Approved uses
Corneal cystine crystal deposits in cystinosis
1 drop in each eye 4 times daily during waking hours; discard bottle 7 days after first opening
Corneal crystal score falls about 4.6 points over 90 days of four-times-daily dosing.
Contraindications
None.
Available Forms5 mL viscous solution in a 10 mL amber glass bottle, 0.37% (3.8 mg/mL cysteamine base, 5.6 mg/mL as the hydrochloride), one separately wrapped dropper applicator per carton
Mechanism of ActionCystine-depleting agent: converts cystine to cysteine and to cysteine-cysteamine mixed disulfides, reducing corneal cystine crystal accumulation. Systemic exposure from the ocular route is negligible, since the total daily ophthalmic dose is less than 4% of the recommended oral daily dose.
Warnings & Precautions
- Benign intracranial hypertension: Reported with oral cysteamine and resolved with added diuretic therapy; every reported case with the ophthalmic route was in a patient concurrently on the oral drug.
Pregnancy & Lactation
Pediatric Use