Uses
What is bromfenac used for?
Bromfenac is commonly used to treat eye pain and inflammation from cataract surgery.
Bromfenac may also be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.
How does bromfenac work (mechanism of action)?
Bromfenac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It works by blocking certain substances that lead to inflammation, which helps to relieve swelling and pain in the eye.
How is bromfenac supplied (dosage forms)?
Bromfenac is available as BromSite, Prolensa, and generic bromfenac in the following dosage forms that are applied to the eye.
- 0.07% ophthalmic solution (eye drops)
- 0.075% ophthalmic solution (eye drops)
- 0.09% ophthalmic solution (eye drops)
How should I store bromfenac?
Bromfenac should be stored at room temperature, between 59 F to 77 F (15 C to 25 C).
Side Effects
What are the most common side effects of bromfenac?
The most common side effects of bromfenac are listed below. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.
- Abnormal feeling in your eye
- Eye redness
- Eye irritation, burning, stinging, pain, or discomfort
- Inflammation in certain areas of your eye
- Headache
- Seeing small spots (floaters) in your vision
- Feeling like there is something in your eye
- Sensitivity to light
- Blurry vision
- Increased pressure inside the eye
There may be other side effects of bromfenac that are not listed here. Contact your healthcare provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088. In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.
What are the serious side effects of bromfenac?
While less common, the most serious side effects of bromfenac are described below, along with what to do if they happen.
Severe Allergic Reactions. Bromfenac may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Stop using bromfenac and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.
- Breathing problems or wheezing
- Racing heart
- Fever or general ill feeling
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
- Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
- Itching, skin rash, or pale red bumps on the skin called hives
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
- Stomach cramps
- Joint pain
Bleeding. Bromfenac may raise the risk of bleeding in or around the eye, especially during eye surgery. Your risk may be higher if you have a bleeding disorder or take other medicines that increase the risk of bleeding. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you notice signs of bleeding including bruising or bleeding that takes a long time to stop.
Severe Eye Problems. Bromfenac may cause eye problems, such as thinning or inflammation of the cornea (keratitis). Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions carefully. Using bromfenac for more than a day before eye surgery or for more than 14 days after eye surgery could increase the risk or severity of corneal side effects. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms.
- Eye redness, itchiness, or pain
- Eyelid swelling
- Eye dryness, watering, or discharge
- Vision changes that do not go away, such as blurry vision or sensitivity to light
Warnings & Precautions
Who should not use bromfenac?
Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not use bromfenac.
- Bromfenac
- BromSite
- Prolensa
- Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed
Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific bromfenac products they stock.
What should I know about bromfenac before using it?
Do not use bromfenac unless it has been prescribed to you by a healthcare provider. Use it as prescribed.
Do not share bromfenac with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.
Keep bromfenac out of the reach of children.
Bromfenac is an eye drop medicine. Make sure that you or a caregiver understands how to properly administer eye drops. If you have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.
If you use more than one eye medicine, administer them at least 5 minutes apart. Ask your healthcare provider if you are unsure when to use your eye medicines.
Eye infections may occur if your bromfenac eye drop container gets contaminated with bacteria or other germs. In some cases, eye infections may become severe and lead to vision loss. To help prevent eye infections, be careful not to let the tip of the container touch your eye, fingers, or any other surfaces. Wash your hands before each use. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have an eye infection, eye injury, vision changes, or need eye surgery. Symptoms of an eye infection may include pink or itchy eye, blurry vision, eye discharge, swollen eyelids, and fever.
It is not recommended to use the same bottle of bromfenac for both eyes. If you have surgery on your other eye, use a new bottle of bromfenac. Contact your healthcare provider if you have questions about this.
Bromfenac may cause slow or delayed healing, especially when used with corticosteroid eye drops. Keep all appointments following cataract surgery so that your healthcare provider can check how well your eye is healing.
Do not use bromfenac while wearing contact lenses. If you wear contact lenses, ask your healthcare provider about when it is okay to wear them.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before using bromfenac?
Tell your healthcare provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if bromfenac is right for you.
In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.
Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following.
- Bleeding disorder
- Eye surgeries, especially if you’ve had problems with eye surgeries or multiple eye surgeries within a short time period
- Problems with your cornea (the clear layer that covers the front of the eye) or eye surface, such as dry eye syndrome
- Diabetes mellitus
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Allergy to Aspirin or NSAID Allergy. Some people who have an allergy to aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may also be allergic to bromfenac. This can result in severe breathing problems, especially in people with a history of asthma. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any allergies to medicines. They can help decide if it is safe for you to use bromfenac.
Sulfite Allergy. Some bromfenac products contain sodium sulfite. An allergic reaction to sulfites may cause severe breathing problems, especially in people with a history of asthma. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any allergies. They can help decide if it is safe for you to use bromfenac.
Other Medicines and Supplements. Bromfenac may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before using bromfenac, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.
Pregnancy. Do not use bromfenac later in pregnancy without talking to your healthcare provider. Using bromfenac during this time may cause harm to an unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should use bromfenac while you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.
Breastfeeding. It is not known if bromfenac passes into breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should use bromfenac while breastfeeding.
Interactions
Does bromfenac interact with foods or drinks?
There are no known interactions between bromfenac and foods or drinks.
It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect bromfenac.
Does bromfenac interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?
Always tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.
In particular, make sure that you discuss if you take any other medicines that can increase the risk of bleeding, such as aspirin or a blood thinner like warfarin, apixaban (Eliquis), or rivaroxaban (Xarelto).
This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with bromfenac. Always check with your healthcare provider.
Overdose/Missed Dose
What should I do if I accidentally use too much bromfenac?
If you or someone else has used too much bromfenac, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.
What should I do if I miss a dose of bromfenac?
If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and only use the next dose. Do not use extra doses. Ask your healthcare provider if you are unsure what to do after a missed dose.
Are you currently using Bromfenac?
This survey is being conducted by the WebMD marketing sciences department.