Minims Phenylephrine Hydrochloride (Phenylephrine Hydrochloride)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Minims Phenylephrine Hydrochloride Used For?
Minims Phenylephrine is an eye drop medication that helps doctors examine your eyes more thoroughly.
Primary Uses
Used to dilate (enlarge) the pupil of the eye so that your doctor can examine your eye(s). It is usually used at the beginning of an eye examination.
How It Works
Contains phenylephrine hydrochloride, which belongs to a class of medicines called sympathomimetic agents that work to enlarge your pupils.
Good to know: This medicine has been developed specifically for use in the eye only and should not be injected.
How to Take Minims Phenylephrine Hydrochloride
Your doctor will normally instill the drops into your eyes for you. If your doctor instructs you to instill the drops yourself, follow the detailed instructions provided.
Dosage Instructions
Adults: The usual dose is one drop instilled into the eye(s). This may be repeated once if necessary, at least one hour after the first drop. Children and Elderly: The usual dose is one drop of the 2.5% solution to the eye(s). Sometimes a drop of local anaesthetic may be used before using Minims Phenylephrine Eye Drops to help prevent stinging.
Administration Steps
If self-administering: 1) Wash hands well, 2) Remove contact lenses if wearing, 3) Shake container and break seal, 4) Hold container upside down, 5) Pull down lower eyelid to form pouch, 6) Tilt head back and look up, 7) Place tip close to lower eyelid without touching eye, 8) Squeeze required drops into pouch, 9) Close eye without blinking or rubbing, 10) Press finger against inside corner of eye for 2 minutes, 11) Throw away remaining drops, 12) Wait 15 minutes before replacing contact lenses.
Important: Discard each single dose unit and any remaining solution in it immediately after use. Do not save unused contents.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Eye pain or stinging
- Blurred vision for a short time
- Sensitivity to light
- Eye redness or swelling
- Itchy, red or watery eyes
- Small or constricted pupils
- Pale skin around the eyes
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Allergic reaction symptoms (shortness of breath, wheezing, swelling of face/lips/tongue, rash, itching or hives)
- Heart rate changes
- Increase in blood pressure
- Headache
- Stroke
- Skin blanching (skin remains white or pale for longer than normal when pressed)
- Trembling or tremors
- Increased sweating
- Fluid build up in the lungs
- Serious heart and blood vessel problems including significantly high blood pressure, bulging blood vessels, spasms in the heart’s arteries, irregular heartbeats and heart attacks
Important Warnings
There are important safety considerations before using this medication.
Who Should Not Take Minims Phenylephrine Hydrochloride
Do not use if you are allergic to phenylephrine or any of the ingredients. Do not use the 10% strength in children or the elderly, as they may be more susceptible to the effects of phenylephrine.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Check with your doctor if you have: glaucoma (high pressure in the eye), asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, fast heart beat, hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland), arteriosclerosis (thickening or hardening of the arteries), heart disease, aneurysms (abnormal swelling of a blood vessel), eye redness, or if your eyes have a narrow drainage angle.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.
Children and Elderly: Children and the elderly may be more susceptible to the effects of phenylephrine. Do not use the 10% strength in these populations.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Minims Phenylephrine and affect how it works.
Tell your doctor: Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including vitamins or supplements bought without prescription.
- Medicines to lower blood pressure
- Medicines to treat depression
- Medicines to treat Parkinson’s disease
- Medicines to treat heart disease
- Halothane (a medicine that makes you sleep and not feel pain during surgery)
Alcohol & Driving
Be careful about activities requiring clear vision until you know how this medication affects you.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Minims Phenylephrine affects you. It may cause blurred vision for a short time or stinging when it is instilled into the eye. Allow enough time to regain clear vision before driving or using machines.
Storage
Keep the unopened eye drops in a refrigerator (2-8°C) where children cannot reach them. Do not freeze the eye drops or expose them to strong light. Discard each single dose unit immediately after use.
Overdose Information
Accidental swallowing of the solution is unlikely to cause any bad side effects due to the low content of phenylephrine. However, if you think that you or anyone else may have swallowed Minims Phenylephrine or used too much, immediately phone the Poisons Information Centre (in Australia phone 13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital, even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
The medication works to dilate your pupils for eye examination. Your doctor will assess when your pupils are sufficiently dilated for the examination to proceed.
Remove contact lenses before putting the drops in your eye. Wait at least 15 minutes before replacing your contact lenses after using the drops.
Some stinging is normal. Sometimes a drop of local anaesthetic may be used before the phenylephrine drops to help prevent this stinging effect.
Children can use the 2.5% solution only. The 10% strength should not be used in children as they may be more susceptible to the effects of phenylephrine.
If you have any irritation, pain, swelling, excessive tear production or light-sensitivity, flush the treated eye(s) with lots of room temperature water for at least 15 minutes. Stop using the drops and contact your doctor.
Each single dose unit should be discarded immediately after use – do not save unused contents. Keep unopened drops refrigerated at 2-8°C away from children.
Elderly patients should only use the 2.5% solution, not the 10% strength, as they may be more susceptible to the effects of phenylephrine.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.