DrugindexOnline^{2nd edition}

Generic Name: Tetrahydrozoline/Zinc Eye Drops (te-tra-hye-DROZ-oh-leen/ZINK)
Brand Name: Examples include Altazine Irritation Relief and Visine AC

Altazine Irritation Relief Drops is used for:

Temporarily relieving redness, burning, and discomfort caused by minor eye irritation. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Altazine Irritation Relief Drops is an eye decongestant and astringent. It works by constricting the blood vessels in the eye and coating the eye, which relieves redness and dryness.

Do NOT use Altazine Irritation Relief Drops if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Altazine Irritation Relief Drops
• you have taken furazolidone or a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor (eg, phenelzine) within the past 14 days

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Altazine Irritation Relief Drops:

Some medical conditions may interact with Altazine Irritation Relief Drops. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have glaucoma, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems, or thyroid problems, or you are taking medicine for high blood pressure

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Altazine Irritation Relief Drops. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline) because they may decrease this medicine's effectiveness
• Cocaine, furazolidone, MAO inhibitors (eg, phenelzine), or tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline) because they may increase the risk of Altazine Irritation Relief Drops's side effects, such as headache, fever, and high blood pressure
• Bromocriptine or cocaine because their actions and side effects may be increased by Altazine Irritation Relief Drops

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Altazine Irritation Relief Drops may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Altazine Irritation Relief Drops:

Use Altazine Irritation Relief Drops as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Altazine Irritation Relief Drops is for use in the eye only. Avoid contact with the nose, mouth, or other mucous membranes.
• To use Altazine Irritation Relief Drops, first, wash your hands. Tilt your head back. Using your index finger, pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to form a pouch. Drop the medicine into the pouch and gently close your eyes. Immediately use your finger to apply pressure to the inside corner of the eye for 1 to 2 minutes. Do not blink. Remove excess medicine around your eye with a clean tissue, being careful not to touch your eye. Wash your hands to remove any medicine that may be on them.
• To prevent germs from contaminating your medicine, do not touch the applicator tip to any surface, including your eye. Keep the container tightly closed.
• If you miss a dose of Altazine Irritation Relief Drops and you are using it regularly, use it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Altazine Irritation Relief Drops.

Important safety information:

• Remove contact lenses before using Altazine Irritation Relief Drops.
• Do not use Altazine Irritation Relief Drops if it becomes cloudy or changes color.
• Contact your doctor if you experience changes in your vision, eye pain, irritation, soreness, or continued redness, or if your condition does not improve after 3 days.
• Do not exceed the recommended dose or use Altazine Irritation Relief Drops for longer than prescribed without checking with your doctor. Eye redness may be increased by overuse of Altazine Irritation Relief Drops.
• Use Altazine Irritation Relief Drops with caution in CHILDREN because they may be more sensitive to its effects.
• Use of Altazine Irritation Relief Drops is not recommended in CHILDREN younger than 6 years of age without first checking with your doctor.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant while taking Altazine Irritation Relief Drops, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Altazine Irritation Relief Drops during pregnancy. It is unknown if Altazine Irritation Relief Drops is excreted in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using Altazine Irritation Relief Drops, check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of Altazine Irritation Relief Drops:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Blurred vision; minor stinging or tingling when the medicine is dropped into the eye.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); changes in vision; eye pain; worsening or persistent eye irritation or redness.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately. Altazine Irritation Relief Drops may be harmful if swallowed, especially in children.

Proper storage of Altazine Irritation Relief Drops:

Store Altazine Irritation Relief Drops at room temperature, between 59 and 77 degrees F (15 and 25 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Altazine Irritation Relief Drops out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Altazine Irritation Relief Drops, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Altazine Irritation Relief Drops is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Altazine Irritation Relief Drops. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.