Pricing
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All price changes →Indications & Uses
P-caine sterile eye drops are used when a topical anaesthetic for the eye is needed. They provide short-lasting numbing of the cornea for procedures such as tonometry (measuring eye pressure), gonioscopy, removal of foreign bodies from the cornea, and other brief procedures on the cornea and conjunctiva.
Pharmacology
The main site of anesthetic action is the nerve cell membrane, where proparacaine interferes with the large, transient increase in membrane permeability to sodium ions that is normally produced by a slight depolarization of the membrane. As the anesthetic action gradually develops within a nerve, the threshold for electrical stimulation progressively rises and the safety factor for conduction declines; once this action is sufficiently developed, conduction is blocked. Several studies suggest that local anesthetics may limit sodium ion permeability by closing the pores through which these ions migrate within the lipid layer of the nerve cell membrane.
Dosage Reference
Reference Information Only
Dosages shown are general references from official sources. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized dosing.
Adults:
Deep anaesthesia, as for cataract extraction: instil 1 drop into the eye every 5 to 10 minutes, for 5 to 7 doses.
Removal of sutures: instil 1 or 2 drops into the eye 2 or 3 minutes before the stitches are removed.
Removal of foreign bodies: instil 1 or 2 drops into the eye before the procedure.
Tonometry: instil 1 or 2 drops into the eye immediately before the measurement is taken.
Side Effects
Proparacaine may occasionally cause brief stinging, burning, and redness of the conjunctiva. In rare cases, a severe, immediate, apparently hyperallergic reaction of the cornea has been reported. This reaction involves acute, intense, and widespread epithelial keratitis; a grey, ground-glass appearance of the cornea; shedding of large areas of dead (necrotic) epithelium; corneal filaments; and, at times, iritis with descemetitis.
Cautions & Contraindications
Warnings & Precautions
Long-term use of a topical eye anaesthetic such as proparacaine is not recommended. Prolonged use may cause permanent clouding of the cornea (corneal opacification), with accompanying loss of vision.
Contraindications
Proparacaine Hydrochloride sterile eye drops should not be used in patients with a known hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients in this preparation.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Pregnancy Category C. No animal reproduction studies have been carried out with Proparacaine Hydrochloride sterile eye drops 0.5%, and it is not known whether the drug can harm the fetus or affect fertility when given to a pregnant woman. For this reason, it should be used in pregnancy only if there is a clear need.
Breastfeeding: It is not known whether Proparacaine Hydrochloride passes into human breast milk. Since many drugs do pass into breast milk, it should be used with caution in nursing mothers.
⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Use in Special Populations
Proparacaine Hydrochloride ophthalmic solution has been shown to be safe and effective in children. The evidence comes from adequate and well-controlled studies in adults and in children over the age of twelve, along with safety information in neonates and other pediatric patients.
In the elderly, no overall clinical differences in safety or effectiveness have been seen when compared with other adult patients.
Storage
Keep the Proparacaine Hydrochloride bottles in a refrigerator at 2° to 8°C and protect them from light. It is best not to use the contents more than 4 weeks after the bottle is first opened. If the solution looks more than a faint yellow, don't use it. Keep the bottle tightly closed.
Common questions about P-caine 0.5%
What is P-caine 0.5% Ophthalmic Solution?
P-caine 0.5% Ophthalmic Solution is a medicine that contains Proparacaine Hydrochloride. It is made by Popular Pharmaceuticals PLC. It belongs to the Ocular perioperative drugs group of medicines.
What is P-caine used for?
P-caine sterile eye drops are used when a topical anaesthetic for the eye is needed. They provide short-lasting numbing of the cornea for procedures such as tonometry (measuring eye pressure), gonioscopy, removal of foreign bodies from the cornea, and other brief procedures on the cornea and conjunctiva.
What are the side effects of P-caine?
Proparacaine may occasionally cause brief stinging, burning, and redness of the conjunctiva. In rare cases, a severe, immediate, apparently hyperallergic reaction of the cornea has been reported.
Can I take P-caine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
Pregnancy Category C. No animal reproduction studies have been carried out with Proparacaine Hydrochloride sterile eye drops 0.5%, and it is not known whether the drug can harm the fetus or affect fertility when given to a pregnant woman. Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
How should I store P-caine?
Keep the Proparacaine Hydrochloride bottles in a refrigerator at 2° to 8°C and protect them from light. It is best not to use the contents more than 4 weeks after the bottle is first opened.
Do I need a prescription for P-caine?
P-caine is a prescription (Rx) medicine. Take it as your doctor advises.