Iopidine® 5mg/ml eye drops, solution – patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

What Iopidine is and what it is used for

Iopidine contains apraclonidine (as hydrochloride) as the active substance.

Iopidine belongs to a group of medicines known as alpha agonists.

It is used in the treatment of chronic glaucoma in people who are already receiving other medicines to treat this disease.

In these people, Iopidine helps to reduce the fluid pressure in the eye and can delay the need for pressure relieving eye surgery.

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What you need to know before you use Iopidine

• •

Do not use Iopidine:

• If you have a history of severe or unstable heart disease or circulatory problems.
• If you are allergic to apraclonidine, clonidine or any of the other ingredients of this medicine listed in section 6.
• If you are currently taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors antidepressants or tricyclic antidepressants.
• If you are currently taking medicines of the class of sympathomimetics that are taken either orally or via injection.
• In CHILDREN.

Ask your doctor for advice.

Warnings and precautions

Take special care:

• Only use Iopidine for dropping in your eye(s).
• Iopidine may not continue to control your eye pressure after you have used them for a period of time. Your doctor will examine you often while you are using Iopidine to see whether the eye drops are still working for you.
• As Iopidine decreases the pressure in your eye(s), you should have your eye pressure checked regularly to ensure that the pressure in your eye(s) remains under control.

If you have a history of, or are taking medicine to treat, any of the following:

• Any heart disease (including angina, heart attacks or heart failure)
• High blood pressure or other circulatory problems (including stroke, Raynaud’s disease and fainting spells)
• Kidney or liver problems
• Depression
• Parkinson’s disease
• Diabetes or low blood sugar. Iopidine may hide the signs and symptoms of a sudden reduction in blood sugar such as a fast heart beat or trembling.
• If you are due to have an operation.

If any of these apply, you may still be able to use Iopidine, but discuss it with your doctor first.

Using Iopidine with food, drink and alcohol

No alcohol should be consumed during treatment with Iopidine as it can increase its effects.

Other medicines and Iopidine

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. Iopidine must not be used if you are taking monoamine oxidase inhibitor antidepressants or tricyclic antidepressants.

Iopidine must also not be used if you are taking medicines of the class of sympathomimetics that are taken either orally or via injection.

Iopidine may increase the effects of some medicines used to treat - depression - asthma - high blood pressure - heart medicines containing digoxin or digitoxin - some forms of mental illness and Parkinson’s disease;

and may interact with - some pain killers - sedatives - anaesthetic - tricyclic antidepressants - phenothiazines - cough and cold remedies - glaucoma medications such as timolol, brimonidine or dipivefrine - eye drops used to whiten the eye.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine.

Iopidine should not be used during pregnancy or breast-feeding.

Driving and using machines

This type of medicine may cause you to feel sleepy and dizzy. If you do, you should not drive or operate machinery.

Important information if you wear Contact Lenses

Iopidine contains benzalkonium chloride

This medicine contains 0.1mg of benzalkonium chloride in each ml of the product which is equivalent to 0.01%.

Iopidine contains a preservative (benzalkonium chloride) which may be absorbed by soft contact lenses and may change the colour of the contact lenses. You should remove contact lenses before using this medicine and put them back 15 minutes afterwards. Benzalkonium chloride may also cause eye irritation, especially if you have dry eyes or disorders of the cornea (the clear layer at the front of the eye). If you feel abnormal eye sensation, stinging or pain in the eye after using this medicine, talk to your doctor.

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How to use Iopidine

The recommended dose

The recommended dose is 1 drop into your eye(s),3 times each day.

Remove the loose collar from the cap when the bottle is first opened.

Always use Iopidine exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

How to use

• Wash your hands before you start.
• Twist off the bottle cap.

• Hold the bottle pointing down,

  • between your thumb and fingers.
• Tilt your head back.

• Pull down your lower eyelid with a finger until there is a

  • ‘pocket’ between the eyelid and your eye. The drop will go in here (picture 1).

• Bring the bottle tip close to the eye. Do this in front of a mirror if it helps.

  • Do not touch your eye or eyelid,

    • surrounding areas or other surfaces
    • with the dropper. It could infect the
    • drops.

  • Gently press on the base of the

    • bottle to release one drop at a time

(picture 2).

• Do not squeeze the bottle, only a gentle press on the bottom is needed.

• After using Iopidine, press a finger into the corner of your

  • eye, by the nose (picture 3). This
  • helps to stop Iopidine getting into the
  • rest of the body.

• If you use drops in both eyes, repeat

  • the steps for your other eye. Put the
  • bottle cap firmly back on immediately
  • after use.
• If a drop misses your eye, try again.
• If Iopidine is swallowed, see your doctor immediately
• If you forget to use Iopidine
• Continue with the next dose as planned. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.
• Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

• If you use more Iopidine than you should Rinse it all out with warm water. Do not put in any more drops until it is time for your next regular dose.

  In case of accidental ingestion, symptoms of overdose may include decreased blood pressure, drowsiness, decreased heart rate, hypoventilation (reduced rate and depth of breathing), and convulsion.

  If you are using other eye drop or eye ointment medicines

  Leave at least 5 minutes between each medicine. Eye ointments should be administered last.

  If you have any further questions on the use of Iopidine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

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Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

• You may also experience effects in other areas of your body including:

Iopidine can cause allergic reactions. If you experience one or more of the following eye symptoms - redness - itching -discomfort - watery eyes - abnormal sensation - eye and eyelid swelling - poor vision - see your doctor immediately.

If your vision gets worse straight after using Iopidine, stop use and see your doctor immediately.

• You may experience some or all of the following effects in your eye(s):

Very Common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):

increased redness - itching - inflammation.

Common (may affect upto 1 in 10 people): dry mouth - inflammation inside the nose - dermatitis - dry nose - weakness -headache - unusual taste.

Uncommon (may affect upto 1 in 100 people): chest pain - swelling of your hands, feet or extremities - irregular heart beat - constipation - nausea - feeling tired - sore throat - runny nose - muscle aches - poor coordination - sleepiness - dizziness - tingling feeling - nervousness - depression - difficulty sleeping - shortness of breath or difficulty breathing - unusual sense of smell - facial swelling - irritability - widening of blood vessels.

Common (may affect upto 1 in 10 people):

discomfort - watery eyes - swelling of the eyelids - gritty feeling in the eye - dry eye - eyelid crusting.

Uncommon (may affect upto 1 in 100 people):

bumps under the eyelids - swelling of the eye - abnormal vision - pain - inflammation and irritation of the eye or eyelids - corneal (the front part of your eye) surface damage -sensitivity to light - redness of the eyelid -raising or pulling up of the eyelids – increase in pupil size - reduced vision - blurred vision - drooping of eyelid - discharge or whitening of the eye.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

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How to store Iopidine

• Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
• Do not refrigerate or freeze or store above 25°C.
• Keep the bottle in the outer carton in order to protect it from light.
• Do not use your drops after the expiry date which is stated on the bottle and carton labels after ‘Exp’. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

• Stop using the bottle 4 weeks after first opening, to prevent infections.

  • If the eye drops become discoloured or shows any signs of deterioration, seek the advice of your pharmacist.
  • Do not pass this medicine on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
  • Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the medicines no longer required. These measures will help protect the environment.
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Contents of the pack and other information

What Iopidine contains

The active ingredient in the Iopidine is apraclonidine.

Each ml contains 5mg apraclonidine (as hydrochloride).

The other ingredients are sodium chloride, sodium acetate (trihydrate), benzalkonium chloride, hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide (to adjust pH) and purified water.

What Iopidine looks like and contents of the pack

Iopidine is a colourless to pale yellow solution supplied in a pack containing a 5ml plastic bottle with an applicator tip and a screw cap.

Manufactured by: Essential Pharma Limited, Vision Exchange Building, Triq it-Territorjals, Zone 1, Central Business District, Birkirkara, CBD 1070, Malta.

Procured from within the EU and repackaged by the Product Licence holder: B&S Healthcare, Unit 4,

Bradfield Road, Ruislip, Middlesex, HA4 0NU, UK.

Iopidine^® 5mg/ml eye drops, solution; PL 18799/2119

Leaflet date: 04.12.2025

POM

IOPIDINE is the registered trademark of Essential Pharma Switzerland GmbH.

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