bromfenac

For the treatment of postoperative inflammation in patients who have undergone cataract extraction, one drop of bromfenac ophthalmic solution should be applied to the affected eye once daily beginning 1 day prior to cataract surgery, continued on the day of surgery, and through the first 14 days of the postoperative period.

Bromfenac ophthalmic solution may be administered in conjunction with other topical ophthalmic medications such as alpha-agonists, beta-blockers, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, cycloplegics, and mydriatics. Drops should be administered at least 5 minutes apart.

Contains sodium sulfite, a sulfite that may cause allergic-type reactions including anaphylactic symptoms and life-threatening or less severe asthmatic episodes in certain susceptible people. The overall prevalence of sulfite sensitivity in the general population is unknown and probably low. Sulfite sensitivity is seen more frequently in asthmatic than in non-asthmatic people.

All topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may slow or delay healing. Topical corticosteroids are also known to slow or delay healing. Concomitant use of topical NSAIDs and topical steroids may increase the potential for healing problems.

There is the potential for cross-sensitivity to acetylsalicylic acid, phenylacetic acid derivatives, and other NSAIDs. Therefore, caution should be used when treating individuals who have previously exhibited sensitivities to these drugs.

With some NSAIDs, there exists the potential for increased bleeding time due to interference with platelet aggregation. There have been reports that ocularly applied NSAIDs may cause increased bleeding of ocular tissues (including hyphemas) in conjunction with ocular surgery.

It is recommended that bromfenac ophthalmic solution be used with caution in patients with known bleeding tendencies or who are receiving other medications which may prolong bleeding time.

Use of topical NSAIDs may result in keratitis. In some susceptible patients, continued use of topical NSAIDs may result in epithelial breakdown, corneal thinning, corneal erosion, corneal ulceration or corneal perforation. These events may be sight threatening. Patients with evidence of corneal epithelial breakdown should immediately discontinue use of topical NSAIDs and should be closely monitored for corneal health.

Post-marketing experience with topical NSAIDs suggests that patients with complicated ocular surgeries, corneal denervation, corneal epithelial defects, diabetes mellitus, ocular surface diseases (e.g., dry eye syndrome), rheumatoid arthritis, or repeat ocular surgeries within a short period of time may be at increased risk for corneal adverse events which may become sight threatening. Topical NSAIDs should be used with caution in these patients.

Post-marketing experience with topical NSAIDs also suggests that use more than 24 hours prior to surgery or use beyond 14 days post surgery may increase patient risk for the occurrence and severity of corneal adverse events.

Bromfenac should not be administered while wearing contact lenses.

The most commonly reported adverse experiences reported following use of bromfenac after cataract surgery include: abnormal sensation in eye, conjunctival hyperemia, eye irritation (including burning/stinging), eye pain, eye pruritus, eye redness, headache, and iritis. These events were reported in 2-7% of patients.

The following events have been identified during post-marketing use of bromfenac ophthalmic solution 0.09% in clinical practice. Because they are reported voluntarily from a population of unknown size, estimates of frequency cannot be made. The events, which have been chosen for inclusion due to either their seriousness, frequency of reporting, possible causal connection to topical bromfenac ophthalmic solution 0.09% or a combination of these factors, include corneal erosion, corneal perforation, corneal thinning, and epithelial breakdown. [see Warnings and Precautions (5)]

Caution should be exercised when bromfenac is administered to a nursing woman.

Safety and efficacy in pediatric patients below the age of 18 have not been established.

There is no evidence that the efficacy or safety profiles for bromfenac differ in patients 65 years of age and older compared to younger adult patients.

Bromfenac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that has anti-inflammatory activity. The mechanism of its action is thought to be due to its ability to block prostaglandin synthesis by inhibiting cyclooxygenase 1 and 2.

Prostaglandins have been shown in many animal models to be mediators of certain kinds of intraocular inflammation. In studies performed in animal eyes, prostaglandins have been shown to produce disruption of the blood-aqueous humor barrier, vasodilation, increased vascular permeability, leukocytosis, and increased intraocular pressure.

The plasma concentration of bromfenac following ocular administration of Bromfenac Ophthalmic Solution 0.09% in humans is unknown. Based on the maximum proposed dose of one drop to the eye (0.045 mg) and PK information from other routes of administration, the systemic concentration of bromfenac is estimated to be below the limit of quantification (50 ng/mL) at steady-state in humans.

Long-term carcinogenicity studies in rats and mice given oral doses of bromfenac up to 0.6 mg/kg/day (900 times the recommended human ophthalmic dose [RHOD] of 1.67 mcg/kg in 60 kg person on a mg/kg/basis, assuming 100% absorbed) and 5 mg/kg/day (7500 times RHOD), respectively revealed no significant increases in tumor incidence.

Bromfenac did not show mutagenic potential in various mutagenicity studies, including the reverse mutation, chromosomal aberration, and micronucleus tests.

Bromfenac did not impair fertility when administered orally to male and female rats at doses up to 0.9 mg/kg/day and 0.3 mg/kg/day, respectively (1300 and 450 times RHOD, respectively).

Clinical efficacy was evaluated in three randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trials in which subjects requiring cataract surgery were assigned to bromfenac or placebo. Patients were dosed with one drop per eye starting the day before surgery and continuing for 14 days. The primary endpoint was clearing of ocular inflammation by day 15. An additional efficacy endpoint was the number of patients who were pain free on day 1 after cataract surgery.

In 2 of the 3 studies, bromfenac ophthalmic solution had statistically significant higher incidence of completely clearing inflammation (46-47% vs. 25-29%) and also had a statistically significant higher incidence of subjects that were pain free at day 1 post cataract surgery (83-89% vs. 51-71%).

Store at 20º - 25ºC (68º - 77ºF) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature].

Patients should be advised of the possibility that slow or delayed healing may occur while using NSAIDs.

Patients should be advised to not touch dropper tip to any surface, as this may contaminate the contents.

Contact lenses should not be worn during the use of this product.

If more than one topical ophthalmic medication is being used, the medicines should be administered at least 5 minutes apart.

Rx Only

Manufactured by:

Hi-Tech Pharmacal Co., Inc.

Amityville, NY 11701

Rev. 249:01 6/13