Homatropine hydrobromide
Description
Homatropine hydrobromide is a medicine used to widen the pupil before an eye examination or eye surgery. It is also used to treat uveitis, a condition that causes swelling in the middle layer of the eye. This medicine works by relaxing the muscles of your eyes, thus helping to dilate or widen your pupil (the black circular opening in the centre of the eye that allows light to enter the eye). It also helps reduce pain and swelling.
Homatropine hydrobromide shows common side effects such as dry mouth, stinging and burning sensation in the eyes, mild irritation, etc. These side effects usually subside with time. However, if they persist or worsen, consult your doctor for further assistance. Avoid driving vehicles or operating heavy machines while taking this medication as it can cause temporary blurring of vision and increased sensitivity to light.
Homatropine hydrobromide should be instilled as directed by your doctor. Avoid instilling more than the recommended dose. Wash your hand thoroughly before instilling the eye drop. Take off your contact lenses before administering the eye drop and wait for at least 15 to 20 before inserting them back. Close your eyes for one or two minutes after instilling the eye drop. Do not touch the tip of the eye drop with your hands or let it touch any other surface to avoid contamination.
Homatropine hydrobromide is not recommended if you are allergic to it or have glaucoma (increased pressure in the eyes due to fluid accumulation).
Homatropine hydrobromide should only be instilled during pregnancy and while breastfeeding after consulting your doctor due to the lack of safety information.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Homatropine hydrobromide
- Transient burning sensation of the eyes
- Transient stinging sensation of the eyes
- Increased sensitivity of the eyes to light
- Local irritation
- Increased thirst
- Dryness of mouth
Uses of Homatropine hydrobromide
What is it prescribed for?
- Refraction
- Uveitis
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe time taken by Homatropine hydrobromide to show its effect is not clinically established
- Duration of effectThe time duration for which Homatropine hydrobromide remains effective is not clinically established.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit-forming tendencies were reported for Homatropine hydrobromide.
- Usage in pregnancy?Homatropine hydrobromide Is not recommended for use during pregnancy unless clearly needed. Consult your doctor before using this medicine.
- Usage while breast-feeding?It is unknown if Homatropine hydrobromide passes into breastmilk. Hence, consult your doctor before using Homatropine hydrobromide if you are breastfeeding.
Allergy
Avoid using Homatropine hydrobromide if you are allergic to it. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulty, etc.
Glaucoma
Homatropine hydrobromide is not recommended if you have glaucoma (increased pressure in the eyes due to fluid accumulation). This medicine may further worsen your condition.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Homatropine hydrobromide Is not recommended for use during pregnancy unless clearly needed. Consult your doctor before using this medicine.
Breast-feeding
It is unknown if Homatropine hydrobromide passes into breastmilk. Hence, consult your doctor before using Homatropine hydrobromide if you are breastfeeding.
General warnings
Other medicines
Homatropine hydrobromide may interact with many other ophthalmic medicines and cause undesired effects. Hence, it is advised that you inform the doctor about all your current medicines before beginning treatment with Homatropine hydrobromide.
Driving vehicles or operating heavy machines
Avoid driving vehicles or operating heavy machines immediately after instilling Homatropine hydrobromide, as it can cause temporary blurring of vision and increased sensitivity to light.
Photosensitivity of eyes
Homatropine hydrobromide may make your eyes more sensitive to light. It is advised to protect your eyes from bright lights and use appropriate precautionary measures while going outdoors during the daytime.
Use in children
Homatropine hydrobromide is not recommended for use in infants less than three months of age as the safety and efficacy data are not clinically established.
Belladonna poisoning
Excessive use of Homatropine hydrobromide may cause systemic symptoms of homatropine poisoning (such as flushing and dryness of the skin, blurred vision, a rapid and irregular pulse, fever, etc.) if you are allergic to belladonna alkaloids (atropine, hyoscyamine, scopolamine, etc.). Appropriate precautions should be taken to prevent swallowing the medicine to reduce this risk.
Down's syndrome
Homatropine hydrobromide should be used with caution if you have Down’s syndrome (a genetic disorder leading to abnormal physical development and intellectual disability) due to the increased risk of undesired effects.
Keratoconus
Homatropine hydrobromide should be used with caution if you have keratoconus (a condition where the cornea gets thin and bulges outside of the eye) due to the increased risk of fixed dilatied pupil (the black circular opening that allows light to enter the eye). Your doctor may recommend appropriate corrective measures, dose adjustments, or replacements with a suitable alternative based on the clinical condition.
Use in the elderly
Homatropine hydrobromide should be used with caution in the elderly due to the increased risk of undesired effects.
Missed Dose
Before an eye examination or eye surgery: As Homatropine hydrobromide is usually given prior to eye procedures by healthcare professionals, the likelihood of missing a dose is very low.
For Uveitis: Administer the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not instill a double dose to make up for the missed one.
Overdose
Before an eye examination or eye surgery: As this medicine is administered in the clinic or hospital setting under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional, the likelihood of an overdose is very low. However, emergency medical treatment will be initiated by the doctor if an overdose is suspected.
For Uveitis: Do not instill more than the recommended dose of Homatropine hydrobromide. Seek emergency medical treatment in case of an overdose.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Phenylephrine
Pilocarpine (Ophthalmic)
Carbachol (Ophthalmic)
Acetylcholine (Ophthalmic)
Disease interactions
Disease
Information not available.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
If Homatropine hydrobromide is used for refraction (eye examination) or before eye surgery, it is usually administered in a hospital setting by a qualified healthcare professional.
For uveitis, use this medicine exactly as prescribed. Do not administer in larger or smaller amounts than prescribed. Consult the doctor if you experience any undesirable effects that persist or worsen.
Wash your hand thoroughly before instilling the eye drop. Remove your contact lenses before administering the eye drop and wait for at least 15 to 20 before inserting them back.
Close your eyes for one or two minutes after instilling the eye drop. Keep your fingers away from the tip of the eye drop to avoid any contamination.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Homatropine hydrobromide works by relaxing the muscles of your eyes, thus helping to dilate or widen your pupil (the black circular opening in the centre of the eye that allows light to enter the eye). It also helps reduce pain and swelling.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Mydriatics
Schedule
Schedule H
Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2022. Homatropine Hydrobromide Ophthalmic Solution, USP. [online] Available at: [Accessed 21 July 2022].
Hospitals, M., 2022. Homatropine | Side Effects | Dosage | Precautions | Medicine. [online] Medicoverhospitals.in. Available at: [Accessed 21 July 2022].
Information on this page was last updated on 29 Jul 2022
Disclaimer
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