What is Vexol?

Rimexolone belongs to the group of medicines known as corticosteroids (cortisone-like medicines). It is used to treat inflammation of the eye, which may occur following eye surgery or with certain eye problems.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Shake the container very well before applying the eye drops.

To use:

• First, wash your hands. Tilt your head back and, pressing your finger gently on the skin just beneath the lower eyelid, pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to make a space. Drop the medicine into this space. Let go of the eyelid and gently close the eyes. Do not blink. Keep the eyes closed and apply pressure to the inner corner of the eye with your finger for 1 or 2 minutes to allow the medicine to be absorbed by the eye.
• If you think you did not get the drop of medicine into your eye properly, use another drop.
• To keep the medicine as germ-free as possible, do not touch the applicator tip to any surface (including the eye). Also, keep the container tightly closed.

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For ophthalmic dosage form (eye drops):
  • For inflammation after surgery:
    • Adults—Use one or two drops in the affected eye four times a day beginning twenty-four hours after surgery and continuing throughout the first two weeks after surgery.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For anterior uveitis (inflammation in the iris of the eye):
    • Adults—Use one or two drops in the affected eye every hour, while awake, for the first week. Then use one drop in the affected eye every two hours, while awake, for the second week. Then gradually decrease the number of times the medicine is used each day according to your physician's instructions.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of rimexolone in children with use in other age groups.

Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of rimexolone in the elderly with use in other age groups.

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 taking 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 not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Desmopressin

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.

• Bemiparin
• Bupropion
• Macimorelin
• Nadroparin
• Sargramostim

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Certain eye diseases that cause the cornea to get thin—Use of ophthalmic rimexolone could cause a hole to form (perforation)

• Fungus infection of the eye or
• Herpes infection of the eye or
• Virus infection of the eye or
• Yeast infection of the eye or
• Any other eye infection—Ophthalmic rimexolone may make existing infections worse or cause new infections

An ophthalmologist (eye doctor) should examine your eyes at regular visits while you are using this medicine.