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Pronunciation: TET-ra-kane
Generic Name: Tetracaine
Brand Name: Examples include Altacaine and Opticaine
Altacaine Drops are used for:
Numbing the eye during certain procedures.
Altacaine Drops are an anesthetic. It works by blocking nerve impulses, which results in loss of feeling.
Do NOT use Altacaine Drops if:
you are allergic to any ingredient in Altacaine Drops
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Altacaine Drops:
Some medical conditions may interact with Altacaine Drops. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Altacaine Drops. Because little, if any, of Altacaine Drops are absorbed into the blood, the risk of it interacting with another medicine is low.
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Altacaine Drops may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Altacaine Drops:
Use Altacaine Drops as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
Altacaine Drops are administered at your doctor's office, hospital, or clinic. Ask your doctor or pharmacist any questions that you may have about Altacaine Drops.
To prevent germs from contaminating your medicine, do not touch the applicator tip to any surface, including the eye. Keep the container tightly closed.
Do not touch or rub the eye until the effect of the medicine has worn off. Your doctor may instruct you to wear an eye patch to prevent you or anything else from touching your eye.
If you miss a dose of Altacaine Drops, check with your doctor.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Altacaine Drops.
Important safety information:
Altacaine Drops may be harmful if swallowed. If you may have taken Altacaine Drops by mouth, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately.
PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant while taking Altacaine Drops, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Altacaine Drops during pregnancy. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using Altacaine Drops, check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.
When used for long periods of time or at high doses, Altacaine Drops may not work as well and may require higher doses to obtain the same effect as when originally taken. This is known as TOLERANCE. Talk with your doctor if Altacaine Drops stops working well. Do not take more than prescribed.
Possible side effects of Altacaine Drops:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Temporary burning, stinging, or redness.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue).
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
See also: Altacaine side effects (in more detail)
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately.
Proper storage of Altacaine Drops:
Store Altacaine Drops at room temperature, between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C), in a tightly closed container. Store away from heat, light, and moisture. Keep Altacaine Drops out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
If you have any questions about Altacaine Drops, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
Altacaine Drops are to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Altacaine Drops. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
Issue Date: February 1, 2012
Database Edition 12.1.1.002
Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.
More Altacaine resources
Altacaine Side Effects (in more detail)
Altacaine Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Altacaine Support Group
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