Starazolin – action, indications, contraindications, dosage

Proven content

Starazolin is a drug from the group of sympathomimetics that is intended for topical application. The drug is administered into the conjunctival sac. Starazolin’s task is to narrow blood vessels, and thus reduce congestion and irritation of the conjunctiva of the eye. See what else you should know about Starazolin drops.

Starazolin – action

The active substance of Starazolin is tetryzoline, i.e. an imidazoline derivative. 1 ml of drops contains 0,5 mg of tetryzoline hydrochloride. This substance works in the same way as, for example, naphazoline or xylometazoline. Starazolin is therefore a sympathomimetic that stimulates the adrenergic receptors located on the surface of target cells.

Tetryzoline acts mainly on alpha-receptors and only to a small extent on beta-receptors. When injected directly into the conjunctival sac, the blood vessels narrow. Starazolin can sometimes cause a slight dilatation of the pupil. As a result, conjunctival congestion and swelling are reduced.

In addition, Starazolin will also help relieve other symptoms associated with eye irritation and inflammation, such as:

1. baking;
2. itching;
3. pain;
4. strong tearing.

The active substance of Starazolin administered into the conjunctival sac has a local effect, but it cannot be ruled out that it penetrates into the circulatory system and may cause side effects. The effect of the drops is usually felt after a few minutes and may last for 4 to 8 hours.

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Starazolin – indications

Starazolin is a drug indicated for the relief of symptoms of various conditions that are associated with the swelling and redness of the conjunctiva of the eye. Belong to them:

1. irritation caused by factors such as smoke, dust, wind, contact lenses, chlorinated water or cosmetics;
2. eye inflammation caused by allergens.

Starazolin – contraindications

Starazolin should not be used in all cases as there are diseases and other conditions that exclude the possibility of using the drops. Contraindication to the administration of Starazolin is:

1. hypersensitivity (allergy) to any component of the drug;
2. glaucoma – especially angle-closure glaucoma and other serious eye diseases;
3. age – Starazolin is not administered to newborns, infants and children up to 2 years of age.

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Starazolin – precautions

There are diseases and other health problems that may constitute a contraindication to the use of the drug or may be an indication for a change in the dosage of the drug. From time to time it may be necessary to undergo medical check-ups.

Starazolin drops should be applied externally and administered directly into the conjunctival sac. Starazolin should not be used during an infection or damage to the cornea and severe pain. Before that, be sure to consult a doctor.

You should also consult your doctor as soon as possible when you get:

1. cause of;
2. Headache;
3. loss of vision;
4. visual disturbances with moving spots in the visual field;
5. sudden redness of the eyes;
6. sensitivity to light and pain;
7. double vision.

Starazolin should not be used for a long time, as it may lead to secondary inflammation of the eye mucosa, irritation, burning and stinging of the eye, hyperemia, increased swelling, or the appearance of atrophic changes due to hypoxia of the eye mucosa.

Particular care should be taken by people with suspected or diagnosed:

1. severe cardiovascular disease;
2. arterial hypertension;
3. pheochromocytoma of the adrenal gland;
4. diabetes;
5. overactive thyroid gland.

These people should consult a doctor beforehand. This also applies to people using:

1. inhibitory MAO;
2. drugs that increase blood pressure.

When used as directed, Starazolin should not cause pupil enlargement. However, in some cases this can happen if the medicine is used too long or too often. This applies, inter alia, to people with the bright iris of the eye.

Starazolin will not alleviate the symptoms of allergic reactions, such as contact inflammation of the conjunctiva and eyelid skin. The preparation should also not be used in children for a long time. Also note that Starazolin contains benzalkonium chloride. It is a preservative that can build up in contact lenses and damage them by changing their color. Therefore, you should remove your lenses before applying eye drops and put them back on only after approx. 15 minutes.

The manufacturer has no data on the influence of Starazolin on the ability to drive and use machines. However, it is worth remembering that during conjunctivitis, visual disturbances may appear, which in itself may have a negative impact on psychophysical fitness. Therefore, if you experience these symptoms, you should not drive or operate machinery.

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Starazolin – dosage

Starazolin is a drop formulation that is dropped directly into the conjunctival sac. The drops should be used as intended and recommended. Do not exceed the permissible doses, as it will not increase this the effectiveness of Starazolinand may harm your health and life. Any doubts related to the use of Starazolin explain with your doctor. Most often, 1-2 drops are applied to each conjunctival sac 2 to 3 times a day. Starazolin should not be used for a long time, especially by children.

Drops are sterile until the bottle is opened. Therefore, avoid contact of the dropper tip with various surfaces to avoid contamination of the preparation. This could lead to eye infections. Each time the container should be tightly closed. If the instillation container is disposable, it should be discarded as it is not reusable. In the case of these containers, you should also remember to put the first two drops into the sink, for example, and not to sprinkle them on your eyes.

Contact lens wearers should remove them before using Starazolinand they can put them on after about 15 minutes. Starazolin should not be used in children under 2 years of age.

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Starazolin – pregnancy and breastfeeding

Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not use any medication without consulting a doctor. Before that, they should clarify any doubts related to the benefits and risks of using a given drug. There are no data on the safety of the preparation during pregnancy, therefore the use of Starazolin is allowed only after consultation with a doctor and only when absolutely necessary.

There are also no data on the excretion of tetryzoline into breast milk, therefore a doctor should be consulted before use.

Starazolin – interactions

Before starting to use Starazolin, inform your doctor about all medications you are taking, including those without a prescription. Starazolin may interact with:

1. MAO inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, reserpine, guanethidine – may increase blood pressure;
2. anesthetics, insulin, atropine, propranolol – increase the effect of these drugs on the cardiovascular system.

In addition, you should also remember to keep a 15-minute interval between the successive instillations of other ophthalmic preparations.

Starazolin – side effects

Starazolin, like all medicines, may cause undesirable effects. However, it should be remembered that they do not appear in everyone and that usually the benefits of using the preparation outweigh any possible side effects. The most common side effects are around the eyes. May appear:

1. conjunctival irritation;
2. blurred vision;
3. pupil dilation;
4. hyperkeratosis of the conjunctiva;
5. excessive tearing.

Side effects can also affect the entire body and the most common are:

1. irritation and hyperemia of the mucous membranes;
2. headaches;
3. weakness;
4. dryness of the mucous membranes;
5. tremors;
6. excessive sweating;
7. Heart arythmia;
8. high blood pressure;
9. increased heart rate;
10. sensation of heart palpitations.

Starazolin used chronically or too often may lead to eye pain and irritation, eye redness, blurred vision, and sometimes pupil dilation.

If children under 2 years of age accidentally swallow Starazolin or accidentally ingest it, the following may occur:

1. disorders of the central nervous system, increased blood pressure, arrhythmias, tachyarrhythmias, bradycardia or tachycardia.

Before use, read the leaflet, which contains indications, contraindications, data on side effects and dosage as well as information on the use of the medicinal product, or consult your doctor or pharmacist, as each drug used improperly is a threat to your life or health. Do you need a medical consultation or an e-prescription? Go to halodoctor.pl, where you will get online help – quickly, safely and without leaving your home.