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Drug Safety-related Labeling Changes (SrLC)

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FLAREX (NDA-019079)

(FLUOROMETHOLONE ACETATE)

Safety-related Labeling Changes Approved by FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER)

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08/02/2022 (SUPPL-33)

Approved Drug Label (PDF)

5 Warnings and Precautions

PRECAUTIONS

Additions and/or revisions underlined:

General: Fungal infections of the cornea are particularly prone to develop coincidentally with long-term local steroid application. Fungus invasion must be considered in any persistent corneal ulceration where a steroid has been used or is in use.

Prescription Guidelines: The initial prescription and renewal of the medication order should be made by a physician only after examination of the patient with the aid of magnification, such as slit lamp biomicroscopy, and, where appropriate, fluorescein staining. If signs and symptoms fail to improve after 2 days, the patient should be re- evaluated.

Not more than one bottle should be prescribed initially, and the prescription should not be refilled without further evaluation.

Information for Patients: Do not touch dropper tip to any surface, as this may contaminate the suspension. The preservative in FLAREX® (fluorometholone acetate ophthalmic suspension) 0.1%, benzalkonium chloride, may be absorbed by soft contact lenses. Contact lenses should be removed during instillation of FLAREX (fluorometholone acetate ophthalmic suspension) 0.1% but may be reinserted 15 minutes after instillation.

Patients should be advised that their vision may be temporarily blurred following dosing with FLAREX® (fluorometholone acetate ophthalmic suspension) 0.1%. Care should be exercised in operating machinery or driving a motor vehicle.

Nursing Mothers: Systemically administered corticosteroids appear in human milk and could suppress growth, interfere with endogenous corticosteroid production, or cause other untoward effects. It is not known whether topical administration of corticosteroids could result in sufficient systemic absorption to produce detectable quantities in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when FLAREX (fluorometholone acetate ophthalmic suspension) 0.1%, is administered to a nursing woman.

WARNINGS

Additions and/or revisions underlined:

If these products are used for 10 days or longer, intraocular pressure (IOP) should be routinely monitored even though it may be difficult in children and uncooperative patients.

6 Adverse Reactions

Additions and/or revisions underlined:

Postmarketing Experience: The following reaction has been identified during post-marketing use of FLAREX® (fluorometholone acetate ophthalmic suspension) 0.1% in clinical practice. Because reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of unknown size, estimates of frequency cannot be made. The reaction, which has been chosen for inclusion due to either its seriousness, frequency of reporting, possible causal connection to FLAREX, or a combination of these factors, includes: dysgeusia.

The following rare adverse reactions have been reported: Cushing’s syndrome and adrenal suppression may occur after very frequent use of topical ophthalmic corticosteroids, particularly in very young children.

10/24/2016 (SUPPL-30)

Approved Drug Label (PDF)

4 Contraindications

Contraindicated in acute superficial herpes simplex keratitis, vaccinia, varicella, and most other viral diseases of cornea and conjunctiva; mycobacterial infection of the eye; fungal diseases; acute purulent untreated infections, which like other diseases caused by microorganisms …

5 Warnings and Precautions

… Acute purulent infections of the eye may be masked or exacerbated by presence of steroid medication. Topical ophthalmic corticosteroids may slow corneal wound healing. In those diseases causing…

Information for Patients: Do not touch dropper tip to any surface, as this may contaminate the suspension. The preservative in FLAREX® (fluorometholone acetate ophthalmic suspension), benzalkonium chloride, may be absorbed by soft contact lenses. Contact lenses should be removed during instillation of FLAREX (fluorometholone acetate ophthalmic suspension) but may be reinserted 15 minutes after instillation.

Patients should be advised that their vision may be temporarily blurred following dosing with FLAREX (fluorometholone acetate ophthalmic suspension). Care should be exercised in operating machinery or driving a motor vehicle.

6 Adverse Reactions

Postmarketing Experience (added subsection)

The following reaction has been identified during post-marketing use of FLAREX® (fluorometholone acetate ophthalmic suspension) in clinical practice. Because reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of unknown size, estimates of frequency cannot be made. The reaction, which has been chosen for inclusion due to either its seriousness, frequency of reporting, possible causal connection to FLAREX, or a combination of these factors, includes: dysgeusia.