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Trifluridine

Pronounced

"try-FLEWR-ih-deen"

Common brand names:

Viroptic

Uses

This medication is used to treat herpes infection of the eye. Herpes is a virus that lives in the body quietly until an outbreak is triggered. Trifluridine is not a cure for the infection, but treatment of an outbreak can speed up the healing of the sores/swelling in the eye and lower the risk of complications (such as vision loss).

Other Uses

This section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional.

This drug may also be used for other eye infections caused by viruses (such as vaccinia virus infections).

How to Use This Medication

Use this medication in the affected eye(s) as directed by your doctor, usually every 2 hours while awake until the eye has healed.

To apply eye drops, wash your hands first. To avoid contamination, do not touch the dropper tip or let it touch your eye or any other surface.

Tilt your head back, look up, and pull down the lower eyelid to make a pouch. Hold the dropper directly over your eye and place 1 drop into the pouch as directed by your doctor. Look down and gently close your eyes for 1 to 2 minutes. Place one finger at the corner of your eye (near the nose) and press gently. This will prevent the medication from draining out. Try not to blink and do not rub your eye. Repeat these steps for your other eye if so directed.

Do not rinse the dropper. Replace the dropper cap after each use.

Do not use more than 9 drops into the eye in a 24-hour period. After healing, use this medication for another 7 days, usually every 4 hours while awake (at least 5 drops per day).

If you are using another kind of eye medication (such as drops or ointments), wait at least 5 to 10 minutes before applying other medications. Use eye drops before eye ointments to allow the drops to enter the eye.

Wait several minutes for your vision to clear before driving or operating machinery.

Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, use it at the same times each day. Keep using it for the full time prescribed. Stopping the medication too early may result in a return of the infection.

Do not use this medication more often or use longer than prescribed because doing so may increase the risk of side effects. This medication should not be used for more than 21 days at a time.

Tell your doctor if your condition worsens, does not improve after 7 days, or does not completely heal after 14 days.