NSAID Eye Drops: 5 Options for Treating Eye Pain and Swelling
NSAID eye drops are often used to treat inflammation or relieve pain. Learn more about prescription NSAID eye drops from GoodRx.
flurbiprofen sodium
Used for Pupil Dilation
Used for Pupil Dilation
Flurbiprofen sodium is an eye drop used to prevent changes in the eye, such as narrowing of the pupil, during eye surgery.
What is Flurbiprofen sodium?
What is Flurbiprofen sodium used for?
- Prevent pupil narrowing (constriction) during eye surgery
How Flurbiprofen sodium works
Flurbiprofen sodium is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) eye drop. It works directly on the eye to prevent the pupil from getting too small.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Ocufen |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | NSAID |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of Flurbiprofen sodium
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Burning and stinging in the eyes
- Eye scarring
- Pooling of blood in the eye
- Constricted or dilated pupils
- Red eyes
Flurbiprofen sodium serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Bleeding in the eye
The following Flurbiprofen sodium side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Incidence not known
Eye irritation or redness
increased sensitivity of the eyes to light
red or bloodshot eye
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Incidence not known
Stinging or burning of the eye when medicine is applied
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get your GoodRx coupon
$40.86
GoodRx discount
$17.19
Pros and cons of Flurbiprofen sodium
Pros
- Stops pupillary constriction so that your provider can see your eyes better during surgery
- Helps with pain and inflammation
- Doesn't raise eye pressure like corticosteroid eye drops
- Available as a generic, which can be more affordable
Cons
- Causes burning and stinging
- Can slow the healing process, especially if used with steroid eye drops
- Risk for bleeding during surgery
- Not studied for use in children
Pharmacist tips for Flurbiprofen sodium
- Always wash your hands before using flurbiprofen sodium drops to prevent spreading germs into the medication, which can lead to an eye infection. Don't let the tip of the dropper touch your eye or any other surface either. This can also put you at risk for an eye infection.
- Flurbiprofen sodium should be started two hours before surgery. Make sure you know exactly what time your provider wants you to start using the eye drops and how often you should use them.
- If you're having surgery on both of your eyes, you should have two bottles of medication, one for each eye. Label the medication bottles so you don't get them mixed up. This will help protect your eyes from infections.
- Don't use flurbiprofen sodium after your surgery unless instructed by your provider
Risks and warnings for Flurbiprofen sodium
Flurbiprofen sodium can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Greater risk of bleeding
- Risk factors: Taking other medications that raise bleeding risk | History of bleeding problems
NSAIDs, such as flurbiprofen sodium, can cause bleeding. Flurbiprofen sodium can raise the risk of bleeding during eye surgery, especially in people who have a high risk for bleeds. Before surgery, let your provider know about all the medications you're taking and if you've ever had a bleeding or clotting problem.
Slowed wound healing
- Risk factors: Use with steroid medications
NSAIDs and corticosteroid eye drops are commonly used during and after eye surgery to help with pain and inflammation. Unfortunately, they can slow down the body's ability to heal after surgery, especially when they're used together. Make sure you use flurbiprofen sodium exactly as directed and have follow-up appointments with your provider so they can monitor your healing process.
Flurbiprofen sodium dosage
The average cost for 1 eye dropper of 2.5ml of 0.03% of Flurbiprofen sodium is $17.19 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 57.93% off the average retail price of $40.86. 
Eye dropper
Eye dropper| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5ml of 0.03% | 1 eye dropper | $17.19 | $17.19 |
Typical dosage for Flurbiprofen sodium
The typical dose is 1 drop in the appropriate eye every 30 minutes starting 2 hours before surgery.
Interactions between Flurbiprofen sodium and other drugs
Flurbiprofen sodium may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Flurbiprofen sodium. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
How much does Flurbiprofen sodium cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Flurbiprofen sodium (generic)
$17.19
Flurbiprofen sodium contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Flurbiprofen sodium will not be safe for you to take.
- Allergy to flurbiprofen sodium
What are alternatives to Flurbiprofen sodium?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Flurbiprofen sodium. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
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