Exopred

Exopred Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Food Interaction and all others data.

Benzalkonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium antiseptic and disinfectant. It is also used as an antimicrobial preservative for pharmaceutical products. It is also used for the disinfection of rigid contact lenses.

Benzalkonium chloride solutions are generally categorized as biocidal agents with relative long durations of action. Their spectrum of activity has been demonstrated against bacteria, to some viruses, fungi, and protozoa , although bacterial spores are treated as being resistant to the agent. Additionally, the agent generally shows more activity against gram-positive than gram-negative bacteria . Finally, solutions of benzalkonium chloride are bacteriostatic or bactericidal based on their concentration. Bacteriostatic agents act to prevent further growth of bacterial organisms that are present while bactericidal agents function to kill bacteria that are present . In general, the activity of the agent is not largely affected by pH, but such activity does increase substantially at higher temperatures and prolonged exposure times.

Ofloxacin is a synthetic 4-fluoroquinolone antibacterial agent with bactericidal activity against a wide range of Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms. Ofloxacin is thought to exert bactericidal effect by inhibiting DNA gyrase, an essential enzyme that is a critical catalyst in the duplication, transcription and repair of bacterial DNA.

Ofloxacin is a quinolone/fluoroquinolone antibiotic. Ofloxacin is bactericidal and its mode of action depends on blocking of bacterial DNA replication by binding itself to an enzyme called DNA gyrase, which allows the untwisting required to replicate one DNA double helix into two. Notably the drug has 100 times higher affinity for bacterial DNA gyrase than for mammalian. Ofloxacin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Prednisolone is a glucocorticoid similar to cortisol used for its anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, anti-neoplastic, and vasoconstrictive effects.

Prednisolone was granted FDA approval on 21 June 1955.

Corticosteroids bind to the glucocorticoid receptor, inhibiting pro-inflammatory signals, and promoting anti-inflammatory signals. Prednisolone has a short duration of action as the half life is 2.1-3.5 hours. Corticosteroids have a wide therapeutic window as patients make require doses that are multiples of what the body naturally produces. Patients taking corticosteroids should be counselled regarding the risk of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression and increased susceptibility to infections.

Trade Name Exopred
Generic Benzalkonium + Ofloxacin + Prednisolone
Type Eye Drops
Therapeutic Class
Manufacturer Allergan India Pvt Ltd
Available Country India
Last Updated: September 19, 2023 at 7:00 am
Exopred
Exopred

Uses

Higher concentrations of Benzalkonium chloride is used as an antiseptic and disinfectant. This is also widely used as a preservative in eye-drops.

Ofloxacin Eye: It is used for the treatment of external ocular infections such as acute & sub-acute conjunctivitis, keratitis, kerato-conjunctivitis, blepharo-conjunctivitis, blepharitis, corneal ulcer and pre-operative prophylaxis in ocular surgery.

Ofloxacin Ear: It is used for the treatment of external ear infections (otitis externa) and certain middle ear infections (otitis media).

Ofloxacin Oral/Injection are used for the treatment of adults with mild to moderate infections caused by susceptible strains.

  • Lower Respiratory Tract: Acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis lung abscess, pneumonia.
  • Gastrointestinal Tract: Enteric fever, shigellosis.
  • Multi-drug-resistant Tuberculosis.
  • Skin and skin structures: Uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections.
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Acute, Uncomplicated urethral and cervical gonorrhoea. Nongonococcal urethritis and cervicitis. Mixed infections of the urethra and cervix.
  • Urinary tract: Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections, Complicated urinary tract infections.

Prednisolone is a glucocorticoid used to treat adrenocortical insufficiency, inflammatory conditions, and some cancers.

Prednisolone is indicated to treat endocrine, rheumatic, and hematologic disorders; collagen, dermatologic, ophthalmic, respiratory, and gastrointestinal diseases; allergic and edematous states; and other conditions like tuberculous meningitis.

Exopred is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Diaper Dermatitis, Dry Eye Syndrome (DES), Eye and eyelid infections, Gingivitis, Hemorrhoids, Infantile Eczema, Mouth irritation, Pruritus Ani, Tonsillitis, Throat inflammation, Antisepsis, Disinfection therapy, Eye disinfection, Eye lubrication, Hand Hygiene, Skin disinfection, Wound treatmentAcute Bacterial Exacerbation of Chronic Bronchitis (ABECB), Acute Otitis Media, Bacterial Infections, Cervicitis, Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP), Complicated Urinary Tract Infection, Conjunctivitis, Epididymitis, Hansen's Disease, Nongonococcal urethritis, Otitis Externa, Prostatitis, Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Bacterial Infections, Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis (SBP), Traveler's Diarrhea, Ulcerative keratitis, Acute Pelvic inflammatory disease, Acute, uncomplicated Gonorrhea, Chronic suppurative Otitis media, Uncomplicated CystitisAcne Rosacea, Acute Gouty Arthritis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis, Allergic Contact Dermatitis, Allergic corneal marginal ulcers, Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic, Anal Fissures, Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), Aspiration Pneumonitis, Atopic Dermatitis (AD), Bell's Palsy, Berylliosis, Bullous dermatitis herpetiformis, Burns, Chorioretinitis, Choroiditis, Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease Exacerbated, Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH), Congenital Hypoplastic Anemia, Conjunctivitis, Corneal Inflammation, Corneal injuries, Corneal ulceration, Crohn's Disease (CD), Cyclitis, Dermatitis exfoliative generalised, Dermatitis, Contact, Dermatomyositis, Dermatosis of the Ear Canal, Drug hypersensitivity reaction, Edema of the cerebrum, Epicondylitis, Erythroblastopenia, Exacerbation of asthma, Eye inflammation caused by Cataract Surgery, Eye inflammation caused by Infection, Herpes Zoster Keratitis, Hot Water Burns (Scalds), Hypercalcemia of Malignancy, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, Inflamed External Hemorrhoid, Inflamed Hemorrhoids, Internal, Inflammatory Reaction caused by susceptible Bacterial Infections, Iridocyclitis, Iritis, Itching caused by susceptible Bacterial Infections, Leukemia, Acute, Loeffler's syndrome, Malignant Lymphomas, Multiple sclerosis exacerbation, Mycosis Fungoides (MF), Ocular Inflammation, Ophthalmia, Sympathetic, Optic Neuritis, Otic Eczema, Pemphigus, Perennial Allergic Rhinitis (PAR), Pericarditis, Pneumocystis Jirovecii Pneumonia, Pneumonia, Aspiration, Polymyalgia Rheumatica, Post-traumatic Osteoarthritis, Proctitis, Proteinuria, Pruritus, Pruritus Ani, Psoriatic Arthritis, Pulmonary Tuberculosis (TB), Pure Red Cell Aplasia, Rash, Rejection, Transplant, Relapsing Polychondritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Juvenile, Seasonal Allergic Conjunctivitis, Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis, Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency, Secondary thrombocytopenia, Serum Sickness, Severe Asthma, Sjögren's Syndrome, Skin Infections, Bacterial, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, Superficial punctate keratitis, Synovitis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Trichinosis, Tuberculosis (TB), Tuberculous Meningitis, Ulcerative Colitis, Uveitis, Vasculitis, Acquired immune hemolytic anemia, Acute Bursitis, Acute Rheumatic heart disease, unspecified, Acute Tenosynovitis, Allergic skin manifestations, Anal eczema, Exfoliative erythroderma, Idiopathic Bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia, Idiopathic eosinophilic pneumonias, Non-suppurative Thyroiditis, Primary adrenocoritical insufficiency, Severe Psoriasis, Severe Seborrhoeic dermatitis, Severe alcoholic liver disease, Steroid-responsive inflammation of the eye, Subacute Bursitis, Susceptible Bacterial Infections, Symptomatic Sarcoidosis, Varicella-zoster virus acute retinal necrosis

How Exopred works

Although not entirely elucidated, the bactericidal action of benzalkonium chloride is believed to be due to the disruption of intermolecular interactions. Such disruption can cause the dissociation of cellular membrane lipid bilayers of bacteria, resulting in compromised cellular permeability control and the leakage of important cellular contents. Additionally, other important molecular complexes like enzymes which control the maintenance of a great range of respiratory and metabolic cellular activities, are also susceptible to such deactivation. Consequently, a variety of critical intermolecular interactions and tertiary structures in very highly specific biochemical systems that allow bacterial agents to function normally can be readily disrupted or deactivated by cationic surfactants like benzalkonium chloride. .

Ofloxacin acts on DNA gyrase and toposiomerase IV, enzymes which, like human topoisomerase, prevents the excessive supercoiling of DNA during replication or transcription. By inhibiting their function, the drug thereby inhibits normal cell division.

The short term effects of corticosteroids are decreased vasodilation and permeability of capillaries, as well as decreased leukocyte migration to sites of inflammation. Corticosteroids binding to the glucocorticoid receptor mediates changes in gene expression that lead to multiple downstream effects over hours to days.

Glucocorticoids inhibit neutrophil apoptosis and demargination; they inhibit phospholipase A2, which decreases the formation of arachidonic acid derivatives; they inhibit NF-Kappa B and other inflammatory transcription factors; they promote anti-inflammatory genes like interleukin-10.

Lower doses of corticosteroids provide an anti-inflammatory effect, while higher doses are immunosuppressive. High doses of glucocorticoids for an extended period bind to the mineralocorticoid receptor, raising sodium levels and decreasing potassium levels.

Dosage

Exopred dosage

  • Tincture of benzalkonium chloride 1:750 is used for the preoperative disinfection of unbroken skin or treatment of superficial injuries.
  • For preoperative disinfection of mucous membranes and denuded skin, benzalkonium chloride solution in concentrations of 1:10000 to 1:2000 is used.
  • For irrigation of the eye, a solution of 1:10000 to 1:5000 is used.
  • For urinary bladder and urethral irrigation, a solution 1:5000 to 1:20000 is used.
  • For vaginal douche and irrigation, benzalkonium chloride solution 1:5000 to 1:20000.

Ofloxacin Eye: Instill 1 drop in the affected eye(s) every 2 to 4 hours for the first two days and then 4 times daily. The length of treatment should not exceed ten days.

Ofloxacin Ear: Instill 1-2 drops in the affected ear(s) twice daily or as needed.

Ofloxacin Intravenous (Adult):

  • Skin and soft tissue infections: 400 mg bid infused over at least 1 hr.
  • Complicated urinary tract infections: 200 mg daily by infusion over at least 30 min. Max: 400 mg bid infused over at least 1 hr.
  • Lower respiratory tract infections, Septicaemia: 200 mg bid by infusion over at least 30 min. Max: 400 mg bid infused over at least 1 hr.

Ofloxacin Oral (Adult):

General dosage recommendations: The dose of ofloxacin is determined by the type and severity of the infection. The dosage range for adults is 200 mg to 800 mg daily. Up to 400 mg may be given as a single dose, preferably in the morning, larger doses should be given as two divided doses. Ofloxacin tablets should be swallowed with liquid; they should not be taken within two hours of intake of magnesium/aluminium containing antacids or iron preparations since reduction of absorption of ofloxacin can occur.

  • Enteric fever: For adults 200 mg, every 12 hours, for 5 days. For children 15 mg/kg/day in 2 divided doses for 3 days.
  • Shigellosis: 400 mg single dose.
  • Multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis: 400 mg twice daily along with conventional anti-tuberculosis drugs.
  • Lower respiratory tract infection: 400 mg daily, increasing, if necessary, to 400 mg twice daily.
  • Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections: A single dose of 200/400 mg.
  • Uncomplicated urethral and cervical gonorrhoea: A single dose of 400 mg.
  • Non-gonococcal urethral and cervicitis: 400 mg daily in single or divided doses.
  • Complicated Urinary Tract Infection: 200/400 mg/day for 7 days.

Children: Ofloxacin is usually not indicated for use in children or growing adolescents.

Elderly: No adjustment of dosage is required in the elderly.

May be taken with or without food. Avoid antacids or supplements containing Fe or Zn within 2 hr before or after ofloxacin. Ensure adequate hydration.

Side Effects

Repeated application may cause hypersensitivity reactions. May cause nausea and vomiting if ingested.

Ofloxacin Eye: Transient ocular irritation, burning, stinging, redness, itching or photophobia have been reported.

Ofloxacin Ear: Mild irritation or mild discomfort in the ear may occur. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash, itching, swelling or trouble breathing.

Ofloxacin tablet or injection is generally well tolerated and clinical side-effects of ofloxacin has been quite low. Among the adverse effects gastrointestinal and central nervous systems' reactions are common. Nausea, rash, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and gastrointestinal distress are the gastrointestinal adverse effects. Common central nervous system reactions are headache, dizziness and insomnia.

Toxicity

An oral dose of 100-400 mg/kg or a parenteral dose of 5-15 mg/kg is believed to be fatal in humans .

A potential concern for larger concentrations of benzalkonium chloride to possibly cause corneal damage when implemented as an excipient ingredient in aqueous eye products is an issue that should be discussed between potential patents and their health care providers . Since decreased regular blinking and tear generation in patients experiencing dry eyes due to any number of eye conditions can result in reduced dilution of applied eye drops containing the benzalkonium chloride preservative , alternative options including benzalkonium chloride-free products should be considered.

Additionally, benzalkonium chloride has been reported to cause punctate keratopathy and/or toxic ulcerative keratopathy. In addition, benzalkonium chloride may cause eye irritation and is known to discolour soft contact lenses . There may also be the possibility of benzalkonium chloride containing eye drops to cause some stinging and pain .

There is the possibility of ototoxicity occurring when benzalkonium chloride containing ear drops are applied to the ear .

Benzalkonium chloride used as a preservative in nebulised solutions of anti-asthma drugs has been reported to cause dose-related bronchoconstriction especially in asthmatic patients and has been associated with the precipitation of respiratory arrest .

Despite the fairly widespread cutaneous use of benzalkonium chloride, only limited human evidence of sensitization in relatively small populations of individuals have been reported . Nevertheless, the main adverse effect for topical formulations of benzalkonium chloride is usually the warning 'may cause local irritation' .

LD50=5450 mg/kg (orally in mice)

The intraperitoneal LD50 in rats is 2g/kg and 65mg/kg in mice. The subcutaneous LD50 in rats is 147mg/kg and >3500mg/kg in mice. The oral LD50 in mice is 1680mg/kg. In humans, the oral TDLO in men is 9mg/kg/2W and in women is 14mg/kg/13D.

Patients experiencing an overdose of prednisolone may present with gastrointestinal disturbances, insomnia, and restlessness. Overdose of oral prednisolone may be treated by gastric lavage or inducing vomiting if the overdose was recent, as well as supportive and symptomatic therapy. Chronic overdosage may be treated by dose reduction or treating patients on alternate days. An overdose by the ophthalmic route is not expected to cause problems.

Precaution

Patients being treated with Ofloxacin should not expose themselves unnecessarily to strong sunlight and should avoid UV rays. Caution is recommended if the drug is to be used in psychotic patients or in-patients with a history of psychiatric disease.

Prolonged use of eye drops & ear drops may result in overgrowth of non-susceptible organisms and secondary infection respectively.

Interaction

Disinfectants containing quaternary ammonium salts should not be used for skin preparation before injections of viscoelastic solutions. Hyaluronic acid will precipitate in the presence of these salts.

Antacids containing magnesium, aluminium or calcium may decrease absorption of ofloxacin. Iron or Zinc may decrease oral absorption of ofloxacin.

Volume of Distribution

When applied as a topical antibacterial, antiseptic, disinfectant, or sanitizer it is believed that molecules of benzalkonium chloride are poorly absorbed (perhaps due to their large, positively charged nature ), especially considering expectations for such topical applications to keep their biocidal agents available for action at the topical level and to not be absorbed significantly beyond it.

When benzalkonium chloride is implemented as an excipient preservative ingredient in various eye, nose, and ear aqueous products, such products will always have other active pharmacological agents whose volume of distribution will be of greater importance. In these cases the excipients will only ever be present at the minimal levels necessary to maintain the integrity of the product substance.

Moreover, Benzalkonium chloride is currently listed as a Category III ingredient by the United States Food and Drug Administration . Ingredients are listed in the FDA Category III when the data available about them are insufficient to classify as safe and effective, requiring further testing to determine more formal details about elements like human pharmacokinetic studies, and studies on the ingredients' absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.

A 0.15mg/kg dose of prednisolone has a volume of distribution of 29.3L, while a 0.30mg/kg dose has a volume of distribution of 44.2L.

Elimination Route

Percutaneous absorption is considered to be insignificant .

In one study, benzalkonium chloride absorption was evaluated in women using tampons containing the agent. Venous blood samples were drawn 15 minutes before the tampon application and then again at 15 min, 1 h, 3 h, and 24 h after application. Benzalkonium chloride was not detected in any of the blood samples at any time tested.

Similarly, in another study, benzalkonium chloride absorption was tested in women using tampons containing the agent. Venous blood and breast milk samples were taken 15 minutes before application and 3 h and 24 h after tampon administration. Benzalkonium chloride was not found in any of the subjects' samples. .

Moreover, in a study where benzalkonium chloride solution was placed on the corneal surface of rabbit subjects, at various intervals after administration, the rabbits' eyes would be washed with 1 mL saline and the following tissues and fluids were removed: bulbar and palpebral conjunctiva, aqueous humour, corneal epithelium, endothelium and stroma, iris-ciliary body, lens, vitreous, retina, and choroid. Plasma samples were obtained with direct cardiac punctures. After administration of one drop, benzalkonium chloride was found in the corneal epithelium, endothelium, and stroma, and in the bulbar and palpebral conjunctivae. Benzalkonium chloride loss from ocular tissues was such that about one-third to two thirds of its concentration (depending on the tissue) at 30 min remained after 24 hr; measurable values existed for as long as 120 hr. The administration of multiple drops led to continued accumulation of benzalkonium chloride. .

Bioavailability of ofloxacin in the tablet formulation is approximately 98%

Oral prednisolone reaches a Cmax of 113-1343ng/mL with a Tmax of 1.0-2.6 hours. Oral prednisolone is approximately 70% bioavailable.

Half Life

9 hours

Prednisolone has a plasma half life of 2.1-3.5 hours. This half life is shorter in children and longer in those with liver disease.

Clearance

A 0.15mg/kg dose of prednisolone has a clearance of 0.09L/kg/h, while a 0.30mg/kg dose has a clearance of 0.12L/kg/h.

Elimination Route

Administered benzalkonium chloride is likely eliminated largely in faeces, similar to other quaternary ammonium compounds .

Ofloxacin is mainly eliminated by renal excretion, where between 65% and 80% of an administered oral dose of ofloxacin is excreted unchanged via urine within 48 hours of dosing. About 4-8% of an ofloxacin dose is excreted in the feces and the drug is minimally subject to biliary excretion.

Prednisolone is over 98% eliminated in urine.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding use

Use in pregnancy: There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. This drug should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Use in lactation: It is not known whether Ofloxacin is excreted in human milk. Cautions should be taken when Ofloxacin eye & ear drops is administered during lactation.

Contraindication

Incompatible with soaps and other anionic surfactants, citrates, iodides, nitrates, permanganates, salicylates, silver salts, tartrates, and zinc oxide and sulfate.

It is contraindicated in patients who are hypersensitive to Ofloxacin or any other component of Ofloxacin (Eye/Ear Drops).

Ofloxacin tablet injection should not be used in-patients with known hypersensitivity to 4-fluoroquinolone antibacterials. It is contraindicated in-patients with a history of epilepsy or with a lowered seizure threshold. Ofloxacin is usually contraindicated in children or growing adolescents and in pregnant or breast feeding women.

Special Warning

Renal Impairment:

  • CrCl <20 and patients on haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis: 100 mg 24 hrly following usual initial dose.
  • CrCl 20-50: Reduce dose by half 24 hrly following usual initial dose.

Hepatic Impairment:Severe: Reduce dose. Max: 400 mg daily

Acute Overdose

Symptoms: Confusion, dizziness, impairment of consciousness, convulsive seizures, GI reactions (e.g. nausea, mucosal erosions).

Management: Symptomatic and supportive treatment. Remove any unabsorbed drug by gastric lavage or admin of adsorbants and Na sulfate. Antacids are recommended for protection of gastric mucosa. Elimination may be increased by forced diuresis.

Storage Condition

Keep below 30°C temperature, away from light & moisture. Keep out of the reach of children.

Store between 15-30° C. Protect from light.

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