Health Home > Eyes & Vision > Cyclopentolate and phenylephrine ophthalmic

Cyclopentolate and phenylephrine ophthalmic

[ Pronunciation: SYE kloe PEN toe late and FEN il EFF rin off THAL mik ]
Brand Names: Cyclomydril
Healthwise

Did you find this helpful?

Be the first to rate!
Not yet rated

What is the most important information I should know about cyclopentolate and phenylephrine ophthalmic?

donot You should not receive this medication if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to cyclopentolate and phenylephrine ophthalmic, or if you have narrow-angle glaucoma.

Infants and children may be more likely to have side effects from cyclopentolate and phenylephrine ophthalmic. Watch for signs of behavior changes in a child who has been treated with this medication.

dizzy This medication will dilate your pupils, which can cause blurred vision or increased light sensitivity for several hours after use. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be able to see clearly.

If this medication has been used in a child, avoid feeding the child for at least 4 hours after he or she has been treated with cyclopentolate and phenylephrine eye drops.

nosun This medication can make your eyes more sensitive to light. Until the effects wear off, avoid sunlight or bright light.

What is cyclopentolate and phenylephrine ophthalmic?

Cyclopentolate and phenylephrine ophthalmic relaxes muscles in your eye to dilate (widen) your pupil.

foreye Cyclopentolate and phenylephrine ophthalmic is used to dilate your pupil in preparation for an eye exam.

Cyclopentolate and phenylephrine ophthalmic may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving cyclopentolate and phenylephrine ophthalmic?

donot You should not receive this medication if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to cyclopentolate and phenylephrine ophthalmic, or if you have untreated narrow-angle glaucoma.

Before you receive this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have glaucoma. Your doctor may need to watch you closely for certain side effects after you receive cyclopentolate and phenylephrine ophthalmic.

nopreg FDA pregnancy category C. Cyclopentolate and phenylephrine may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant before you receive this medication.
nobrfeed It is not known whether cyclopentolate and phenylephrine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not receive this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Infants and children may be more likely to have side effects from cyclopentolate and phenylephrine ophthalmic. Watch for signs of behavior changes in a child who has been treated with this medication.

How is cyclopentolate and phenylephrine ophthalmic used?

Cyclopentolate and phenylephrine is usually given in and eye doctor's office before an eye exam or other procedure.

Your doctor will tilt your head back slightly and pull down your lower eyelid. The correct number of eye drops will then be placed into one or both eyes.

After the eye drops are placed, gently press your finger to the inside corner of the eye (near your nose) for 2 to 3 minutes to keep the liquid from draining into your tear duct. Do not rub your eye.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since cyclopentolate and phenylephrine ophthalmic is usually given as needed by a healthcare professional, it is not likely that you will miss a dose.

What happens if I overdose?

emt Tell your caregivers right away if you think you have received too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include fever, fast heart rate, warmth or tingling, decreased urination, and behavior changes.

What should I avoid after receiving cyclopentolate and phenylephrine ophthalmic?

dizzy This medication will dilate your pupils, which can cause blurred vision or increased light sensitivity for several hours after use. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be able to see clearly.

If this medication has been used in a child, avoid feeding the child for at least 4 hours after he or she has been treated with cyclopentolate and phenylephrine eye drops.

nosun This medication can make your eyes more sensitive to light. Until the effects wear off, avoid sunlight or bright light.

Avoid using other eye drops or ointment within 5 minutes before receiving cyclopentolate and phenylephrine eye drops.

What are the possible side effects of cyclopentolate and phenylephrine ophthalmic?

emt Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Tell your doctor if you have a serious side effect such as:

  • severe stinging, burning, or eye irritation;
  • eye redness or watering, light sensitivity, decreased vision, and feeling like something is in your eye;
  • fast or uneven heart rate;
  • warmth, redness, or tingly feeling under your skin;
  • seizure (convulsions); or
  • hallucinations, unusual behavior, or problems with speech or balance (especially in children).

Less serious side effects may include:

  • dry mouth, nose, or throat;
  • decreased sweating, urinating less than ususal;
  • sensitivity to sunlight;
  • mild stinging or burning in your eye; or
  • swelling of the eyelids.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

What other drugs will affect cyclopentolate and phenylephrine ophthalmic?

The following drugs can interact with cyclopentolate and phenylephrine ophthalmic. Tell your doctor if you are using any of these:

  • physostigmine ophthalmic (Eserine);
  • pilocarpine (Pilopine, Piloptic, Pilostat, and others); and
  • carbachol (Carboptic, Isopto, Miostat).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with cyclopentolate and phenylephrine ophthalmic. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about cyclopentolate and phenylephrine ophthalmic.


Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2003 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 1.01. Revision date: 12/28/2007.

Last Updated: 12/28/2007