Top 200 Drugs Section 3: Ophthalmic and Otic Agents

Glaucoma

when the amount of fluid in eye being produced increases or the amount of draining out of the eye is reduced → increase in pressure → constricts optic nerve and causes cell to die → blindness

2 Types of Glaucoma

1. Narrow angle glaucoma can be corrected w surgery

2. Open angle glaucoma can be treated w medication

Treating Glaucoma

Prostaglandins - inc draining of fluid

Adrenergic - dec production of fluid AND inc drainage of fluid

Beta blockers - dec fluid production

Carbonic Anhydrous Inhibitors - dec secretion of fluid into eye

Xalatan

latanoprost

Travatan, Travatan Z

tavoprost

Timolol, Timolol XE

timolol

Alphagan

brinzolamide

Azopt

brimonidine

Bacterial conjunctivitis

thick, copious green and yellow discharge

feeling of grittiness or something stuck in eye

easily spreads from 1 eye to another

infection can be dormant for days

Viral conjunctivitis

usually acute onset, itching is more common with watery clear discharge, often presents at same time as a resp infection or cold

Allergic conjuctivitis

due to irritation from an allergen, can be chronic or acute

whites of the eye turn red w clear discharge

Conjunctivitis treatments

Bacterial - antibiotic drops or ointments, ointments are used at nighttime

Viral - no specific treatment, warm compresses

Allergic - cold compresses, antihistamines, severe or chronic cases could require steroid eye drops

OTC eye drops

tetrahydrazoline and naphazoline constrict blood vessels to “get the red out”

2 types of earache

Otitis externa - inflammation of the external ear

Otitis media - inflammation of the middle ear

Otitis externa

usually called swimmers ear, infection commonly found in those who spend time in water

Otitis media

respiratory infections (bacterial or viral) can travel up to ear canal and cause severe pain and can lead to complications

Medications for otic infections

otitis externa - may be treated w antibiotic ear drops

otitis media - may be treated with oral antibiotics AND pain-relieving ear drops

Cortisporin

combination product

neomycin** - can be extremely ototoxic

available as both otic solution and suspension

Auralgan

used for local pain relief in ear canal

Eye drops can be used in ear but NEVER

ear drops in the eye

Debrox/Murine

carbamide peroxide

carbamide peroxide is used for

loosening ear wax

Domeboros solution

OTC astringent containing acetic acid. used to prevent swimmer’s ear.

Ciprodex and Cipro

HC are combined w a steroid

Antipyrine/benzocaine

pain relieving ear drops