Minims Phenylephrine Hydrochloride (Phenylephrine Hydrochloride)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Quick Facts
What Is Minims Phenylephrine Hydrochloride Used For?
Minims Phenylephrine is an eye drop medication that helps doctors examine your eyes more thoroughly by enlarging your pupils.
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
Minims Phenylephrine belongs to a class of medicines called sympathomimetic agents, which work by affecting the muscles in your eye to make the pupil larger.
Good to know: This medicine has been specifically developed for use in the eye only and should not be injected.
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How to Take Minims Phenylephrine Hydrochloride
Your doctor will normally put the drops into your eyes for you. If your doctor asks you to put in 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
1. Wash hands well with soap and water. 2. Shake the container. 3. Break the seal. 4. Hold container upside down between thumb and forefinger. 5. Pull down lower eyelid to form a pouch. 6. Tilt head back and look up. 7. Put tip close to lower eyelid without touching the eye. 8. Release required drops into the pouch. 9. Close eye without blinking or rubbing. 10. Press finger against inside corner of eye for about two minutes. 11. Repeat for other eye if needed. 12. Throw away any remaining drops. 13. Wait at least 15 minutes before replacing contact lenses.
Important: Remove contact lenses before putting drops in your eye and wait at least 15 minutes before replacing them.
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, breathing difficulty, 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 Minims Phenylephrine, especially for certain groups of people and medical conditions.
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: Do not use the 10% strength of Minims Phenylephrine in children or the elderly as they may be more susceptible to the effects.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Minims Phenylephrine and affect how it works. Tell your doctor about all medicines you are taking.
Check with your doctor: Tell your doctor about any medicines, vitamins or supplements you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
- 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 driving or using machinery 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 and any remaining solution in it immediately after use. Do not save unused contents.
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. The effect is usually immediate after administration, allowing your doctor to examine your eyes.
You must remove contact lenses before putting the drops in your eye and wait at least 15 minutes before replacing them.
If you have any irritation, pain, swelling, excessive tear production or light-sensitivity while using the eye drops, flush the treated eye(s) with lots of water (room temperature) for at least 15 minutes. Stop using the eye drops and contact your doctor.
Children can use the 2.5% solution with one drop to the eye(s). However, the 10% strength should not be used in children as they may be more susceptible to the effects of phenylephrine.
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.
Accidental swallowing is unlikely to cause bad side effects due to the low content of phenylephrine. However, if this happens, contact the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26 in Australia), your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
No, you should discard each single dose unit and any remaining solution immediately after use. Do not save unused contents.
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.