Bromfenac+benzalkonium
About
Bromfenac+benzalkonium belongs to ophthalmic eye medications used to reduce eye inflammation after cataract surgery in adults. Eye inflammation after cataract surgery is a common condition in which eyes become swollen and red. Cataract surgery is also called lens replacement surgery in which the natural lens of the eyes becomes opaque due to a cataract and is replaced with an intraocular artificial lens.
Bromfenac+benzalkonium is a combination of two drugs: Bromfenac (analgesic) and Benzalkonium (preservative). Bromfenac belongs to the class of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (pain killers) that work by inhibiting the release of certain natural substances such as prostaglandins in the eye that cause pain and inflammation. Thereby, helps in relieving eye pain and swelling after cataract surgery. Benzalkonium acts as a preservative.
Use Bromfenac+benzalkonium as prescribed by your doctor. Bromfenac+benzalkonium is only for use in the eyes. You are advised to use Bromfenac+benzalkonium for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you based on your medical condition. In some cases, you may experience mild eye irritation, headache, seeing floaters or flashes of light before the eyes, or increased sensitivity of eyes to light. Most of these side effects of Bromfenac+benzalkonium do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects worsen or persist, please consult your doctor.
If you are allergic to Bromfenac+benzalkonium or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Bromfenac+benzalkonium is not recommended for children as the safety and effectiveness were not established. Avoid taking Bromfenac+benzalkonium and consult a doctor if you are pregnant, especially in the last 3 months of pregnancy as it may harm an unborn baby. Drive only if your vision is clear as Bromfenac+benzalkonium may cause temporary blurred vision immediately after applying. You are advised to maintain a 5 minutes time gap between using Bromfenac+benzalkonium and other eye drops.
Uses of Bromfenac+benzalkonium
Medicinal Benefits
Bromfenac+benzalkonium is a combination of two drugs: Bromfenac and Benzalkonium to reduce eye inflammation after cataract surgery in adults. Bromfenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (pain killer) that inhibits the release of certain natural substances such as prostaglandins in the eye that cause pain and swelling. Thereby, helps in relieving eye pain and swelling after cataract surgery. Benzalkonium acts as a preservative.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Bromfenac+benzalkonium
- Mild eye irritation
- Headache
- Seeing floaters or flashes of light before the eyes
- Increased sensitivity of eyes to light
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
If you are allergic to Bromfenac+benzalkonium or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Bromfenac+benzalkonium is not recommended for children as the safety and effectiveness were not established. Avoid taking Bromfenac+benzalkonium and consult a doctor if you are pregnant, especially in the last 3 months of pregnancy as it may harm an unborn baby. Drive only if your vision is clear as Bromfenac+benzalkonium may cause temporary blurred vision immediately after applying. If you have diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, bleeding problems, dry eyes, cornea problems, before taking Bromfenac+benzalkonium. You are advised to remove soft contact lenses before using Bromfenac+benzalkonium as it may cause discoloration of soft contact lens. You are advised to maintain a 5 minutes time gap between using Bromfenac+benzalkonium and other eye drops. Please do not touch the container tip to the eye, eyelids, or surrounding areas as it may contaminate Bromfenac+benzalkonium and cause eye infections.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Bromfenac+benzalkonium may interact with topical steroids (cortisone), blood thinners (warfarin, clopidogrel, aspirin).
Drug-Food Interaction: No interactions found.
Drug-Disease Interaction: If you have diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, bleeding problems, dry eyes, cornea problems, before taking Bromfenac+benzalkonium.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionThe interaction of alcohol with Bromfenac+benzalkonium is unknown. Please consult a doctor before consuming alcohol with Bromfenac+benzalkonium.
Pregnancy
cautionBromfenac+benzalkonium is a Category C pregnancy drug and is not recommended for use during pregnancy in the last 3 months as it may cause harm to the unborn baby. Bromfenac+benzalkonium is prescribed only if the doctor thinks benefits outweigh risks. Please consult a doctor if you are pregnant.
Breast Feeding
safe if prescribedBromfenac+benzalkonium may be safe to use in breastfeeding mothers if it is prescribed by a doctor.
Driving
cautionBromfenac+benzalkonium may cause blurred vision for a short time immediately after using Bromfenac+benzalkonium. So, drive only when your vision is clear after taking Bromfenac+benzalkonium.
Liver
safe if prescribedIf you have any concerns regarding the use of Bromfenac+benzalkonium in patients with liver problems, please consult a doctor.
Kidney
safe if prescribedIf you have any concerns regarding the use of Bromfenac+benzalkonium in patients with kidney problems, please consult a doctor.
Children
unsafeBromfenac+benzalkonium is not recommended for children as the safety and effectiveness were not established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Eat Omega-3 fatty acids-rich foods such as sardines, mackerel, tuna, salmon, trout, and omega-3 fatty acid supplements.
- Cut down your coffee intake as it may increase pressure in the eye and replace coffee with green tea.
- Maintain a diet rich in antioxidants such as dark-green leafy vegetables, whole grains, citrus fruits, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, etc.
- Avoid consuming processed foods such as high-fat meats, sugary foods, dairy products, fast foods as they may increase inflammation.
Special Advise
Avoid wearing contact lenses while using Bromfenac+benzalkonium as it may cause discolouration of soft contact lenses.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Cataract surgery: It is done to remove the eye's natural lens that has become cloudy and replace it with an artificial lens to restore clear eyesight. Eye inflammation may occur in some patients after cataract surgery due to disruption of the blood-aqueous barrier, which causes the release of certain inflammatory mediators such as leukotrienes and prostaglandins. The pain, swelling and redness of the eye is normal after cataract surgery and is treated using topical corticosteroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
FAQs
Bromfenac+benzalkonium contains Bromfenac and Benzalkonium. Bromfenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (pain killer) that works by inhibiting the release of certain natural substances such as prostaglandins in the eye that cause pain and swelling. Thereby, helps in relieving eye pain and swelling after cataract surgery. Benzalkonium acts as a preservative.
You are recommended to wash your hands first and tilt your head back and gently pull the lower eyelid downwards. Then, press the bottom of the bottle gently by holding it upside down to instil the number of drops into the affected eye as advised by your doctor without touching the tip of the bottle to the eye or surrounding areas to avoid contamination. Finally, replace the cap tightly after use.
You are not recommended to wear contact lenses while using Bromfenac+benzalkonium as it contains benzalkonium chloride, a preservative that changes the color of the contact lens as it may be absorbed by soft contact lens. Benzalkonium chloride also causes irritation in the eye especially if you have disorders of the cornea (transparent layer at the front of the eye) or dry eyes. Therefore, you are advised to remove contact lenses before applying Bromfenac+benzalkonium and reinsert after 15 minutes of using Bromfenac+benzalkonium. Also, inform your doctor if you experience pain, stinging, or abnormal sensation in the eye after using Bromfenac+benzalkonium.
You are recommended to maintain a minimum of 5 minutes time gap between using Bromfenac+benzalkonium and other eye drops. However, please consult a doctor before using other medicines with Bromfenac+benzalkonium.
Bromfenac+benzalkonium may cause temporary blurred vision. Therefore, you are recommended to wait until your vision is clear before driving or operating heavy machinery.
You are not recommended to stop using Bromfenac+benzalkonium without consulting your doctor as it may rarely flare-up inflammatory response such as retina swelling. Therefore, use Bromfenac+benzalkonium for as long as your doctor has prescribed it, and if you experience any difficulty while taking Bromfenac+benzalkonium, please consult your doctor.
