Fluocinolone (Intraocular)

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 14, 2022.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Iluvien
• Retisert
• Yutiq

Available Dosage Forms:

• Implant

Therapeutic Class: Corticosteroid, Intermediate

Pharmacologic Class: Fluocinolone

Uses for fluocinolone

Fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant is used in diabetic patients who have diabetic macular edema (DME). Macular edema is swelling in the back of the eye and may cause vision loss. Fluocinolone is used in patients who already have received steroid medicines and did not have an increase in intraocular pressure.

Fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant is also used to treat chronic non-infectious uveitis (redness, pain, or swelling of the eye that is not caused by infection) of the back part of the eye.

Fluocinolone is to be given only by or under the direct supervision of your doctor.

Before using fluocinolone

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For fluocinolone, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to fluocinolone or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of fluocinolone acetonide implant in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of fluocinolone acetonide implant in the elderly.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving fluocinolone, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using fluocinolone with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Desmopressin

Using fluocinolone with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Bemiparin
• Macimorelin
• Nadroparin
• Sargramostim

Interactions with food/tobacco/alcohol

Certain medic...