Warnings for Cystadrops
Included as part of the "PRECAUTIONS" Section
Precautions for Cystadrops
Contamination Of Tip And Solution
To minimize contaminating the dropper tip and solution, care should be taken not to touch the eyelids or surrounding areas with the dropper tip of the bottle. Keep bottle tightly closed when not in use.
Benign Intracranial Hypertension
There have been reports of benign intracranial hypertension (or pseudotumor cerebri) associated with oral cysteamine treatment that has resolved with the addition of diuretic therapy. There have also been reports associated with ophthalmic use of cysteamine; however, all of these patients were on concurrent oral cysteamine.
Contact Lens Use
CYSTADROPS contains benzalkonium chloride, which may be absorbed by soft contact lenses. Contact with soft contact lenses should be avoided. Contact lenses should be removed prior to application of solution and may be reinserted 15 minutes following its administration [see PATIENT INFORMATION].
Nonclinical Studies
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
Carcinogenesis
Cysteamine has not been tested for its carcinogenic potential in long-term animal studies.
Mutagenesis
Cysteamine was not mutagenic in the Ames test. It produced a negative response in an in vitro sister chromatid exchange assay in human lymphocytes but a positive response in a similar assay in hamster ovarian cells.
Impairment Of Fertility
Repeat breeding reproduction studies were conducted in male and female rats. Cysteamine was found to have no effect on fertility and reproductive performance at an oral dose of 75 mg/kg/day (480 times the recommended human ophthalmic dose based on body surface area). At an oral dose of 375 mg/kg/day (2,400 times the recommended human ophthalmic dose based on body surface area), it reduced the fertility of the adult rats and the survival of their offspring.
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Risk Summary
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of ophthalmic cysteamine in pregnant women to inform any drug associated risks. Oral administration of cysteamine to pregnant rats throughout the period of organogenesis was teratogenic at doses 240 to 960 times the recommended human ophthalmic dose (based on body surface area) [see Data]. CYSTADROPS should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively.
Data
Animal data
Teratology studies have been performed in rats at oral doses in the range of 37.5 mg/kg/day to 150 mg/kg/day (240 to 960 times the recommended human ophthalmic dose based on body surface area) and have shown cysteamine bitartrate to be teratogenic. Observed teratogenic findings were intrauterine death, cleft palate, kyphosis, heart ventricular septal defects, microcephaly, exencephaly, and growth deficits.
Lactation
Risk Summary
There is no information regarding the presence of cysteamine in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infants, or the effects on milk production. Cysteamine administered orally is present in milk of lactating rats. It is not known whether measurable levels of cysteamine would be present in maternal milk following topical ocular administration of CYSTADROPS. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for CYSTADROPS and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from CYSTADROPS or from the underlying maternal conditions.
Pediatric Use
The safety and effectiveness of CYSTADROPS has been established in pediatric patients. Use of CYSTADROPS is supported by adequate and well controlled trials in pediatric patients and additional experience supporting the safety of CYSTADROPS.
Geriatric Use
Clinical studies of CYSTADROPS did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients.
Renal Impairment
The effect of renal impairment on the pharmacokinetics of cysteamine following ophthalmic administration of cysteamine ophthalmic solution has not been evaluated. Clearance of cysteamine from the conjunctival sac of the eye is not dependent on renal function and the total systemic dose is negligible, so impaired renal function is unlikely to affect total body clearance.
The total daily ophthalmic dose is less than 4% of the recommended oral daily dose of cysteamine; thus, the systemic exposure following ophthalmic administration is expected to be negligible compared to oral administration.