Difluprednate (2 brand names, 1 dosage form, 1 route)
Available dosage forms: EMULSION.
Routes of administration: OPHTHALMIC.
Brand Names
- DIFLUPREDNATE
- DUREZOL
Contraindications
Difluprednate ophthalmic emulsion, as with other ophthalmic corticosteroids, is contraindicated in most active viral diseases of the cornea and conjunctiva, including epithelial herpes simplex keratitis (dendritic keratitis), vaccinia, and varicella, and also in mycobacterial infection of the eye and fungal disease of ocular structures.
Adverse Reactions
The following serious reactions are found elsewhere in the labeling: •Intraocular Pressure (IOP) Increase [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)] •Cataracts [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)] •Delayed Healing [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)] •Corneal and Scleral Melting [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)] •Bacterial Infections [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)] •Viral Infections [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6)] •Fungal Infections [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7)]
Mechanism of Action
Corticosteroids inhibit the inflammatory response to a variety of inciting agents and may delay or slow healing. They inhibit edema, fibrin deposition, capillary dilation, leukocyte migration, capillary proliferation, fibroblast proliferation, deposition of collagen, and scar formation associated with inflammation. There is no generally accepted explanation for the mechanism of action of ocular corticosteroids. However, corticosteroids are thought to act by the induction of phospholipase A2 inhibitory proteins, collectively called lipocortins. It is postulated that these proteins control the biosynthesis of potent mediators of inflammation, such as prostaglandins and leukotreines by inhibiting the release of their common precursor arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid is released from membrane phospholipids by phospholipase A2. Difluprednate is structurally similar to other corticosteroids.