Prednisolone, Ophthalmic
Prednisolone, Ophthalmic for pets in Perth
(pred-niss-oh-lone)
Description:
This medicine is a steroid medicine used to reduce swelling and irritation. Prednisolone, Ophthalmic for pets in Perth may be discussed during a veterinary consultation.
Other Names for this Medication:
Other names you may see for this medicine include:
- Pred Forte®
- Econopred®
- Econopred Plus®
- AK Pred®
- Inflammase®
- Blephamide®
- Poly-Pred®
- Omnipred®
Common Dosage Forms:
- Veterinary: None.
- Human:
- Eye drop liquid (a suspension) or eye ointment in strengths of 0.12% and 1%.
- It may be sold by itself or mixed with antibiotic medicines (most often neomycin, bacitracin, polymyxin, or sulfacetamide).
- It commonly comes in 5 mL or 10 mL dropper bottles, or in 3.5 g tubes.
Key Information on Prednisolone, Ophthalmic
- Usually, this medicine is given only for a short period.
- Use it the way you were instructed so the medicine does not get contaminated. Keep the cap firmly closed when you are not using it.
- After you put this medicine in the eye, wait 5 minutes before you put any other eye medicine in.
- Keep it in the refrigerator or at room temperature, and protect it from moisture and direct light; do not let it freeze.
- Do not use it in animals with an eye ulcer, or with eye infections caused by fungus or viruses. Do not use it in birds.
How is this medication useful?
Prednisolone eye products are used to reduce eye inflammation when it is due to allergies, bacterial infections, or irritation from something stuck in the eye. Sometimes it is used by itself, and sometimes it is used together with antibiotic medicines. You and your veterinarian can talk about why this medicine is the best option.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many different factors can change how well this medicine works for your animal. Talk with your veterinarian about the points below so you can make treatment choices together.
- Other medicines can affect prednisolone. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal receives, including other eye medicines, vitamins, supplements, or herbal products. Also share how much you give and when you give each one.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now, or has had before.
- If your animal has had the same problem before, tell your veterinarian what was used last time and whether it helped or did not help.
- If your animal is pregnant or nursing, discuss the possible risks of using this medicine.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about any past medicine reactions your animal has had, including allergic reactions, poor appetite, diarrhea, itching, or hair loss.
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
You should expect this medicine to start making your animal feel better within 1 to 2 hours. After that, you should see improvement in your animal’s signs. The effect does not last long, meaning it stops working within 24 hours.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medicine is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any concerns that apply to your animal.
If your animal fits any of the situations listed below, speak with your veterinarian about the possible risks compared with the possible benefits.
- Animals that have an allergy to this medicine or to similar medicines (for example, dexamethasone).
- Birds, because they are very sensitive to steroid medicines.
- Cats or horses when a virus (herpes) or fungus is suspected as the cause of an eye infection.
- Animals that have an eye ulcer.
- Animals with diabetes.
- Animals with glaucoma.
- Animals that are pregnant or nursing.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Side effects that usually are not serious include:
If any of the following are strong, get worse, or keep happening, contact your veterinarian.
- Mild burning or stinging, eye irritation, or redness.
- Drooping of the eyelid.
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
If you notice any of the following, contact your veterinarian right away.
- Trouble breathing or loud breathing may be a sign of a severe allergic reaction to this medicine.
- Signs that may suggest an eye infection (for example, squinting, redness in the white part of the eye, or more discharge).
- Eye injuries that do not heal.
- In animals with diabetes, changes in blood sugar or urine sugar.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
When prednisolone is used as an eye medicine, giving too much is not likely. However, problems could happen if your animal eats the medicine. If that occurs, contact your veterinarian for instructions.
How should this medication be given?
For this medicine to work as intended, give it exactly the way your veterinarian prescribed it. It is helpful to read the prescription label each time so you confirm you are giving it correctly.
- Some versions of this medicine need to be shaken well before use. Follow the directions you received from your veterinarian or pharmacist.
- Put the prescribed amount into your animal’s eye exactly as directed.
- Wash your hands before you give this medicine.
- To avoid contaminating the medicine, do not let the dropper tip touch your animal’s eye or touch any other surface.
- If medicine remains on your animal’s face after dosing, gently clean it away using a damp cloth or tissue.
If you are giving more than one eye medicine:
- Wait 5 minutes between each one before giving the next.
- Put eye drops in before eye ointments so the drops can soak into the eye.
If you are using this as an eye liquid for a horse:
- Your veterinarian may have placed a special eye catheter (subpalpebral lavage or SPL catheter).
- Use that catheter only as your veterinarian instructed, and use only air to flush the medicine to the eye after you inject the medicine into the catheter.
If you are struggling to apply the medicine, or if your animal will not tolerate the treatment, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist for advice on how to give it and how to reduce stress during dosing.
This medicine may be used for different lengths of time. Make sure you understand how long your veterinarian wants you to keep giving it. You may need prescription refills before the full course is finished. Before you stop giving this medicine, speak with your veterinarian, because there may be important reasons to continue.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
If you forget a dose, give it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next scheduled dose, do not give the missed dose; instead, give the next dose at the regular time. Then continue with the normal schedule. Do not give two doses at once and do not give extra doses.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep this medicine in the original prescription container, or in another approved container used to organize doses.
- Store it at room temperature and keep it away from light.
If your veterinarian or pharmacist prepared a custom-made (compounded) version for your animal, follow the storage directions and the expiration date provided for that product.
- Store it where children and animals cannot reach it.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
No special handling steps are required unless you are allergic to this medicine or to similar medicines (for example, dexamethasone). Even so, it is a good practice to wash your hands after touching any medicine.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not pour this medicine into a toilet or down a sink.
- If your area has a community medicine “take-back” program, use that option.
If there is no take-back program:
- Combine the medicine with used coffee grounds or cat litter so it is unpleasant to children and animals and not recognizable to someone searching through trash.
- Put that mixture into a sealable plastic bag to prevent leaks, and place it in the household trash.
- Do not keep leftover medicine to use later, and do not give it to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
- This medicine may be prohibited in some animal competitions. Check the rules before entering your animal in a competition while your animal is receiving this medicine.
- If you have more questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”
Related Medication Information
- Hydrocortisone, Ophthalmic
- Diclofenac, Ophthalmic
- Gentamicin/Betamethasone, Ophthalmic
- Neomycin/Polymyxin/Dexamethasone, Ophthalmic
- Triple Antibiotic/Hydrocortisone, Ophthalmic