Drug Notes - Oxymetazoline (Into the eye) | Lima Memorial Health System

Oxymetazoline (Into the eye)

There may be other brand names for this medicine.

This medicine is generally considered safe for most people. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to use. Do not use more than directed.
Wash your hands with soap and water before and after using this medicine.
Lie down or tilt your head back. With your index finger, pull down the lower lid of your eye to form a pocket.
To use the eye drops: Hold the dropper close to your eye with the other hand. Drop the correct number of drops into the pocket made between your lower lid and eyeball. Gently close your eyes. Place your index finger over the inner corner of your eye for 1 minute. Do not rinse or wipe the dropper or allow it to touch anything, including your eye. Put the cap on the bottle right away. Keep the bottle upright when you are not using it.
Remove your contact lenses before you put the drops into your eyes. Wait at least 15 minutes after using this medicine before you put your contact lenses back in. Talk to your eye doctor about this if you have questions.
Read and follow the patient instructions that come with this medicine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Missed dose: Apply a dose as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and apply a regular dose. Do not apply extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep this medicine in the child-resistant foil pouch until you use it. Protect this medicine from excessive heat.

Some medicines can affect how oxymetazoline works. Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following:
- Blood pressure medicine (including beta blockers)
- Medicine to treat heart or blood vessel disease
- Medicine to treat depression (including an MAO inhibitor)
- Medicine to treat prostate problem
Wait at least 15 minutes after using this medicine before you use other eye medicines.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have heart or blood vessel disease, brain or nerve problems (including stroke, aneurysm, Horner syndrome, myasthenia gravis), high or low blood pressure, Sjogren syndrome (immune system disorder), or other eye or vision problems (including glaucoma, eye infection, mass, paralysis, or weakness).
This medicine may cause the following problems:
- Blood vessel problems, including changes in blood pressure
- Increased risk of glaucoma
If you hurt your eye, develop an eye infection, or need to have eye surgery, talk with your doctor right away. You may need to change your medicine or stop using it.
Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.
Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
Blurred vision or other changes in vision, eye pain
Dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting
Headache, slow or fast heartbeat

Last Updated: 9/6/2024