Levobunolol Hydrochloride 5 mg/mL Solution/ Drops — NDC 24208-505-10 (Billing 24208-0505-10)

WARNINGS As with other topically applied ophthalmic drugs, levobunolol hydrochloride ophthalmic solution may be absorbed systemically. The same adverse reactions found with systemic administration of beta-adrenergic blocking agents may occur with topical administration. For example, severe respiratory reactions and cardiac reactions, including death due to bronchospasm in patients with asthma, and rarely death in association with cardiac failure, have been reported with topical application of beta-adrenergic blocking agents (see CONTRAINDICATIONS ).

Additionally, ophthalmic beta-blockers may impair compensatory tachycardia and increase risk of hypotension. Cardiac Failure Sympathetic stimulation may be essential for support of the circulation in individuals with diminished myocardial contractility, and its inhibition by beta-adrenergic receptor blockade may precipitate more severe failure. In Patients Without a History of Cardiac Failure Continued depression of the myocardium with beta-blocking agents over a period of time can, in some cases, lead to cardiac failure.

At the first sign or symptom of cardiac failure, levobunolol hydrochloride ophthalmic solution should be discontinued (see CONTRAINDICATIONS ). Potentiation of Vascular Insufficiency Levobunolol hydrochloride ophthalmic solution may potentiate syndromes associated with vascular insufficiency (i.e. Raynaud’s phenomenon), and therefore, should be used with caution in these patients.

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE (e.g., CHRONIC BRONCHITIS, EMPHYSEMA) OF MILD OR MODERATE SEVERITY, BRONCHOSPASTIC DISEASE OR A HISTORY OF BRONCHOSPASTIC DISEASE (OTHER THAN BRONCHIAL ASTHMA OR A HISTORY OF BRONCHIAL ASTHMA, IN WHICH LEVOBUNOLOL HYDROCHLORIDE OPHTHALMIC SOLUTION IS CONTRAINDICATED, SEE CONTRAINDICATIONS ), SHOULD IN GENERAL NOT RECEIVE BETA BLOCKERS, INCLUDING LEVOBUNOLOL HYDROCHLORIDE OPHTHALMIC SOLUTION. However, if levobunolol hydrochloride ophthalmic solution is deemed necessary in such patients, then it should be administered cautiously since it may block bronchodilation produced by endogenous and exogenous catecholamine stimulation of beta 2 receptors.

Major Surgery The necessity or desirability of withdrawal of beta-adrenergic blocking agents prior to major surgery is controversial. Beta-adrenergic receptor blockade impairs the ability of the heart to respond to beta-adrenergically mediated reflex stimuli. This may augment the risk of general anesthesia in surgical procedures.

Some patients receiving beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agents have been subject to protracted severe hypotension during anesthesia. Difficulty in restarting and maintaining the heartbeat has also been reported. For these reasons, in patients undergoing elective surgery, gradual withdrawal of beta-adrenergic blocking agents may be appropriate.

If necessary during surgery, the effects of beta-adrenergic blocking agents may be reversed by sufficient doses of such agonists as isoproterenol, dopamine, dobutamine or levarterenol (see OVERDOSAGE ). Diabetes Mellitus Beta-adrenergic blocking agents should be administered with caution in patients subject to spontaneous hypoglycemia or to diabetic patients (especially those with labile diabetes) who are receiving insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents. Beta-adrenergic blocking agents may mask the signs and symptoms of acute hypoglycemia.

Thyrotoxicosis Beta-adrenergic blocking agents may mask certain clinical signs (e.g., tachycardia) of hyperthyroidism. Patients suspected of developing thyrotoxicosis should be managed carefully to avoid abrupt withdrawal of beta-adrenergic blocking agents which might precipitate a thyroid storm. Choroidal Detachment Choroidal detachment after filtration procedures has been reported with the administration of aqueous suppressant therapy.

These products contain sodium metabisulfite, a sulfite that may cause allergic-type reactions including anaphylactic symptoms and lif… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]

ADVERSE REACTIONS In clinical trials the use of levobunolol hydrochloride ophthalmic solution has been associated with transient ocular burning and stinging in up to 1 in 3 patients, and with blepharoconjunctivitis in up to 1 in 20 patients. Decreases in heart rate and blood pressure have been reported (see CONTRAINDICATIONS and WARNINGS ). The following adverse reactions have been reported rarely with the use of levobunolol hydrochloride ophthalmic solution: iridocyclitis, headache, transient ataxia, dizziness, lethargy, urticaria, and pruritus.

Decreased corneal sensitivity has been noted in a small number of patients. Although levobunolol has minimal membrane-stabilizing activity, there remains a possibility of decreased corneal sensitivity after prolonged use. The following additional adverse reactions have been reported either with levobunolol hydrochloride ophthalmic solution or ophthalmic use of other beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agents: BODY AS A WHOLE: Headache, asthenia, chest pain.

CARDIOVASCULAR: Bradycardia, arrhythmia, hypotension, syncope, heart block, cerebral vascular accident, cerebral ischemia, congestive heart failure, palpitation, cardiac arrest. DIGESTIVE: Nausea, diarrhea. PSYCHIATRIC: Depression, confusion, increase in signs and symptoms of myasthenia gravis, paresthesia.

SKIN: Hypersensitivity, including localized and generalized rash, alopecia, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. RESPIRATORY: Bronchospasm (predominantly in patients with pre-existing bronchospastic disease), respiratory failure, dyspnea, nasal congestion. UROGENITAL: Impotence.

ENDOCRINE: Masked symptoms of hypoglycemia in insulin-dependent diabetics (see WARNINGS ). SPECIAL SENSES: Signs and symptoms of keratitis or eye allergy, blepharoptosis, visual disturbances including refractive changes (due to withdrawal of miotic therapy in some cases), diplopia, ptosis, and foreign body sensation in eye. Other reactions associated with the oral use of non-selective adrenergic receptor blocking agents should be considered potential effects with ophthalmic use of these agents.

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Bausch & Lomb Incorporated at 1-800-553-5340 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

PRECAUTIONS General Levobunolol hydrochloride ophthalmic solution, USP should be used with caution in patients with known hypersensitivity to other beta-adrenoceptor blocking agents. Use with caution in patients with known diminished pulmonary function. Levobunolol hydrochloride ophthalmic solution should be used with caution in patients who are receiving a beta-adrenergic blocking agent orally, because of the potential for additive effects on systemic beta-blockade or on intraocular pressure.

Patients should not typically use two or more topical ophthalmic beta-adrenergic blocking agents simultaneously. Because of the potential effects of beta-adrenergic blocking agents on blood pressure and pulse rates, these medications must be used cautiously in patients with cerebrovascular insufficiency. Should signs or symptoms develop that suggest reduced cerebral blood flow while using levobunolol hydrochloride ophthalmic solution, alternative therapy should be considered.

In patients with angle-closure glaucoma, the immediate objective of treatment is to reopen the angle. This requires, in most cases, constricting the pupil with a miotic. Levobunolol hydrochloride ophthalmic solution has little or no effect on the pupil.

When levobunolol hydrochloride ophthalmic solution is used to reduce elevated intraocular pressure in angle-closure glaucoma, it should be followed with a miotic and not alone. The preservative in levobunolol hydrochloride ophthalmic solution, benzalkonium chloride, may be absorbed by soft contact lenses. Patients wearing soft (hydrophilic) contact lenses should be instructed to remove contact lenses before administration of the solution and wait at least 15 minutes after instilling levobunolol hydrochloride ophthalmic solution before reinserting soft contact lenses.

Muscle Weakness Beta-adrenergic blockade has been reported to potentiate muscle weakness consistent with certain myasthenic symptoms (e.g., diplopia, ptosis and generalized weakness). Drug Interactions Although levobunolol hydrochloride ophthalmic solution used alone has little or no effect on pupil size, mydriasis resulting from concomitant therapy with levobunolol hydrochloride ophthalmic solution and epinephrine may occur. Close observation of the patient is recommended when a beta-blocker is administered to patients receiving catecholamine-depleting drugs such as reserpine, because of possible additive effects and the production of hypotension and/or marked bradycardia, which may produce vertigo, syncope, or postural hypotension.

Patients receiving beta-adrenergic blocking agents along with either oral or intravenous calcium antagonists should be monitored for possible atrioventricular conduction disturbances, left ventricular failure and hypotension. In patients with impaired cardiac function, simultaneous use should be avoided altogether. The concomitant use of beta-adrenergic blocking agents with digitalis and calcium antagonists may have additive effects on prolonging atrioventricular conduction time.

Phenothiazine-related compounds and beta-adrenergic blocking agents may have additive hypotensive effects due to the inhibition of each other’s metabolism. Risk of Anaphylactic Reaction While taking beta-blockers, patients with a history of severe anaphylactic reactions to a variety of allergens may be more reactive to repeated challenge, either accidental, diagnostic, or therapeutic. Such patients may be unresponsive to the usual doses of epinephrine used to treat allergic reactions.

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility In a lifetime oral study in mice, there were statistically significant (p≤0.05) increases in the incidence of benign leiomyomas in female mice at 200 mg/kg/day (14,000 times the recommended human dose for glaucoma), but not at 12 or 50 mg/kg/day (850 and 3,500 times the human dose). In a two year oral study of levobunolol hydrochloride in rats, there was a statistically significant (p≤0.05) increase in the incidence… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]