Gentocin Durafilm Dailymed

Veterinary Indications Section

INDICATIONS GENTOCIN DURAFILM Ophthalmic Solution is indicated for the treatment of external eye infections and inflammation in dogs.

Clinical reports indicate it is useful for the management of some cases of pigmentary keratitis and pannus. Temporary remission of some of the pathological lesions of the aforementioned conditions have been noted following therapy with GENTOCIN DURAFILM Ophthalmic Solution.

Dosage & Administration Section

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION The topical application of GENTOCIN DURAFILM Ophthalmic Solution should, in each instance, be administered to meet the specific needs of the individual case. One or two drops of the solution may be instilled into the conjunctival sac three or four times a day. Thereafter, the frequency of the dosage may be reduced but care should be taken not to discontinue therapy prematurely. In chronic conditions, withdrawal of treatment should be carried out by gradually decreasing the frequency of application.

Contraindications Section

CONTRAINDICATIONS Corticosteroids are contraindicated in initial treatment of corneal ulcers.

GENTOCIN DURAFILM Ophthalmic Solution is contraindicated in ocular conditions where there is deep ulceration without vascularization and in conditions of viral origin before healing has commenced.

Warnings Section

WARNINGS Not for human use. Keep this and all drugs out of the reach of children. Clinical and experimental data have demonstrated that corticosteroids administered orally or parenterally to animals may induce the first stage of parturition when administered during the last trimester of pregnancy and may precipitate premature parturition followed by dystocia, fetal death, retained placenta, and metritis.

Additionally, corticosteroids administered to dogs, rabbits, and rodents during pregnancy have produced cleft palate. Other congenital anomalies including deformed forelegs, phocomelia, and anasarca have been reported in offspring of dogs which received corticosteroids during pregnancy.

Precautions Section

PRECAUTIONS The antibiotic sensitivity of the infective organism in bacterial conjunctivitis should be determined prior to the use of this preparation. The preparation is contraindicated in the case of nonsusceptible microorganisms. In deep-seated infections or when systemic infection threatens, specific systemic antibiotic or sulfonamide therapy should be employed.

Extended use of topical corticosteroids may cause increased intraocular pressure in susceptible patients. In prolonged therapy, it is advisable to measure intraocular pressure. In human medicine, in diseases that cause thinning of the cornea, perforation has been known to have occurred with the use of topical steroids.

Use of corticosteroids, depending on dose, duration, and specific steroid, may result in inhibition of endogenous steroid production following drug withdrawal. In patients presently receiving or recently withdrawn from systemic corticosteroid treatments, therapy with a rapidly acting corticosteroid should be considered in especially stressful situations.

Adverse Reactions Section

ADVERSE REACTIONS SAP and SGPT (ALT) enzyme elevations, polydipsia, and polyuria have occurred following parenteral or systemic use of synthetic corticosteroids in dogs. Vomiting and diarrhea (occasionally bloody) have been observed in dogs.

Cushing's syndrome in dogs has been reported in association with prolonged or repeated steroid therapy.

A transient stinging sensation, usually expressed as some form of resentment by the animal, following topical application of the drug, has been noted in a small number of cases. Usually this does not require discontinuance of therapy.

To report an adverse reaction, product-related problem, or human exposure, please call Merck Animal Health Technical Services at 1-800-224-5318.

To obtain a copy of the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), call 1-800-770-8878.

For additional information about adverse drug experience reporting for animal drugs, contact FDA at 1-888-FDA-VETS or http://www.fda.gov/reportanimalae

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY GENTOCIN DURAFILM Ophthalmic Solution incorporates polyoxyl 40 stearate and polyethoxy 35 castor oil which provide a colloidal dispersion of active ingredients. This aqueous colloidal solution offers specific advantages in treating eye conditions. DURAFILM covers the conjunctiva with a thin, clear, quickly spreading film which carries therapeutic components to accessible structures and maintains prolonged contact.

GENTOCIN DURAFILM Ophthalmic Solution provides the antibacterial properties of gentamicin sulfate plus the anti-inflammatory action of betamethasone acetate.

Gentamicin sulfate, a wide-spectrum antibiotic, is a highly effective topical treatment in primary and secondary bacterial infections of the eye and surrounding tissues. Gentamicin is bactericidal in vitro against a wide variety of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Concentrations of gentamicin sulfate required to inhibit growth of gram positive and gram-negative clinical and laboratory strains of bacteria tested were less than those of neomycin in most instances.^1. Gentamicin is active against most gram-negative bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, indole positive and negative Proteus species, Escherichia coli, Kiebsiella pneumoniae, Aerobacter aerogenes, and Neisseria. Gentamicin is also active against strains of gram-positive bacteria including Staphylococcus species and Group A Beta-Hemolytic Streptococci.

Betamethasone produces hormonal and metabolic effects common to all adrenocortical steroids, and in low dosage affords anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and anti-rheumatic effects. Studies in man show the glucocorticoid activity of betamethasone to be 10 to 15 times greater than prednisone. Betamethasone helps control excessive tissue reaction to infections, allergens, and trauma. The corticoids control the inflammatory and exudate phases of eye conditions, particularly those affecting the anterior chamber and external structure of the eye. However, they do not curtail the growth of the causative organisms. Betamethasone therapy may reduce the damaging sequelae in certain eye diseases and injuries as well as scarring and vascularization, and appears to alter the usual tissue response to injury. In initial acute phases of inflammation, local application of betamethasone provides prompt, symptomatic relief, accomplishing temporary control of the exudative phase, whether of bacterial, allergic, or traumatic origin.

Betamethasone also inhibits fibroblast formation during tissue repair.