Cysklar: Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

What CYSKLAR is used for:

CYSKLAR is used to reduce cystine crystals in the surface of the eye (cornea) in patients with cystinosis.

How CYSKLAR works:

Cystinosis is a rare disease where naturally occurring cystine builds up in body organs and tissues including the surface of the eye (cornea). CYSKLAR changes cystine so that cystine crystals do not build up in the cornea.

The ingredients in CYSKLAR are:

Medicinal ingredients: cysteamine (as cysteamine hydrochloride).

Non-medicinal ingredients: benzalkonium chloride, hydrochloric acid, sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide and water for injection.

CYSKLAR comes in the following dosage forms:

Solution to use as eye drops: 0.44% w/v

Do not use CYSKLAR if:

• you are allergic to cysteamine or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine.

To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take CYSKLAR. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:

• are using, have recently used, or might use any other eye drops.

• are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby. It is not known if CYSKLAR will harm your unborn baby.

• wear soft contact lenses.

Other warnings you should know about:

• Benign Intracranial Hypertension (an increase in pressure inside the skull)

  • Benign intracranial hypertension has been reported in patients taking oral cysteamine treatment. This has resolved with the use of diuretics (medicines that increase production of urine).

• Soft Contact Lenses:

  • You should avoid contact of soft contact lenses with CYSKLAR.
  • Soft contact lenses may absorb benzalkonium chloride (a preservative in CYSKLAR). This can cause your contact lenses to become discoloured.
  • If you wear soft contact lenses, remove them before using CYSKLAR. Wait at least 15 minutes after using CYSKLAR before putting your contact lenses back in your eyes.

• Driving and Using Machines: You may find that your vision is blurred for a few minutes after using CYSKLAR. Do NOT drive or use machines until your vision is clear.

How to take CYSKLAR:

• Use this medicine exactly as your healthcare professional has told you. Check with your healthcare professional if you are not sure how to use CYSKLAR.
• Follow the instructions below to use the eye drops.

Step 1: Storing unopened bottles and taking CYSKLAR out of the refrigerator

• Store unopened bottles in the refrigerator in the original carton.
• Each week, remove one new bottle from the refrigerator and open the packaging (carton and foil).

Step 2: Prepare to give yourself CYSKLAR

• Immediately after opening the packaging for the first time, write the date of opening in the space provided on the bottle.
• CYSKLAR can be used for up to 7 days from date of opening. Check the date of opening before giving yourself CYSKLAR.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

• If you wear soft contact lenses:

  • Remove the contact lenses before using CYSKLAR. Do NOT use the drops with soft contact lenses in your eyes.
  • After using CYSKLAR, you should wait 15 minutes before putting contact lenses back in your eyes.

Step 3: Administer CYSKLAR

• The drops should only be used in your eyes.
• Instill one drop of CYSKLAR in each eye, every waking hour.
• Do NOT touch your eyes or surrounding areas with the dropper tip. This may contaminate the solution.
• Tightly close the bottle after use.

Step 4: Storing opened bottle and discarding CYSKLAR

• Once opened, CYSKLAR can be stored at room temperature (20-25^oC) for up to 7 days.
• At the end of 1 week (7 days), discard the bottle. There may be medication left in the bottle; however, the bottle must be discarded. The medication can only be used for 1 week after the foil and bottle were opened.

Usual dose:

• Use one drop of CYSKLAR in each eye, every waking hour.

Overdose:

If you put too many drops in your eyes allow a few minutes for blinking of the eyes. If irritation or pain persists, rinse out the eye(s) with an ophthalmic saline or buffered solution. Do not put in anymore drops until it is time for your next regular dose. If pain, irritation and/or eye redness persists please contact your healthcare professional.

If you think you, or a person you are caring for, have taken too much or accidently swallowed CYSKLAR, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, regional poison control centre or Health Canada’s toll-free number, 1-844 POISON-X (1-844-764-7669) immediately, even if there are no signs or symptoms.

Missed dose:

• If you missed a dose of CYSKLAR, you do not need to make up the missed dose. Skip the missed dose and continue with your next scheduled dose.
• Do NOT take two doses at the same time.

Possible side effects from using CYSKLAR:

These are not all the possible side effects you may have when taking CYSKLAR. If you experience any side effects not listed here, tell your healthcare professional.

• Sensitivity to light
• Eye redness
• Eye pain
• Eye irritation
• Headache
• Eye irritation where drops are administered
• Impaired vision (visual fields)

Serious side effects and what to do about them

If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, tell your healthcare professional.

Reporting Side Effects

You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:

• Visiting the Web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting (canada.ca/drug-device-reporting) for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax; or
• Calling toll-free at 1-866-234-2345.

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 reach and sight of children.
• Before Opening: Store unopened bottles in the refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C in the intact foil pouch and original carton.
• Open the carton and foil only when starting a new bottle.
• After Opening: Record the opening date on the bottle label. During the week of use, store the bottle at room temperature 20°C to 25°C for up to 1 week.
• At the end of 1 week (7 days), discard the bottle. There may be medication left in the bottle; however, the bottle must be discarded because the medication can only be used for 1 week after the foil and bottle were opened.

If you want more information about CYSKLAR:

• 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://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/drug-product-database.html); or by calling 1-800-447-0169.

Date of Authorization: 2026-03-06