.
• It is presumed that this effect is due to direct stimulation of the drug upon the alpha-adrenergic receptors in the arterioles of the conjunctiva, resulting in decreased conjunctival congestion.
• Naphazoline belongs to the imidazoline class of sympathomimetics.

Who Should Not Use this medicine ?

This medicine cannot be used in patients who:

• are taking MAO inhibitors can experience a severe hypertensive crisis if given a sympathomimetic drug such as naphazoline HCl
• Hypersensitivity to naphazoline
• Severe cardiovascular disease including cardiac arrhythmia and in patients with diabetes, especially those with a tendency toward diabetic ketoacidosis

What drug interactions can this medicine cause?

• Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Be sure to mention any of the following:

• MAO inhibitors
• anaesthetics (e.g. cyclopropane or halothane)
• phenylephrine

Is this medicine FDA approved?

• It was patented in 1934 and came into medical use in 1942.

How should this medicine be used?

Recommended dosage: adults and children 12 years of age and over:

• 1 or 2 sprays in each nostril not more often than every 6 hours.

What are the dosage forms and brand names of this medicine?

This medicine is available in fallowing doasage form:

• As nasal spray Naphazoline HCl, USP 0.05%
• Naphazoline Hydrochloride Ophthalmic Solution

This medicine is available in fallowing brand namesː

• Privine and Sudafed; Clear Eyes, and Cleari

What side effects can this medication cause?

• The most common side effects of this medicine include:

In Nasal administration:

• rhinitis medicamentosa
• rebound nasal congestion

In Ophthalmic use:

• Stinging
• Discomfort
• Irritation
• Increased red eyes
• Blurred vision
• Mydriasis
• Punctate keratitis
• Lacrimation (tears)
• Increased intraocular pressure

What special precautions should I follow?

• Do not exceed recommended dosage
• Temporary discomfort such as burning, stinging, sneezing, or an increase in nasal discharge may occur
• Do not use for more than 3 days. Frequent or prolonged use may cause nasal congestion to come back or get worse.
• Use only as directed.
• Stop use and ask a doctor if symptoms persist.
• The use of this container by more than one person may spread infection.

Tell your a doctor before use if you have:

• heart disease
• thyroid disease
• high blood pressure
• diabetes
• trouble urinating due to an enlarged prostate gland

• Patients under therapy with MAO inhibitors may experience a severe hypertensive crisis if given a sympathomimetic drug. Use in children, especially infants, may result in CNS depression leading to coma and marked reduction in body temperature.

What to do in case of emergency/overdose?

• In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline of your country. In the United States, call 1-800-222-1222.

• Overdose related information is also available online at poisonhelp.org/help.
• In the event that the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services. In the United States, call 911.

Can this medicine be used in pregnancy?

• Pregnancy Category C.
• It is also not known whether naphazoline can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. Naphazoline should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.

Can this medicine be used in children?

• Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.

What are the active and inactive ingredients in this medicine?

Active ingredients:

• naphazoline hydrochloride

Inactive Ingredients:

• edetate disodium
• water
• sodium chloride
• SODIUM CARBONATE
• BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE
• HYDROCHLORIC ACID
• BORIC ACID

Who manufactures and distributes this medicine?

Naphazoline Hydrochloride Ophthalmic Solution: Manufactured by:

• Akorn Inc.
• Lake Forest, IL

Naphazoline hydrochloride spray: Distributed by:

• INSIGHT Pharmaceuticals Corp.
• Langhorne, PA

What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?

• store at room temperature 20°–25°C (68°–77°F).

• Dailymed label info on Naphazoline
• FDA Naphazoline