Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For emedastine, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to emedastine. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as preservatives.

Pregnancy—Emedastine has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in animals have shown that emedastine, when given in very high doses to some types of animals, causes birth defects. Before using this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding—It is not known whether enough ophthalmic emedastine is absorbed by the body to pass into breast milk. However, be sure you have discussed the risks and benefits of the medicine with your doctor.

Children—Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of ophthalmic emedastine in children younger than 3 years of age with use in other age groups.

Older adults—Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of ophthalmic emedastine in the elderly with use in other age groups.