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.
Minims Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate 0.5% w/v, Eye drops solution
⚠ 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 Prednisolone sodium phosphate 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 Minims® Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate contains a corticosteroid. It is used to treat inflamed eyes (red and painful) for which the inflammation is not caused by an infection. The part of the eye affected will vary depending on the cause of the inflammation. Your doctor may sometimes prescribe other drugs at the same time to make sure that the inflammation is treated effectively. This medicine is indicated for children, adults and the elderly.
What you need to know before you take it
e your eye drops Do not use these drops if:
- you are allergic to the active substance (prednisolone) or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
- you have high pressure inside the eye or you are at risk of developing glaucoma. Your doctor will have checked for this.
- you have an eye infection.
- it is intended for long term continuous therapy in children (at the discretion of the physician). Warning and precautions Contact your doctor if you experience blurred vision or other visual disturbances. Children In children, continuous, long term use of these eye drops should be avoided. Check with your doctor if your child has been using this medicine for a long time. The doctor or eye specialist may decide to prescribe an alternative. Other medicines and your eye drops Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. Minims® Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate can increase the effects of:
- medicine used to treat epilepsy (barbiturates)
- medicine used to help you sleep or to relieve anxiety (sedative hypnotics)
- medicine used to treat depression (tricyclic antidepressants). Minims® Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate can decrease the effects of:
- medicines such as anticholinesterases (indicated for reduced intestinal movement and for myasthenia gravis (a muscle weakening disease).
- medicines used to treat infection of the eye caused by a virus.
- medicines similar to aspirin called salicylates (indicated for inflammation, pain, fever and blood thinning). Some medicines may increase the effects of Minims Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate and your doctor may wish to monitor you carefully if
you are taking these medicines (including some medicines for HIV: ritonavir, cobicistat). Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility Tell your doctor or eye specialist, he/she may decide to use these drops or to prescribe you an alternative. Contact lenses Your doctor will ask you to remove your contact lenses prior to the administration of the drops. There is no information on the effect of this product on contact lenses. Therefore do not wear contact lenses until the effects of the drops have completely worn off. Driving and using machines As with all eye drops, your vision may be blurred after putting the drops in. Wait until your vision is clear before driving or using machines. Minims® Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate contains sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate. This medicine contains 0.07 mg phosphates in each drop which is equivalent to 1.83mg/ml.If you suffer from severe damage to the clear layer at the front of the eye (the cornea), phosphates may cause in very rare cases cloudy patches on the cornea due to calcium build-up during treatment.
How to take it
your eye drops Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. The drops are for single use only and provided in single use Minims units, to treat both eyes if necessary. Once opened, use immediately. Discard any unused portion. Dosage
- The normal adult dose is 1 to 2 drops in one or both eyes as often as directed by your doctor.
- The dose for children will be decided by the doctor or eye specialist. Method of administration If you are putting the eye drops in yourself, then follow these instructions carefully: 1. Wash your hands. 2. Use a mirror, this will help you to see what you are doing. 3. Carefully dry your eyes using a tissue. Twist and pull cap to separate from the Minims body (Diagram 1). 4. Pull your lower eyelid down gently, and then carefully place 1 or 2 drops inside your lower eyelid. Make sure the dropper does not touch any parts of your eye. 5. Close your eye and blink a few times to make sure your eye is covered by the liquid. 6. Close the eyelids. It is advisable to press gently on the inner corner of your eyelid for 3 minutes. This will help stop the solution draining into your nose and throat. This is especially advisable in children, the elderly and population at risk. 7. Repeat steps 4, 5 and 6 for the other eye if necessary, then throw away the Minims unit, even if some solution remains. If your eyes get worse or are not better after a few weeks of using the eye drops, see your doctor or eye specialist or pharmacist. This medicine should not be used for long term and frequent use without talking to your doctor or pharmacist. If you use more Minims® Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate than you should, an overdose is very unlikely to occur. If you suddenly feel unwell after using the drops, tell your doctor or eye specialist or contact the nearest emergency department immediately. If you forget to use Minims® Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate, you should take the missed dose as soon as you remember, unless it is nearly time for the next dose, but you should not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Most people who are treated with these eye drops do not suffer from any side effects.
- Long term, frequent use of corticosteroids can lead to clouding of the lens in the eye (cataract) or to an increase of the pressure inside the eye.
- In very rare cases, some patients with severe damage to the clear layer at the front of the eye (the cornea) have developed cloudy patches on the cornea due to calcium build-up during treatment.
- With a frequency not known blurred vision may occur. Consult your doctor if you feel any changes in your eyesight. If any of the side effects gets serious, please seek immediate medical attention. If you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell 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: Yellow Card Scheme at: 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
your eye drops Keep out of the sight and reach of children. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the overwrap of each unit and on the carton after the letters "EXP". The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. Do not store above 25°C. Do not freeze. Store in original package in order to protect from light. The drops are for single use only and provided in single use Minims units, to treat both eyes if necessary. Once opened, use immediately. Discard any unused portion. Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
Contents of the pack and other information
What your eye drops contain
- The active substance is prednisolone sodium phosphate. Each Minims unit contains approximately 0.5 ml eye drops solution of prednisolone sodium phosphate 0.5% w/v (2.5 mg).
- The other ingredients are disodium edetate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate, sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide solution (for pH adjustment) and purified water. This medicine does not contain a preservative as it is a sterile single use unit. What your eye drops look like and contents of the pack The eye drops are a clear, colourless solution. Each carton contains 20 units. Marketing Authorisation Holder: Bausch & Lomb UK Ltd. 106 London Road – Kingston-upon-Thames – KT2 6TN – UK Manufacturer: Laboratoire Chauvin Zone Industrielle de Ripotier 50 Avenue Jean Monnet 07200 Aubenas France This leaflet was last revised in: November 2023
Frequently asked questions about Minims Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate 0.5% w/v, Eye drops solution
How do I take Minims Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate 0.5% w/v, Eye drops solution?
Minims Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate 0.5% w/v, Eye drops solution 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 Minims Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate 0.5% w/v, Eye drops solution?
The active substance in Minims Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate 0.5% w/v, Eye drops solution is prednisolone sodium phosphate.
Where does this information come from?
This leaflet reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for Minims Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate 0.5% w/v, Eye drops solution, 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 Minims Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate 0.5% w/v, Eye drops solution 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: prednisolone sodium phosphate
- 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
Non-infected inflammatory conditions of the eye.
4.2. Posology and method of administration
Posology
Adults and the elderly
One or two drops applied topically to the eye as required.
Paediatric population
At the discretion of the physician.
4.3. Contraindications
Use is contraindicated in viral, fungal, tuberculous and other bacterial infections.
Prolonged application to the eye of preparations containing corticosteroids has caused increased intraocular pressure and therefore the drops should not be used in patients with glaucoma.
In children, long-term, continuous topical corticosteroid therapy should be avoided due to possible adrenal suppression.
Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.
4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use
Care should be taken to ensure that the eye is not infected before Minims Prednisolone is used.
Systemic absorption may be reduced by compressing the lacrimal sac at the medial canthus for a minute during and following the instillation of the drops. (This blocks the passage of drops via the naso-lacrimal duct to the wide absorptive area of the nasal and pharyngeal mucosa. It is especially advisable in children.).
Visual disturbance
Visual disturbance may be reported with systemic and topical corticosteroid use. If a patient presents with symptoms such as blurred vision or other visual disturbances, the patient should be considered for referral to an ophthalmologist for evaluation of possible causes which may include cataract, glaucoma or rare diseases such as central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) which have been reported after use of systemic and topical corticosteroids.
4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Corticosteroids are known to increase the effects of barbiturates, sedative hypnotics and tricyclic antidepressants.
They will, however, decrease the effects of anticholinesterases, antiviral eye preparations and salicylates.
Co-treatment with CYP3A inhibitors, including cobicistat-containing products, is expected to increase the risk of systemic side-effects. The combination should be avoided unless the benefit outweighs the increased risk of systemic corticosteroid side-effects, in which case patients should be monitored for systemic corticosteroid side-effects.
4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
Topical administration of corticosteroids to pregnant animals can cause abnormalities of foetal development and although the relevance of this finding to human beings has not been established, the use of Minims Prednisolone during pregnancy should be avoided.
4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines
Not relevant.
4.8. Undesirable effects
Eye disorders
Not known: vision, blurred (see also section 4.4)
Prolonged treatment with corticosteroids in high dosage is occasionally associated with cataract.
The systemic effects of steroids are possible following the use of Minims Prednisolone, but are, however, unlikely due to the reduced absorption of topical eye drops.
Cases of corneal calcification have been reported very rarely in association with the use of phosphate containing eye drops in some patients with significantly damaged corneas.
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:
United Kingdom
Yellow Card Scheme
Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard
4.9. Overdose
As Minims are single dose units, overdose is unlikely to occur.
🇷🇴 Known in Romania as
Medicines sold in Romania with the same active substance: Cunoscut în România ca
- ULTRACORTENOL 5 mg/g prescriptionPREDNISOLONUM · eye / ear / nose
Same active substance. The strength, the form and whether you need a prescription can differ. Always ask a pharmacist before you switch. Romanian medicines in the UK →
🇵🇱 Known in Poland as
Medicines sold in Poland with the same active substance: W Polsce znany jako
⚠ Same active substance, but a different pharmaceutical form (for example a gel instead of a tablet). Not interchangeable — ask a pharmacist.
- EncortolonPrednisolonum · taken by mouth
- Cortico VeyxinPrednisoloni acetas · injection / infusion
- EquisolonPrednisolonum · taken by mouth
- DermipredPrednisolonum · taken by mouth
- PrednicortonePrednisolonum · taken by mouth
- HedylonPrednisolonum · taken by mouth
Same active substance. The strength, the form and whether you need a prescription can differ. Always ask a pharmacist before you switch. Polish medicines in the UK →
💬 Ask about this leaflet
Ask anything about Minims Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate 0.5% w/v, Eye drops solution. 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.