Ilevro (Nepafenac): Uses, Dosage, Side Effects & Warnings

Uses

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE ILEVRO ® 0.3% is indicated for the treatment of pain and inflammation associated with cataract surgery. ILEVRO ® 0.3% is a nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory prodrug indicated for the treatment of pain and inflammation associated with cataract surgery ( 1 ).

Dosage and administration

One drop of ILEVRO ® 0.3% should be applied to the affected eye one-time-daily beginning 1 day prior to cataract surgery, continued on the day of surgery and through the first 2 weeks of the postoperative period. An additional drop should be administered 30 to 120 minutes prior to surgery. ( 2 ) 2.1 Recommended Dosing One drop of ILEVRO ® 0.3% should be applied to the affected eye one time daily beginning 1 day prior to cataract surgery, continued on the day of surgery and through the first 2 weeks of the postoperative period. An additional drop should be administered 30 to 120 minutes prior to surgery. 2.2 Use with Other Topical Ophthalmic Medications ILEVRO ® 0.3% may be administered in conjunction with other topical ophthalmic medications such as beta-blockers, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, alpha-agonists, cycloplegics, and mydriatics. If more than one topical ophthalmic medication is being used, the medicines must be administered at least 5 minutes apart.

Dosage forms and strengths

Sterile ophthalmic suspension 0.3%: 1.7 mL in a 4 mL bottle and 3 mL in a 4 mL bottle. Sterile ophthalmic suspension 0.3%: 3 mL in a 4 mL bottle. ( 3 )

Contraindications

4 CONTRAINDICATIONS ILEVRO ® 0.3% is contraindicated in patients with previously demonstrated hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients in the formula or to other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients in the formula or to other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). ( 4 )

Warnings and precautions

Increased bleeding time due to interference with thrombocyte aggregation ( 5.1 ) Delayed healing ( 5.2 ) Corneal effects including keratitis ( 5.3 ) 5.1 Increased Bleeding Time With some NSAIDs including ILEVRO ® 0.3%, there exists the potential for increased bleeding time due to interference with thrombocyte aggregation. There have been reports that ocularly applied nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may cause increased bleeding of ocular tissues (including hyphema) in conjunction with ocular surgery. It is recommended that ILEVRO ® 0.3% be used with caution in patients with known bleeding tendencies or who are receiving other medications which may prolong bleeding time. 5.2 Delayed Healing Topical NSAIDs including ILEVRO ® 0.3%, may slow or delay healing. Topical corticosteroids are also known to slow or delay healing. Concomitant use of topical NSAIDs and topical steroids may increase the potential for healing problems. 5.3 Corneal Effects Use of topical NSAIDs may result in keratitis. In some susceptible patients, continued use of topical NSAIDs may result in epithelial breakdown, corneal thinning, corneal erosion, corneal ulceration, or corneal perforation. These events may be sight threatening. Patients with evidence of corneal epithelial breakdown should immediately discontinue use of topical NSAIDs including ILEVRO ® 0.3% and should be closely monitored for corneal health. Postmarketing experience with topical NSAIDs suggests that patients with complicated ocular surgeries, corneal denervation, corneal epithelial defects, diabetes mellitus, ocular surface diseases (e.g., dry eye syndrome), rheumatoid arthritis, or repeat ocular surgeries within a short period of time may be at increased risk for corneal adverse events, which may become sight threatening. Topical NSAIDs should be used with caution in these patients. Postmarketing experience with topical NSAIDs also suggests that use more than 1 day prior to surgery or use beyond 14 days post-surgery may increase patient risk and severity of corneal adverse events. 5.4 Contact Lens Wear ILEVRO ® 0.3% should not be administered while using contact lenses.

Side effects

Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to the rates in the clinical studies of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Most common adverse reactions (5% to 10%) are capsular opacity, decreased visual acuity, foreign body sensation, increased intraocular pressure, and sticky sensation. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Harrow Eye, LLC at 1-833-4HARROW or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . 6.1 Serious and Otherwise Important Adverse Reactions The following adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of labeling. Increased Bleeding Time [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Delayed Healing [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Corneal Effects [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] 6.2 Ocular Adverse Reactions The most frequently reported ocular adverse reactions following cataract surgery were capsular opacity, decreased visual acuity, foreign body sensation, increased intraocular pressure (IOP), and sticky sensation. These reactions occurred in approximately 5% to 10% of patients. Other ocular adverse reactions occurring at an incidence of approximately 1% to 5% included conjunctival edema, corneal edema, dry eye, lid margin crusting, ocular discomfort, ocular hyperemia, ocular pain, ocular pruritus, photophobia, tearing, and vitreous detachment. Some of these reactions may be the consequence of the cataract surgical procedure. 6.3 Non-Ocular Adverse Reactions Non-ocular adverse reactions reported at an incidence of 1% to 4% included headache, hypertension, nausea/vomiting, and sinusitis.

Use in specific populations

8.1 Pregnancy Teratogenic Effects. Pregnancy Category C: Reproduction studies performed with nepafenac in rabbits and rats at oral doses up to 10 mg/kg/day have revealed no evidence of teratogenicity due to nepafenac, despite the induction of maternal toxicity. At this dose, the animal plasma exposure to nepafenac and amfenac was approximately 70 and 630 times human plasma exposure at the recommended human topical ophthalmic dose for rats and 20 and 180 times human plasma exposure for rabbits, respectively. In rats, maternally toxic doses greater than or equal to 10 mg/kg were associated with dystocia, increased postimplantation loss, reduced fetal weights and growth, and reduced fetal survival. Nepafenac has been shown to cross the placental barrier in rats. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, ILEVRO ® 0.3% should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Non-teratogenic Effects Because of the known effects of prostaglandin biosynthesis inhibiting drugs on the fetal cardiovascular system (closure of the ductus arteriosus), the use of ILEVRO ® 0.3% during late pregnancy should be avoided. 8.3 Nursing Mothers Nepafenac is excreted in the milk of lactating rats. It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when ILEVRO ® 0.3% is administered to a nursing woman. 8.4 Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of ILEVRO ® 0.3% in pediatric patients below the age of 10 years have not been established. 8.5 Geriatric Use No overall differences in safety and effectiveness have been observed between elderly and younger patients.

Pregnancy

8.1 Pregnancy Teratogenic Effects. Pregnancy Category C: Reproduction studies performed with nepafenac in rabbits and rats at oral doses up to 10 mg/kg/day have revealed no evidence of teratogenicity due to nepafenac, despite the induction of maternal toxicity. At this dose, the animal plasma exposure to nepafenac and amfenac was approximately 70 and 630 times human plasma exposure at the recommended human topical ophthalmic dose for rats and 20 and 180 times human plasma exposure for rabbits, respectively. In rats, maternally toxic doses greater than or equal to 10 mg/kg were associated with dystocia, increased postimplantation loss, reduced fetal weights and growth, and reduced fetal survival. Nepafenac has been shown to cross the placental barrier in rats. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, ILEVRO ® 0.3% should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Non-teratogenic Effects Because of the known effects of prostaglandin biosynthesis inhibiting drugs on the fetal cardiovascular system (closure of the ductus arteriosus), the use of ILEVRO ® 0.3% during late pregnancy should be avoided.

Pediatric use

8.4 Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of ILEVRO ® 0.3% in pediatric patients below the age of 10 years have not been established.

Geriatric use

8.5 Geriatric Use No overall differences in safety and effectiveness have been observed between elderly and younger patients.

Description

11 DESCRIPTION ILEVRO ® 0.3% is a sterile, topical, NSAID prodrug for ophthalmic use. Each mL of ILEVRO ® 0.3% contains 3 mg of nepafenac. Nepafenac is designated chemically as 2-amino-3-benzoylbenzeneacetamide with an empirical formula of C 15 H 14 N 2 O 2 . The structural formula of nepafenac is: Nepafenac is a yellow crystalline powder. The molecular weight of nepafenac is 254.28 g/mol. ILEVRO ® 0.3% is supplied as a sterile, aqueous suspension with a pH approximately of 6.8. The osmolality of ILEVRO ® 0.3% is approximately 300 mOsm/kg. Each mL of ILEVRO ® 0.3% contains: Active: nepafenac 0.3%. Inactives: boric acid, propylene glycol, carbomer 974P, sodium chloride, guar gum, carboxymethylcellulose sodium, edetate disodium, benzalkonium chloride 0.005% (preservative), sodium hydroxide and/or hydrochloric acid to adjust pH and purified water, USP. structural formula of nepafenac

Mechanism of action

12.1 Mechanism of Action After topical ocular dosing, nepafenac penetrates the cornea and is converted by ocular tissue hydrolases to amfenac, a NSAID. Nepafenac and amfenac are thought to inhibit the action of prostaglandin H synthase (cyclooxygenase), an enzyme required for prostaglandin production.

How supplied

16 HOW SUPPLIED/STORAGE AND HANDLING ILEVRO ® 0.3% is supplied in a white, oval, low density polyethylene dispenser with a natural low density polyethylene dispensing plug and gray polypropylene cap. 3 mL in 4 mL bottle NDC 82667-400-03 Storage: Store at 2°C to 25°C (36°F to 77°F). Protect from light.

Patient information

Slow or Delayed Healing Inform the patient of the possibility that slow or delayed healing may occur while using NSAIDs [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] . Avoiding Contamination of the Product Instruct the patient to avoid allowing the tip of the dispensing container to contact the eye or surrounding structures because this could cause the tip to become contaminated by common bacteria known to cause ocular infections. Serious damage to the eye and subsequent loss of vision may result from using contaminated solutions. Use of the same bottle for both eyes is not recommended with topical eye drops that are used in association with surgery. Contact Lens Wear ILEVRO ® 0.3% should not be administered while wearing contact lenses [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] . Intercurrent Ocular Conditions Advise the patient that if they develop an intercurrent ocular condition (e.g., trauma, or infection) or have ocular surgery, they should immediately seek their physician’s advice concerning the continued use of the multi-dose container [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] . Concomitant Topical Ocular Therapy If more than one topical ophthalmic medication is being used, the medicines must be administered at least 5 minutes apart [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) ] . Shake Well Before Use Patients should be instructed to shake well before each use [see Dosage and Administration (2.1) ] .

Active ingredients

Nepafenac in 2 products

Ilevro NDC products (2)

NDC	Strength & form	Labeler	Type
82667-400	Nepafenac 3 mg/mL Suspension/ Drops	Harrow Eye, LLC	NDA
0078-0743	Nepafenac 3 mg/mL Suspension/ Drops	Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation	NDA

Frequently asked questions

What is Ilevro used for?

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE ILEVRO ® 0.3% is indicated for the treatment of pain and inflammation associated with cataract surgery. ILEVRO ® 0.3% is a nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory prodrug indicated for the treatment of pain and inflammation associated with cataract surgery ( 1 ).

What are the side effects of Ilevro?

Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to the rates in the clinical studies of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Most common adverse reactions (5% to 10%) are capsular opacity, decreased visual acuity, foreign body sensation, increased… See the full label for the complete list.

Who makes Ilevro?

Ilevro is listed by 2 labelers in the FDA NDC directory, including Harrow Eye, LLC, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.