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Tetracaine Coupon - Tetracaine 15ml of 0.5% eye dropper

tetracaine

Generic Altacaine
Used for Anesthesia
Used for Anesthesia

Tetracaine eye drops are used to provide temporary numbing to the eye(s) for certain procedures. It should only be administered by a healthcare provider during the procedure. The dosage is on an "as needed" basis (e.g., how much numbing your provider thinks you need for the procedure). There's currently no brand-name version of this numbing medication available. Tetracaine eye drops can cause eye stinging, burning, or redness, but these side effects only last for a short time.

Last reviewed on August 7, 2023
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What is Tetracaine eye drops?

What is Tetracaine eye drops used for?

  • Numbing the eye for a procedure or surgery

How Tetracaine eye drops works

Tetracaine is a local anesthetic. It numbs the eye before procedures or surgery.

Are you looking for information on tetracycline instead?

Drug Facts

Common BrandsAltacaine (brand name no longer available)
Drug ClassLocal anesthetic
Controlled Substance ClassificationNot a controlled medication
Generic StatusLower-cost generic available
AvailabilityPrescription only
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What are the side effects of Tetracaine eye drops?

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

  • Temporary eye stinging
  • Temporary eye burning
  • Temporary eye redness

Other Side Effects

  • Eye irritation
  • Eye discomfort

Source: DailyMed

The following 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 or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare

Blurred vision

redness of the clear part of the eye

sensitivity to light

severe stinging in the eye

tearing

throbbing eye pain

Incidence not known

Bloody eye

burning, stinging, itching, redness, or irritation of the eye

change in vision

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.

pros-and-cons

Pros and cons of Tetracaine eye drops

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Pros

Starts working within 10 to 20 seconds

Side effects are temporary

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Cons

Numbness effect can cause accidental eye injury since you won't feel anything

You might need repeated doses since effects wear off after 10 to 20 minutes

pharmacist-tips

Pharmacist tips for Tetracaine eye drops

pharmacist
  • Avoid touching, rubbing, or poking around your eyes after receiving these drops because you might accidentally injure them. Tetracaine eye drops will make your eyes numb, so avoid accidental injury until the numbing effects wear off.

    • If you received several doses of tetracaine eye drops, the effects might last longer than 20 minutes. Check with your provider about when you're safe to touch your eyes after your procedure.

      • Your provider will take care that the tip of the medication bottle doesn't touch your eye or any other surface, because this can spread germs.

        faqs

        Frequently asked questions about Tetracaine eye drops

        What is tetracaine eye drops?
        Tetracaine eye drops is a local anesthetic. This means that it temporarily blocks your nerves from sending pain messages to the brain. This is useful for certain eye procedures. Your provider will administer this medication, so they'll determine how many drops to apply to your eye.
        How long do tetracaine eye drops eye drops last?
        You'll experience maximum numbness from tetracaine eye drops about 10 to 20 seconds after your provider applies the drops. The numbing effect lasts around 10 to 20 minutes. If the numbing sensation wears off, your provider will repeat the dose as needed. Don't touch your eyes while they're still numb because you might accidentally injure your eyes since they'll be desensitized (won't feel anything).
        How is tetracaine eye drops different from lidocaine?
        Tetracaine eye drops and lidocaine are both local anesthetics, meaning they only numb the area where they're applied. Both medications are typically administered by a healthcare provider when applied to the eye, as they know how much numbing is needed before a procedure. A study compared the use of tetracaine 0.5% eye drops to lidocaine 2% eye gel in cataract surgery showed that tetracaine eye drops wore off after 10 to 20 minutes, whereas the lidocaine gel lasted about 30 minutes. Your provider will determine which local anesthetic is best for you based on what procedure you're getting.
        Is tetracaine eye drops a controlled substance?
        No, tetracaine eye drops isn't a controlled substance because it isn't known to raise the risk for addiction or misuse. But tetracaine eye drops should only be administered by your provider because you could accidentally injure your eyes if you use this medication inappropriately.
        What are the side effects of tetracaine eye drops?
        The typical side effects of tetracaine eye drops are stinging, burning, eye irritation, eye pain or discomfort, and eye redness. These side effects are temporary, meaning they go away after a short while.
        Are there any serious side effects of tetracaine eye drops?
        Tetracaine eye drops should only be applied by your healthcare provider during your procedure. It shouldn't cause any serious side effects if it's used as directed.
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        What are the risks and warnings for Tetracaine eye drops?

        Tetracaine eye drops 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.

        risk-warning

        Not for injection

        Tetracaine eye drops is an eye drop medication and shouldn't be injected.

        risk-warning

        Not for self-use

        Tetracaine eye drops isn't meant for you to use on your own; it must be administered by a healthcare provider. This is to help make sure the medication is used properly and that there's no accidental injury to your eye(s).

        risk-warning

        Risk of eye injury

        Don't touch your eyes for at least 10 to 20 minutes after your provider has placed the tetracaine eye drops. Because this medication numbs your eyes, you're at a high risk for accidental injuries because your eyes won't be as sensitive to irritations.

        risk-warning

        Not for long-term use

        Long-term use of anesthetic eye drops like tetracaine eye drops can cause eye damage and vision loss. Your provider will only use this for procedures or surgeries, and won't use it long term.

        risk-warning

        Contamination (spreading germs and bacteria)

        Bacterial contamination of eye drops can lead to eye infections. Never touch the tip of the container with your eye, hands, or any other surface.

        dosage

        Tetracaine eye drops dosage forms

        Typical dosing for Tetracaine eye drops

        The typical dose is one drop in the eye(s) as needed to numb the eye for a procedure or surgery.

        interactions

        Interactions between Tetracaine eye drops and other drugs

        Tetracaine eye drops 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 Tetracaine eye drops. 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. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

        Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

        alternatives

        What are alternatives to Tetracaine eye drops?

        There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Tetracaine eye drops. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
        Tetracaine eye drops
        Used for:
        • Numbing the eye for a procedure or surgery

        Used for:
        • Numbing the eye for a procedure or surgery

        $17.42 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
        images

        Tetracaine eye drops images

        colorless - Tetracaine Hydrochloride 0.5% Ophthalmic Solution
        This medicine is Colorless Eye Dropper.colorless - Tetracaine Hydrochloride 0.5% Ophthalmic Solution
        colorless - Tetracaine Hydrochloride 0.5% Ophthalmic Solution
        This medicine is Colorless Eye Dropper.colorless - Tetracaine Hydrochloride 0.5% Ophthalmic Solution

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        References

        Best studies we found
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