Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Hypromellose Eye Drops BP
⚠ This medicine appears to have been discontinued
The electronic medicines compendium (emc) no longer publishes a Summary of Product Characteristics for this product, which usually means it is no longer marketed in the UK. The patient leaflet below is kept for reference, but the product may not be available.
If you were prescribed this medicine, other products containing Hypromellose may still be available. Do not stop your treatment — ask your pharmacist or GP what to use instead.
What it is and what it is used for
for Hypromellose, is an artificial tear used to relieve dry eye conditions (e.g. conditions associated with the use of VDUs and TVs, infrequent blinking, certain medical treatments, atmospheric pollution and drying atmospheres e.g. air-conditioning, central heating, wind and sun). It is also used to moisten hard contact lenses and to lubricate artificial eyes.
What you need to know before you take it
e Hypromellose Do not use Hypromellose •
If you are allergic to Hypromellose or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
Warnings and precautions •
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Hypromellose.
• •
If you develop an eye infection during this treatment. If you are wearing contact lenses.
Take special care with Hypromellose Eye Drops if: • • •
your eye irritation persists or worsens you have headache or eye pain your vision changes or continued redness occur
If any of the above apply to you, stop using Hypromellose Eye Drops and contact your doctor or pharmacist. Other medicines and Hypromellose Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have recently used or might use any other medicines. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are applying any other type of eye drops or eye ointment before you start to use this medicine. Pregnancy and breast-feeding If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. Driving and using machines Hypromellose may cause a temporary blurring of vision immediately after using the drops. Do not drive or operate machines if you experience any visual disturbance after using the product. Wait until this clears before driving or using machines. Hypromellose contains benzalkonium chloride This medicine contains 0.10 mg/ml benzalkonium chloride as preservative. Benzalkonium chloride may be absorbed by soft contact lenses and may change the colour of the contact lenses. You should remove contact lenses before using this medicine and put them back 15 minutes afterwards.
Benzalkonium chloride may also cause eye irritation, especially if you have dry eyes or disorders of the cornea (the clear layer at the front of the eye). If you feel abnormal eye sensation, stinging or pain in the eye after using this medicine, talk to your doctor.
How to take it
Hypromellose Always use this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. The recommended dose is one or two drops three times daily as needed, or as directed by your doctor. If you are using in combination with another eye drop medicine, wait 5-15 minutes before applying the second eye drops. Instructions for use • • •
•
First wash your hands Avoid touching any part of the eye (or any other surface) with the tip of the bottle This product contains benzalkonium chloride and should not be used if soft contact lenses are being worn. However if you wear soft contact lenses, they should be removed before using the eye drops and wait at least 15 minutes before reinserting These drops are supplied as a sealed bottle with a spiked cap. When using the bottle for the first time, screw the cap down tightly in order to pierce the tip of the bottle
•
Tilt your head back and look at the ceiling
•
Pull the lower eyelid gently downwards
• • • •
Hold the bottle upside down above the eye and gently squeeze the bottle to release a drop into your eye Keep the affected eye closed and press your fingertip against the inside corner of the closed eye, and hold for 1 minute Repeat for the other eye if necessary Replace and tighten the cap immediately after use
Be careful not to touch the tip of the bottle on your eye or on any other surface. Eye solutions, if handled wrongly, can become contaminated by common bacteria and cause eye infections. If you do develop any other eye condition whilst using this product, see your doctor immediately. If you use more Hypromellose than you should It can be washed out of your eye with warm water. If you forget to use Hypromellose Apply the drops as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. If you stop using Hypromellose You should speak to your doctor or pharmacist, if you want to stop taking Hypromellose. If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist. 4. Possible side effects Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Possible side effects
include: • • • • •
vision blurred eye pain foreign body sensation in eyes eye irritation redness of eye
These effects should wear off after a short time. If these effects persist or get worse, or you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet stop using Hypromellose and talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
How to store it
Hypromellose Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the bottle after Expiry Dt.. The expiry date refers to the last day of the month. Do not store above 25°C. Protect from light. A harmless slight haziness may develop in the unopened bottle. Discard the bottle 28 days after opening, even if there is solution remaining. Do not throw away any medicine via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away the medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
Contents of the pack and other information
What Hypromellose contains The active substance is Hypromellose 0.3% w/v. The other ingredients are Sodium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Borax, Boric Acid, Benzalkonium Chloride Solution (as preservative) 0.01% w/v, Sodium Hydroxide Solution, Hydrochloric Acid and Water for Injections. What Hypromellose looks like and contents of the pack Hypromellose Eye Drops is a clear to slightly opalescent colourless, slightly viscous solution Each bottle contains 10 ml of solution. Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
FDC International Ltd, Unit 6, Fulcrum 1, Solent Way, Whiteley, Fareham, Hampshire, PO15 7FE, United Kingdom Tel: +44(0)1489565222 Email: [email protected] PL number: 15872/0005 This leaflet was last revised in: June 2020
Frequently asked questions about Hypromellose Eye Drops BP
How do I take Hypromellose Eye Drops BP?
Hypromellose Eye Drops BP comes as eye drops. Always follow the dose your doctor or pharmacist has given you, and read the leaflet that comes with the medicine.
What is the active substance in Hypromellose Eye Drops BP?
The active substance in Hypromellose Eye Drops BP is hypromellose.
Are there equivalent medicines to Hypromellose Eye Drops BP?
Medicines with the same active substance, strength and form include: Isopto Plain 0.5% eye drops, solution, Hypromellose 0.3% w/v Eye Drops (FAMAR), Hypromellose Eye Drops BPC 0.3%. They are interchangeable only if your prescriber or pharmacist says so.
Where does this information come from?
This leaflet reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for Hypromellose Eye Drops BP, as published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). The version printed inside your medicine’s packaging is the one that applies to you.
Can I get Hypromellose Eye Drops BP without a prescription?
Whether a medicine is available over the counter or on prescription only depends on its licence. Check the leaflet, or ask your pharmacist — they can tell you straight away.
About this leaflet
The text above reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for this medicine, restructured for easier reading.
- Source: electronic medicines compendium (emc), Datapharm
- Active substance: hypromellose
- Official document: view the original leaflet on emc →
⚕For healthcare professionals — Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)Full SmPC: dosage, interactions, contraindications, warnings+
4.1. Therapeutic indications
Hypromellose is used as artificial tears to prevent damage to the cornea in patients with keratoconjunctivitis sicca accompanying rheumatoid arthritis, xerophthalmias or keratitis or during gonioscopy procedures. It is also used to moisten hard contact lenses and to lubricate artificial eyes.
Hypromellose provides immediate relief of dry eye conditions (including dry eye conditions associated with the use of VDUs and TVs, infrequent blinking, certain medical treatments, atmospheric pollution and drying atmospheres e.g. air-conditioning, central heating, wind and sun).
4.2. Posology and method of administration
The recommended dosage for adults, children and elderly is one or two drops topically instilled into the eye three times daily as needed, or as directed by a physician.
Method of administration: For ocular use only.
4.3. Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to the active substance, Hypromellose or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.
4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use
May cause transient mild stinging or temporary blurred vision. If irritation persists or worsens, or headache, eye pain, vision changes or continued redness occur, patients should discontinue use and consult a physician or pharmacist (see section 4.8).
In order to preserve the sterility, the dropper should not be allowed to touch any part of the eye or any other surface. (Label warning: Do not touch any part of the eye with the dropper).
This formulation of Hypromellose eye drops contains 0.1mg/ml benzalkonium chloride as preservative which may be deposited in soft contact lenses. Hence, Hypromellose should not be used while wearing these lenses. The lenses should be removed before instillation of the drops and not reinserted earlier than 15 minutes after use.
Benzalkonium chloride has been reported to cause eye irritation, symptoms of dry eyes and may affect the tear film and corneal surface. Should be used with caution in dry eye patients and in patients where the cornea may be compromised. Patients should be monitored in case of prolonged use.
4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Hypromellose prolongs the contact time of topically applied drugs commonly used in ophthalmology.
4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
Fertility
Studies have not been performed to evaluate the effect of topical ocular administration of hypromellose on fertility. Hypromellose is a pharmacologically inert compound and it would not be expected to have any effect on fertility.
Pregnancy
There are no or limited amount of data from the use of ophthalmic hypromellose in pregnant women. Systemic exposure to hypromellose following topical ocular administration is negligible and the product has no pharmacological properties.
Lactation
It is unknown whether topical hypromellose/metabolites are excreted in human milk. No effects on the breastfed newborn/infant are anticipated since the systemic exposure of the breast-feeding women to hypromellose is negligible. In addition to this, hypromellose is pharmacologically inert.
4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines
May cause transient blurring of vision on instillation. Do not drive or operate hazardous machinery unless vision is clear.
4.8. Undesirable effects
The following adverse reactions have been reported following administration of Hypromellose.
Frequency cannot be estimated from the available data:
Eye disorder:
• transient mild stinging or vision blurred,
• eye pain,
• foreign body sensation in eyes,
• eye irritation,
• ocular hyperaemia.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via Yellow card scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
4.9. Overdose
Due to the characteristics of this preparation, no toxic effects are to be expected with an ocular overdose of this product, nor in the event of accidental ingestion of the contents of one bottle.
💬 Ask about this leaflet
Ask anything about Hypromellose Eye Drops BP. The assistant answers only from this leaflet — if the leaflet does not cover it, it will say so. It does not give medical advice.
Answers come from the patient leaflet published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). They are not medical advice. Ask a pharmacist or your GP if you are unsure. For urgent help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.