What is Upneeq?
Upneeq is a prescription eye drop medication that is used to treat acquired blepharoptosis, which is a condition that causes drooping of the upper eyelid due to weakness of the muscle responsible for lifting it. Upneeq contains the active ingredient oxymetazoline, which works by constricting the muscles in the eyelid to temporarily lift and improve the appearance of the eyelid. This medication is typically applied once daily to the affected eye(s) and is intended for short-term use. Upneeq is a relatively new medication that was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2020.
INDICATION
UPNEEQ ® (oxymetazoline hydrochloride ophthalmic solution), 0.1% is indicated for the treatment of acquired blepharoptosis in adults.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
- Ptosis may be associated with neurologic or orbital diseases such as stroke and/or cerebral aneurysm, Horner syndrome, myasthenia gravis, external ophthalmoplegia, orbital infection and orbital masses. Consideration should be given to these conditions in the presence of ptosis with decreased levator muscle function and/or other neurologic signs.
- Alpha-adrenergic agonists as a class may impact blood pressure. Advise UPNEEQ patients with cardiovascular disease, orthostatic hypotension, and/or uncontrolled hypertension or hypotension to seek medical care if their condition worsens.
- Use UPNEEQ with caution in patients with cerebral or coronary insufficiency or Sjögren’s syndrome. Advise patients to seek medical care if signs and symptoms of potentiation of vascular insufficiency develop.
- UPNEEQ may increase the risk of angle closure glaucoma in patients with untreated narrow-angle glaucoma. Advise patients to seek immediate medical care if signs and symptoms of acute narrow-angle glaucoma develop.
- Patients should not touch the tip of the single patient-use container to their eye or to any surface, in order to avoid eye injury or contamination of the solution.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
Adverse reactions that occurred in 1-5% of subjects treated with UPNEEQ were punctate keratitis, conjunctival hyperemia, dry eye, blurred vision, instillation site pain, eye irritation and headache.
DRUG INTERACTIONS
- Alpha-adrenergic agonists, as a class, may impact blood pressure. Caution in using drugs such as beta blockers, anti-hypertensives, and/or cardiac glycosides is advised. Caution should also be exercised in patients receiving alpha adrenergic receptor antagonists such as in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, or benign prostatic hypertrophy.
- Caution is advised in patients taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors which can affect the metabolism and uptake of circulating amines.
To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS or product complaints, contact RVL Pharmaceuticals at 1-877-482-3788. You may also report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.