Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Apo-Travoprost Z
What is APO-TRAVOPROST Z used for?
APO-TRAVOPROST Z is used to treat high pressure in the eye. This pressure can lead to an illness called glaucoma.
How does APO-TRAVOPROST Z work?
High pressure in the eye. 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.
APO-TRAVOPROST Z Solution is one of a group of medicines for glaucoma which contain prostaglandin analogues. 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 Z?
Medicinal ingredient: travoprost 0.04 mg/mL.
Non-medicinal ingredients: Preservative: preservative system (boric acid, propylene glycol, sorbitol, zinc chloride), polyoxyl 40 hydrogenated castor oil, and water for injection. Tiny amounts of hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide are added to maintain proper pH balance.
APO-TRAVOPROST Z comes in the following dosage forms:
APO-TRAVOPROST Z Solution is a liquid (a clear, colourless to light yellow solution) supplied in a 2.5 mL or a 5 mL fill size in a 5 mL plastic bottle with a plastic dropper and a screw cap.
Do not use APO-TRAVOPROST Z Solution if you are:
Allergic (hypersensitive) to:
- Travoprost.
- Other prostaglandin analogues.
- Other ingredients in APO-TRAVOPROST Z. See What are the ingredients in APO-TRAVOPROST Z?
Pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take APO-TRAVOPROST Z. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:
- Will be having eye surgery.
- Have an eye infection.
- Are breastfeeding or planning to breast-feed. APO-TRAVOPROST Z may get into your breast milk.
Other warnings you should know about:
APO-TRAVOPROST Z is not to be used by people under 18 years of age.
STOP taking APO-TRAVOPROST Z Solution and talk to your doctor immediately:
- If you develop an eye infection.
- Your eye(s) become irritated.
- You suffer any damage to your eye(s).
Take special care using APO-TRAVOPROST Z Solution:
- If you wear soft contact lenses. Do not use APO-TRAVOPROST Z Solution while wearing contact lenses. Remove your contact lenses before applying APO-TRAVOPROST Z Solution and wait at least 15 minutes after using the drops before putting your lenses back in.
- If your skin comes into contact with APO-TRAVOPROST Z Solution. Wash your skin immediately. This is especially important for pregnant women.
Eye Effects
- APO-TRAVOPROST Z Solution may increase the length, thickness, colour and/or number of your eyelashes.
- APO-TRAVOPROST Z Solution may also change the colour of your eye. It may make your iris (the coloured part of your eye) more brown.
- If you use APO-TRAVOPROST Z Solution in one eye only, the possible change in colour in your iris, the skin around the eye or the change in the eyelashes may appear in the treated eye only.
- These changes in pigmentation and lash growth may be permanent.
Driving or using machines
You may find that your vision is blurred for a short time just after you use APO-TRAVOPROST Z Solution. 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.
No drug interaction studies have been done with APO-TRAVOPROST Z Solution.
How to take APO-TRAVOPROST Z :
This medicine has been prescribed for you personally. You must not pass it on to other people. It may harm them even if they have the same illness as you.
Usual adult dose:
1 drop in the affected eye(s) once a day. Evening is the best time to take APO-TRAVOPROST Z Solution.
Only use APO-TRAVOPROST Z Solution in both eyes if your doctor told you to. Take it for as long as your doctor told you to.
Only use APO-TRAVOPROST Z Solution in your eyes.
1 2
How to use:
- Get the APO-TRAVOPROST Z Solution 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 in 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 Z Solution at a time (picture 2).
- If you take drops in both eyes, repeat the steps for your other eye.
- Put the bottle cap back on tightly after use.
If a drop misses your eye, wipe it off with a tissue and try again.
If you are using other eye drops, wait at least 5 minutes between putting in APO-TRAVOPROST Z Solution and the other drops.
Overdose:
If you accidentally use too many drops, just go back to your regular once a day dosing the next day. If you have any concerns, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
If you think you have taken too much APO-TRAVOPROST Z, 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 Z Solution, take your next scheduled dose. Do not use a double dose to make up the missed dose.
What are possible side effects from using APO-TRAVOPROST Z?
These are not all the possible side effects you may feel when taking APO-TRAVOPROST Z. If you experience any side effects not listed here, contact your healthcare professional.
Side effects in the eye may include:
- Eye redness.
- Burning or stinging eyes.
- Itchy eyes.
- A change in eye colour.
- Dry eyes.
- A feeling that something is in the eyes.
- Eye or eyelid inflammation (swelling).
- Eye pain.
- Blurred or reduced vision.
- Sensitivity to light.
- Eye discharge.
- Eczema (rash) on the eyelids.
- Eyelid itching, crusting, redness or irritation.
- Increased tearing.
- Change in eyelash colour, eyelash thickening, growth or loss.
- Abnormally positioned eyelashes that grow back toward the eye.
- Reduced feeling in the eyes.
- Tired eyes, eye allergy, or sunken eyes.
Other side effects in the body:
- Headache
- Skin darkening or discolouration.
- Dizziness.
- A bad taste in the mouth.
- High or low blood pressure.
- Cold-like symptoms, such as cough, voice disorder, throat pain, or nose discomfort.
- Dry nose or mouth.
- Nasal allergy or inflammation (swelling).
- Nose bleeds.
- Constipation, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
- Excessive hair growth or hair colour changes.
- Rash, skin redness or itching.
- Feeling weak.
- Depression, trouble sleeping (insomnia) or anxiety.
- A ringing in the ears.
- Chest or joint pain.
- Muscle pain.
- Increase in prostate cancer marker.
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 or RARE Eye problems: clouded, blurry or dim vision, trouble seeing at night, sensitivity to light, halos around lights, fading or “yellowing” of | ||
| √ | ||
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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| colours, eye pain, eye redness, feeling like there is something in your eye, tearing, rash or sores on the eyelids or around the eyes | |||
UNCOMMON Allergic reaction: rash, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty swallowing or breathing | √ | ||
RARE Heart problems: fast or slow heartbeat UNKNOWN Heart problems: abnormal or irregular heartbeat | √ | ||
RARE Breathing problems: asthma, shortness of breath | √ | ||
UNKNOWN Bladder problems: loss of bladder control, painful urination | √ | ||
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:
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
Store at 2°C to 25°C. No refrigeration required.
Use within 28 days after opening.
Don't use the drops after the expiry date (marked 'EXP') on the bottle and the box.
If you have any other questions about your medicines you should ask a doctor or pharmacist.
More Information
If you want more information about APO-TRAVOPROST Z:
- 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). Find the Patient Medication Information on the manufacturer’s website http://www.apotex.ca/products, or by calling 1-800-667-4708.