Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Apo-Travoprost
What is APO-TRAVOPROST used for?
APO-TRAVOPROST is used to treat high pressure in the eye. This pressure can lead to an illness called glaucoma.
High pressure in the eye(s). Your eyeballs contain a clear, watery liquid which feeds the inside of the eye. Liquid is always emptying out of the eye, and more liquid is always being produced. If the eye fills up faster than it empties, the pressure inside the eye builds up. If it gets too high, it can damage your sight.
How does APO-TRAVOPROST work?
APO-TRAVOPROST is one of a group of medicines for glaucoma called prostaglandins. It works by increasing the outflow of liquid, which lowers the pressure in the eye. It may be used on its own or with other glaucoma eye drops, which also reduce pressure.
What are the ingredients in APO-TRAVOPROST?
Medicinal ingredients: travoprost
Non-medicinal ingredients: polyquaternium-1 (preservative), boric acid, mannitol, polyoxyl 40 hydrogenated castor oil, propylene glycol, sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide and/or hydrochloric acid (to adjust pH) and water for injection.
APO-TRAVOPROST comes in the following dosage forms:
APO-TRAVOPROST is supplied as a 5 mL solution in a plastic bottle.
Do not use APO-TRAVOPROST if:
- You are allergic to travoprost or to prostaglandin analogues.
- You are allergic to any components of the APO-TRAVOPROST or its packaging (see What are the ingredients in APO-TRAVOPROST?).
You are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant.
To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take APO-TRAVOPROST. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if:
- You are breast-feeding or planning to breastfeed. APO-TRAVOPROST may get into your breast milk.
- You wear soft contact lenses.
- You are under 18 years of age.
- You had eye surgery or will be having eye surgery.
- You have an eye infection, eye irritation or suffer any damage to your eye(s).
Other warnings you should know about:
- If you wear soft contact lenses, do not use APO-TRAVOPROST while wearing them. Wait 15 minutes after using APO-TRAVOPROST before you put your contact lenses back in.
- If APO-TRAVOPROST comes into contact with your skin, then it should be washed off right away.
You may find that your vision is blurred for a short time after using APO-TRAVOPROST. Do not drive or use machines until your vision is clear.
Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.
The following may interact with APO-TRAVOPROST:
Drug interaction studies have not been done for APO-TRAVOPROST. There are no known interactions with APO-TRAVOPROST and other drugs. If you are currently, or have recently taken other medications, consult your health care provider.
How to take APO-TRAVOPROST:
- Get the APO-TRAVOPROST bottle and a mirror (if needed).
- Wash your hands.
- Twist off the cap.
- Hold the bottle, pointing down, between your thumb and fingers.
- Tilt your head back. Pull down your eyelid with a clean finger, until there is a “pocket” between the eyelid and your eye. The drop will go here (picture 1).
- Bring the bottle tip close to the eye. Use the mirror if it helps.
- Don’t touch your eye or eyelid, surrounding areas or other surfaces with the dropper. It could get germs on the dropper tip.
- Gently squeeze the bottle to release one drop of APO-TRAVOPROST at a time (picture 2).
- Put the bottle cap back on tightly after use.
If a drop misses your eye, wipe off with a tissue and try again.
If you are using other eye drops, wait at least 5 minutes between putting APO-TRAVOPROST, and the other eye drops, in your eye(s).
Usual dose:
Adults: 1 drop in your eye or eyes, once a day. Evening is the best time to take APO-TRAVOPROST.
Only use APO-TRAVOPROST in both eyes if your doctor told you to. Take it for as long as your doctor told you to.
Only use APO-TRAVOPROST in your eye(s).
Overdose:
| If you think you have taken too much APO-TRAVOPROST, contact your healthcare professional, hospital emergency department or regional Poison Control Centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms. |
Missed Dose:
If you forget to use APO-TRAVOPROST, take your next scheduled dose. Do not use a double dose to make up.
What are possible side effects from using APO-TRAVOPROST?
These are not all the possible side effects you may feel when taking APO-TRAVOPROST. If you experience any side effects not listed here, contact your healthcare professional.
Common side effects include eye redness, itching, irritation and dry eye.
- APO-TRAVOPROST may increase the length, thickness, colour and /or number of your eye lashes.
- APO-TRAVOPROST may change the colour of your eye. It may make your iris (the coloured part of your eye) more brown. This may occur slowly over a period of months.
- Increase in eyelash growth and change in eye colour may be permanent.
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | ||
| Only if severe | In all cases | |||
| UNCOMMON | Hypersensitivity or allergic reaction including the signs or symptoms of rash, hives, swelling, or generalized itching | X | ||
| RARE | Unusual eye symptomsa Asthma or trouble breathing Changes in heart rate or rhythm Chest pain High or low blood pressure | X X X X X | ||
a Swelling of the back of your eye has been reported during treatment with Travoprost. The risk is higher in patients without their natural lens or who have had cataract surgery with a replacement lens
If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, talk to your healthcare professional.
Reporting Side Effects
You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:
NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice. |
Storage:
This medicine has been prescribed for you alone. You must not pass it on to other people. It may harm them, even if they have the same illness as you.
Store at 2°C - 25°C. Refrigeration is not required.
Protect from light. Keep bottle in outer cardboard packaging when not in use.
Do not use APO-TRAVOPROST for more than 125 days after opening the 5 mL bottle.
Don’t use APO-TRAVOPROST after the expiry date (marked ‘EXP’) on the bottle and box.
Keep out of reach and sight of children.
If you want more information about APO-TRAVOPROST:
- Talk to your healthcare professional
- Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada website (https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/index-eng.jsp); the manufacturer’s website (www.apotex.ca/products), or by contacting the sponsor, DISpedia, Apotex’s Drug Information Service at 1-800-667-4708
Date prepared: June 24, 2019