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 Tropicamide 1% 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 Tropicamide 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® Tropicamide contains a mydriatic and cycloplegic agent. It is used to enlarge the pupil of your eye and temporarily paralyse the lens. Your doctor or eye specialist may use it to examine your eye. 2. Before you use your eye drops Do not use these drops if
- you are allergic to the active substance (tropicamide) or any of the other ingredients (refer to the end of this leaflet).
- you have history of closed angle glaucoma with your eyes likely to develop sudden increased internal pressure when the pupil is enlarged Consult your doctor for advice; use of this product may cause: — Increase in the pressure of your eye. You should have your eye pressure checked before initiation of therapy, especially in elderly. Take special care Ask yourself the following questions:
- Is this product to be used in a small child?
- Are your eyes red or inflamed? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, tell your doctor or eye specialist. If you are pregnant, may be pregnant, or are breastfeeding 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 your contact lenses until the effects of the drops have completely worn off. Driving and using machines Some people find bright light (such as daylight) uncomfortable for a few hours after receiving Minims® Tropicamide. This may make it difficult for you to drive. 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.
How to take it
your eye drops 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 drop followed by a second drop after an interval of 5 minutes. A further 1 drop may be instilled after 30 minutes, if required.
- The dose for children will be decided by the doctor or eye specialist. Method of administration Make sure you 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, and twist off the cap from the Minims body of the unit. 4. Pull your lower eyelid down gently, and then carefully place 1 or 2 drops inside your lower eyelid. 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 you use more Minims® Tropicamide than you should, an overdose is very unlikely to occur. If you suddenly feel unwell after receiving the drops, tell your doctor or eye specialist or contact your nearest emergency department immediately.
Possible side effects
The following side effects may occur:
- temporary stinging and blurred vision. This will gradually wear off.
- dry mouth. This is caused by the active substance being absorbed through the tear duct and causing a common effect for this type of medicine. This effect should wear off within a couple of hours. 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 side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via: The Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
How to store it
your eye drops Keep out of the reach and sight of children. Do not use the eye drops 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 the 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. Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment. 6. Further information What do your eye drops contain
- The active ingredient is tropicamide. Each Minims unit contains approximately 0.5 ml eye drops solution of tropicamide 0.5% w/v (2.5 mg) or 1% w/v (5 mg).
- The other ingredients are sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid (for pH adjustment) and purified water.
This medicine does not contain a preservative as it is a sterile single use unit. Contents of the pack Each carton contains 20 units. Marketing Authorisation Holders: Bausch & Lomb UK Ltd. 106 London Road – Kingston-upon-Thames – KT2 6TN – UK Manufacturer: Zone Industrielle de Ripotier 50 Avenue Jean Monnet 07200 Aubenas France This leaflet was last revised in: November 2023
Frequently asked questions about Minims Tropicamide 1% w/v, Eye drops solution
How do I take Minims Tropicamide 1% w/v, Eye drops solution?
Minims Tropicamide 1% 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 Tropicamide 1% w/v, Eye drops solution?
The active substance in Minims Tropicamide 1% w/v, Eye drops solution is tropicamide.
Are there equivalent medicines to Minims Tropicamide 1% w/v, Eye drops solution?
Medicines with the same active substance, strength and form include: Minims Tropicamide 0.5% w/v, Eye drops solution, Mydriacyl 1% eye drops, solution, Tropicamide 1% w/v eye drops, solution in single-dose container. 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 Minims Tropicamide 1% 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 Tropicamide 1% 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: tropicamide
- 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
As a topical mydriatic and cycloplegic.
4.2. Posology and method of administration
Adults (including the elderly):
1 drop followed by a second drop after an interval of 5 minutes. A further 1 drop may be instilled after 30 minutes, if required. Children:
At the discretion of the physician.
4.3. Contraindications
Do not use in patients with a known hypersensitivity to tropicamide. Tropicamide is contraindicated in narrow angle glaucoma and in eyes where the filtration angle is narrow, as an acute attack of angle closure glaucoma may be precipitated.
4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use
Use with caution in an inflamed eye, as hyperaemia greatly increases the rate of systemic absorption through the conjunctiva. Care should be exercised in small children. 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.)Tropicamide may cause increased intraocular pressure. The possibility of undiagnosed glaucoma should be considered in some patients, such as elderly patients. Determine the intraocular pressure and an estimation of the depth of the angle of the anterior chamber prior to initiation of therapy.
4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
None known.
4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
There is no evidence as to the drug's safety in human pregnancy, nor is there evidence from animal work that it is free from hazard. This product should only be used in pregnancy if considered essential by the physician.
4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines
Patient warning: Patients who receive a mydriatic may suffer from photophobia and this may impair their ability to drive under certain circumstances.
4.8. Undesirable effects
Transient stinging, dry mouth and blurred vision may occur following the use of this product.
4.9. Overdose
Systemic effects from Minims Tropicamide are not expected. Should an overdose occur causing local effects, e.g. sustained mydriasis, pilocarpine or 0.25% w/v physostigmine should be applied.
💬 Ask about this leaflet
Ask anything about Minims Tropicamide 1% 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.