Bromfenac

Bromfenac is indicated for the treatment of postoperative ocular inflammation following cataract extraction. The drug has been shown to reduce macular edema and thickness of the retina (an indicator for inflammation) and improve visual acuity after surgery. == Contraindications ==

Bromfenac is contraindicated for people with adverse reactions to NSAIDs, such as asthma or rashes. == Side effects ==

Bromfenac eye drops are generally well tolerated. Comparatively common side effects in clinical studies included abnormal sensations in eye (0.5% of people treated with bromfenac), mild to moderate erosion of the cornea (0.4%), eye pruritus (0.4%), eye pain (0.3%) and redness (0.3%). Serious side effects such as corneal perforation were not reported in studies but only during post-marketing in less than one patient in 1000. == Interactions ==

No systematic interaction studies have been performed. There are no known cases of interactions with antibiotic eye drops. Blood plasma levels remain very low during bromfenac therapy, so interactions with drugs taken by mouth are unlikely. == Pharmacology ==

Mechanism of action As an NSAID, bromfenac works by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis by blocking the cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes. It preferably acts on COX-2 and only has a low affinity for COX-1. == Chemistry ==

Along with indomethacin, diclofenac and others, bromfenac belongs to the acetic acid group of NSAIDs. It is used in form of bromfenac sodium · 1.5 H2O (CAS number: ), which is soluble in water, methanol and aqueous bases, insoluble in chloroform and aqueous acids, and melts at under decomposition. == History ==

For ophthalmic use, bromfenac has been prescribed more than 20,000,000 times across the world. It was first FDA approved for use in the United States in 2005, and it was marketed as Xibrom, twice-daily. In October 2010 Bromday received US FDA approval as a new, once-daily formulation. In 2013, Prolensa has also been approved by the FDA. Bromfenac was formerly marketed in the United States by Wyeth-Ayerst in an oral formulation called Duract for short-term relief of pain (less than 10 days at a time). It was brought to market in July 1997, and was withdrawn 22 June 1998, following numerous reports of hepatotoxicity in patients who had taken the medication for longer than the recommended 10-day period. == References ==