Eye Drops 0.004%
travoprost
CONSUMER MEDICINE INFORMATION
What is in this leaflet
Read this leaflet carefully before you start to use Travatan Eye Drops.
This leaflet answers some common questions about Travatan Eye Drops. It does not contain
all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor
or pharmacist.
The information in this leaflet was last updated on the date listed on the final page.
More recent information on the medicine may be available.
You should ensure that you speak to your pharmacist or doctor to obtain the most up
to date information on the medicine.
You can also download the most up to date leaflet in Australia from www.novartis.com.au
or www.medsafe.govt.nz in New Zealand.
The updates may contain important information about the medicine and its use of which
you should be aware.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you using
Travatan against the expected benefits it will have for you.
The information in this leaflet applies to Travatan Eye Drops only. This information
does not apply to similar products, even if they contain the same ingredients.
If you have any concerns about using this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with your medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What TRAVATAN is used for
Travatan Eye Drops contain the active ingredient travoprost, which belongs to a class
of medicines known as "prostaglandins".
Travatan Eye Drops are used, either alone or in combination with other eye drops/medicines,
to lower raised pressure in the eye and to treat glaucoma.
Glaucoma is usually caused by a build-up of the fluid which flows through the eye,
leading to an increase in the pressure within the eye; some people with glaucoma may,
however, have normal pressure within the eye.
Travatan Eye Drops lower the pressure within the eye by increasing the outflow of
fluid from the eye.
Although Travatan Eye Drops help to control your glaucoma, it does not cure it.
Before prescribing Travatan Eye Drops for you, your doctor will have examined your
eye(s) and decided that Travatan Eye Drops is the right medicine.
Your doctor may have prescribed Travatan Eye Drops for another reason. Ask your doctor
if you have any questions about why Travatan Eye Drops have been prescribed for you.
Travatan Eye Drops are not addictive.
For more information about glaucoma contact Glaucoma Australia on 1800 500 880 or
Glaucoma New Zealand on 09 373 8779.
Use in children
This medicine is not recommended in children.
The safety and effectiveness of Travatan Eye Drops has not been established in children.
Before you use TRAVATAN
When you must not use it
Do not use Travatan Eye Drops if you have an allergy to:
travoprost or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
shortness of breath
wheezing or difficulty breathing
swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Do not use Travatan Eye Drops if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Do not use this medicine if:
the foil overwrap pouch appears damaged in any way (it is possible that the foil overwrap
pouch may have been removed by your pharmacist)
the bottle/packaging shows signs of tampering
the expiry date on the bottle/carton has passed. If you use this medicine after the
expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.
If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
Do not use Travatan Eye Drops while you are wearing contact lenses.
You can put your contact lenses into your eyes 15 minutes after you have used Travatan
Eye Drops.
If you are not sure whether you should start using Travatan Eye Drops talk to your
doctor.
Before you start to use it
Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to any other medicines, preservatives or
dyes.
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.
Your doctor will discuss the possible risks and benefits of using Travatan Eye Drops
when breastfeeding.
Tell your doctor if you suffer from dry eyes, inflammation of the eye or any diseases
of the cornea.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/ her before you
use Travatan Eye Drops.
Using other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines
that you buy at a pharmacy or health food shop without a doctor's prescription.
Some medicines and Travatan Eye Drops may interfere with each other.
Tell your doctor if you are currently taking or using any other medicines to treat
glaucoma or if you are using any other type of eye drops.
These medicines may be affected by Travatan Eye Drops or may affect how well it works.
You may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to use other different
medicines.
Your doctor or pharmacist will be able to tell you what to do when using Travatan
Eye Drops with other medicines.
How to use TRAVATAN
Carefully follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you are being changed from one medicine to another, follow your doctor's instructions
carefully as to when to stop the old medicine and when to start the new eye drops.
If you do not understand the instructions on the carton, ask your doctor or pharmacist
for help.
How much to use
The usual dose of Travatan Eye Drops is one drop in the affected eye(s) once each
day. The dosing instructions will be printed on the label your pharmacist puts on
the bottle or carton.
How to use it
It is important to use Travatan Eye Drops exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has
told you. If you use it less often than you should, it may not work as well and the
eye problem may not improve. Using it more often than you should may not improve the
eye problem any faster and may cause increased side effects.
If you are wearing soft contact lenses, remove them before putting the drops in your
eye.
Follow these steps to use Travatan Eye Drops:
1. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
2. Immediately before using a bottle for the first time, tear off the overwrap pouch
and take the bottle out (see Diagram 1).
Diagram 1
4. Remove the cap from the bottle.
5. Hold the bottle upside down in one hand between your thumb and first finger (see Diagram
2).
Diagram 2
6. While tilting your head back, gently pull down the lower eyelid of your eye to form
a pouch / pocket.
7. Place the tip of the bottle close to your eye. Do not let it touch your eye.
8. Release one drop into the pouch/pocket formed between your eye and eyelid by gently
squeezing the sides of the bottle (see Diagram 3).
Diagram 3
9. Close your eye. Do not blink or rub your eye.
10. While your eye is closed, place your index finger against the inside corner of your
eye and press against your nose for about two minutes. This will help to stop the
medicine from draining through the tear duct to the nose and throat, from where it
can be absorbed into other parts of your body. This will also reduce the unpleasant
taste sensation that some people experience when using these drops.
11. If necessary, repeat the above steps for the other eye.
12. Your eyelids can only hold less than one drop at a time, so it is normal for a small
amount of the eye drop to spill onto your cheek. You should wipe away any spillage
with a tissue.
13. Replace the cap on the bottle, closing it tightly.
14. Wash your hands again with soap and water to remove any residue.
You may feel a slight burning sensation in the eye shortly after using the eye drops.
If this persists, or is very uncomfortable, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Be careful not to touch the dropper tip against your eye, eyelid or anything else.
This will help prevent the drops becoming dirty or contaminated.
If you have trouble knowing whether you have placed your drops correctly, you may
want to store them in the fridge. Some people find it easier to feel the drops in
the eye if they are cold.
After using Travatan Eye Drops, wait at least 5 minutes before putting any other eye
drops in your eye(s).
Wait 15 minutes before replacing your contact lenses.
When to use it
Use Travatan Eye Drops every day, at about the same time each day, unless your doctor
tells you otherwise. Using your eye drops at the same time(s) each day will have the
best effect on your eye pressure. It will also help you remember when to use the eye
drops.
Travatan Eye Drops work most effectively if used during the evening, before going
to bed.
How long to use it
Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you how long to use Travatan Eye Drops.
Travatan Eye Drops help control your condition but do not cure it. Therefore, Travatan
Eye Drops must be used every day. Continue using Travatan Eye Drops for as long as
your doctor prescribes.
Do not use Travatan Eye Drops longer than your doctor tells you.
If you use Travatan Eye Drops longer than your doctor or pharmacist tells you, the
chance of side effects may increase.
If you are unsure about when or how to stop using Travatan Eye Drops, you should talk
to your doctor or pharmacist.
If you forget to use it
If you forget to use Travatan Eye Drops, you should put the drops that you missed
in the eye(s) as soon as you remember and then go back to using them as recommended
by your doctor. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the dose that you missed
and continue using them as recommended.
Do not use double the amount to make up for the dose that you missed.
Using multiple doses may cause unwanted side effects.
If you are not sure whether to skip the dose, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering to use the medicine, ask your pharmacist for some
hints.
If you use too much (overdose)
If you accidentally put several drops in your eye(s), immediately rinse your eye(s)
with warm water.
If you think that you or anyone else may have swallowed any or all of the contents
of a bottle of Travatan Eye Drops, immediately telephone your doctor, or the Poisons
Information Centre in Australia on 13 1126 or the National Poisons Centre in New Zealand
on 0800 POISON or 0800 764 766 for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at your
nearest hospital.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
While you are using TRAVATAN
Things you must do
Tell all doctors and pharmacists who are treating you that you are using Travatan
Eye Drops.
Tell your doctor if, for any reason, you have not used Travatan Eye Drops exactly
as prescribed.
Otherwise your doctor may think that it was not effective and change the treatment
unnecessarily.
You should have your eye pressure checked when your eye specialist says, to make sure
that Travatan Eye Drops are working.
If you develop an eye infection, receive an eye injury, or have eye surgery, tell
your doctor.
Your doctor may tell you to use a new bottle of Travatan Eye Drops because of possible
contamination of the old one or may advise you to stop treatment with Travatan Eye
Drops.
If you become pregnant while using Travatan Eye Drops, tell your doctor immediately.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, tell your doctor and pharmacist
that you are using Travatan Eye Drops.
Things you must not do
Do not:
let children handle Travatan Eye Drops
stop using Travatan Eye Drops without first asking your doctor
give this medicine to anyone else, even if they appear to have the same condition
as you
use Travatan Eye Drops to treat other complaints unless your doctor or pharmacist
tells you to.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Travatan Eye Drops affect
you and your vision.
As with any eye medicines, temporary blurred vision or other visual disturbances may
affect the ability to drive or use machinery in some people. If blurred vision occurs
when you use your drops, wait until your vision is clear before driving or operating
machinery.
Side effects
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are using Travatan
Eye Drops.
This medicine helps most people to lower raised blood pressure in the eye or to treat
glaucoma, but may have unwanted side effects in some people. All medicines can have
side effects. Sometimes they are serious, however most of the time they are not. You
may need to seek medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Do not be alarmed by the following list of possible side effects. You may not experience
any of them. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following effects in the eye(s) and the
eye area, and they worry you:
redness of the eye
inflammation inside the eye
eye pain or swelling
eye strain
eye irritation
eye discharge
sunken eyes
sensitivity to light
blurred, reduced or abnormal vision
dry or itchy eye
discomfort in or around the eye
increased tear production
abnormal or decreased eye sensation
eyelid abnormality, irritation, itching, redness, pain, swelling or crusting
eczema eyelids
discolouration of the eyelashes
increased or decreased growth or number of eyelashes
changes in the colour of the iris.
Travatan Eye Drops may gradually change the colour of the eye (s); this is due to
an increase in pigment within the iris (coloured portion of the eye). This change
in eye colour is most frequently seen in eyes with mixed colours (e.g. blue-brown,
grey-brown), however, it may also occur with single coloured eyes. This change in
eye colour may be permanent.
These are the most common side effects of your medicine. They are usually mild and
short-lived.
Additional side effects that are noticed more rarely in the eye include:
inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva
inflammation of the back of the eye
corneal disorder
eye allergy
tired eyes
eye herpes simplex
ingrowth or introversion of the eyelashes
cataract.
Occasionally, some people notice unwanted effects in the rest of the body as a result
of using Travatan Eye Drops. These effects may include:
discolouration of the skin around the eye(s)
shortness of breath, asthma or worsening of asthma
increased or decreased blood pressure
irregular, increased or decreased heart rate
chest pain
viral infection
generalized weakness
cough, throat pain or irritation, dry or stuffy nose, nasal discomfort, voice changes
increased allergic symptoms
abdominal pain, gastrointestinal discomfort, ulcer, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting,
nausea
skin inflammation, redness, itching, discolouration
increased body hair
hair colour changes
shoulder pain
bad taste
dry mouth
headache, dizziness, ringing in ears
depression, anxiety
increased prostate antigen
body weakness
muscular or joint pain
painful or inability to control passing of urine.
Stop using Travatan Eye Drops and tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and
Emergency at your nearest hospital if any of the following happen:
skin rash
swelling of the face, hands or feet
wheezing, difficulty in breathing
shortness of breath (dyspnoea, heart failure)
severe and sudden onset of pinkish, itchy swellings on the skin, also called hives
or nettle rash.
These hypersensitivity reactions can be very serious side effects. You may need urgent
medical attention or hospitalisation. These side effects are very rare.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. Let your doctor
know if you observe any unwanted effects while using Travatan Eye Drops, even if they
do not appear in the list above.
After using TRAVATAN
Storage
Travatan Eye Drops are preserved with polyquaternium-1 which helps to prevent germs
growing in the eye drops.
Store Travatan Eye Drops in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C.
It is not necessary to store Travatan Eye Drops in the refrigerator, but it is acceptable
if you prefer to instil cold drops.
Do not freeze.
Do not leave Travatan Eye Drops in the car, in the bathroom or in other warm, damp
places.
Heat and temperature can destroy some medicines.
Do not leave the top off the bottle for any length of time, to avoid contaminating
the eye drops.
Keep Travatan Eye Drops, and all other medicine in a safe place.
Keep it where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one and a half metres above the ground is a good place
to store medicines.
Disposal
Discard each bottle of Travatan Eye Drops 4 weeks after it has been opened.
Write the date when it was opened on the bottle label to remind you when to discard
the bottle.
Eye drops contain a preservative which helps prevent germs growing in the solution
for the first four weeks after opening the bottle. After this time, there is a greater
risk that the drops may become contaminated and cause an eye infection. A new bottle
should then be used.
If your doctor tells you to stop using Travatan Eye Drops or it has passed the expiry
date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that is left over.
Product description
What it looks like
Travatan Eye Drops is a colourless to pale yellow liquid that comes in a 2.5 mL bottle.
Ingredients
The active ingredient in Travatan Eye drops is travoprost 40 mcg in 1 mL.
Travatan Eye Drops are preserved with polyquaternium-1.
Travatan Eye Drops preserved with polyquaternium-1 also contain:
polyoxylene hydrogenated castor oil
boric acid
mannitol
sodium chloride
propylene glycol
purified water
sodium hydroxide and/or hydrochloric acid (to adjust pH).
Supplier
Travatan Eye Drops is supplied in Australia by:
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Australia Pty Limited
ABN 18 004 244 160
54 Waterloo Road
Macquarie Park NSW 2113
Telephone No. 1800 671 203
www.novartis.com.au
Travatan Eye Drops is supplied in New Zealand by:
Novartis New Zealand Limited
PO Box 99102
Newmarket
Auckland 1149
New Zealand
Free Phone: 0800 354 335.
Australian Registration Number
AUST R: 173354
Date of Preparation
This leaflet was prepared in November 2023.
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