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Echothiophate
Brand Name: Phospholine Iodide
What is it?
Echothiophate is used to each the eyes. It is used to reduce the amount of pressure of the eye by helping to increase the amount of fluid that drains from the eye. It causes the pupil to become smaller and thus reduces its response to light and dark variations. It is also used to treat glaucoma by reducing the pressure inside the eye. In some rare instances, it is used to treat certain types of eye disorders.
How to take it?
Echothiophate needs to be prescribed by a doctor or ophthalmologist. It comes in the form of eye drops. A person must wash their hands before and after using the eye drops. An individual needs to tilt their head back and pull down their lower eyelid, position the dropper above the eye, and squeeze out a drop into the eye and close it. You then have to apply pressure to the inside corner of the eye, for a little bit of time, this way the liquid does not drain down near the tear duct.
Warnings and Precautions
If you are going to take this medication your doctor needs to know if you have a history of asthma, epilepsy, heart disease, high or low blood pressure, stomach ulcers, and any other eye problems.
There are some drugs that can possibly interact with this medication. If you are taking malathion, quinidine, oxybutynin, flavoxate, carbamazeprine, antipsychotics, antihistamines, antidepressants, anticholinergics, and methylphenidate, you need to advice your doctor before using this medication.
If you are pregnant, planning on becoming pregnant or breast-feeding you need to inform your doctor immediately as this medication could have a negative reaction to your unborn child.
You should avoid driving and using machinery while using this medication. It has a tendency to decrease an individual’s vision, thus making it dangerous for the person to drive and operate equipment.
The dropper should never touch any surface, and you should always keep your hands clean, if the dropper comes in contact with anything, it can cause an infection to your eyes.
You need to let your doctor know, if you have recently been exposed to pesticides or insecticides, as this could have a negative effect on your treatment.
What should you do if you miss a dose?
If you miss a dose, apply the missed dose it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, take that dose only. Do not take any extra doses.
What are the side effects?
There are some side effects that are serious and require medical attention and some that are less serious, but an individual should be aware of all of them. The common side effects include: burning, and stinging of the eyes, headaches, decreased vision, nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps. The side effects that might require immediate medical attention include: shortness of breath, swelling of the lips, face, or tongue, muscle weakness, irregular heart beat, difficulty breathing, and excessive sweating. Some of these side effects may disappear as your body becomes accustom to the medication, but if you experience them longer than a few days, you need to contact your doctor.
How to store this medication?
Echothiophate eye drops can be stored in the refrigerator for up to six months, but don’t allow the medication to freeze. Keep the bottle tightly closed and away from sunlight and heat. As with all medication, keep it out of the reach of children, and you never keep medication after its expiration date.
What does it look like?
Echothiophate are eye drops. An individual is usually told to take one dose a day, but in some cases more than one dose is recommended. The patient should only take the doses that are prescribed by their doctor, and never take more or less of the medication. Elderly and children are always told to start the drops once a day, and then a doctor determines if the drops need to be increase based on their response to the medication.
What if you overdose?
If you by chance take more than the recommend amount of these eye drops, first flush the eyes out with water, and then seek medical attention from your doctor or the emergency room.
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