Opthaflox

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Lomefloxacin ophthalmic preparation is indicated in the bacterial infections, including conjunctivitis, blepharitis, blepharoconjunctivitis which are due to Lomefloxacin susceptible germs and Staphylococcus aureus- induced corneal ulcers.

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Hypersensitivity to the active ingredient, to excipients, or to quinolones. Long term treatment with antibiotics may enhance development of secondary fungal infections or may support growth of non susceptible bacteria.

Lomefloxacin, a difluorinated quinolone derivative, is a bacterial gyrase inhibitor, effective against gram positive and gram negative bacteria. The acute toxicity of Lomefloxacin following systemic and topical ophthalmic application is low. Lomefloxacin interferes with bacterial DNA related processes like initiation, elongation, and termination phases of replication, transcription, DNA repairing, recombination, transposition, supercoiling and relaxation of DNA. The target molecule for quinolones is the A-subunit of bacterial enzyme gyrase (topoisomerase II). The forming of a stable complex between the quinolone and the whole gyrase teramer A2B2 leads to impaired enzyme functions, resulting in a rapid killing of sensitive bacteria.Cross-resistance has only been reported with other quinolones, but not with any other group of antibiotics. No clinical studies are available about the efficacy in cases of infections with chlamydia.

In order to avoid reduction of efficacy, no ophthalmic preparations containing heavy metals, such as zinc, should be used during 15 minutes preceding and following application of Lomefloxacin. Bacteriostatic ophthalmic antibiotics should not be used concomitantly with Lomefloxacin eye drops.

Slight and transient burning immediately after instillation of the eye drops has been reported in 4.7% of users. Although phototoxicity has not been reported after ophthalmic use, photosensitization is possible. Since the following allergic reactions have been reported after systemic use of Lomefloxacin, they can not be excluded after topical ophthalmic use: allergic reactions, asthma, dyspnoea, urticaria, erythema, pruritus, and hypersensitization.

Practically there is no risk of adverse effects due to accidental oral ingestion, since a bottle of 5 ml eye drop solution contains only 15 mg Lomefloxacin. This corresponds to 3.75% of the recommended oral daily dose for adults of 400 mg Lomefloxacin.

Animal studies revealed that after systemic use of 20 mg/kg, Lomefloxacin passes the placenta barrier and is excreted into the maternal milk. Clinical studies on the use of Lomefloxacin eye drops during human pregnancy or lactation are not available. Therefore, the drug should only be used when the benefit outweighs the potential risk for the foetus or the infant.

Some isolated cases of phototoxicity have been reported after systemic but not after topical ophthalmic use of Lomefloxacin. Nevertheless, during treatment with Lomefloxacin intensive exposure to sunlight or UV-radiation should be avoided