Alosetron Hydrochloride and Apraclonidine Hydrochloride

• Generic Name: alosetron
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Lotronex

Only for management of severe diarrhea-predominant IBS in women with chronic symptoms (generally lasting ≥6 months) who have had anatomic or biochemical GI abnormalities excluded and have not responded to conventional therapy. Diarrhea-predominant IBS is considered severe if accompanied by at least one of the following symptoms: frequent and severe abdominal pain and/or discomfort; frequent bowel urgency or fecal incontinence; or disability or restriction of daily activities.

Use restricted to patients for whom benefit-to-risk balance is considered to be most favorable. (See Boxed Warning.)

Efficacy in men not adequately demonstrated in clinical studies.

• Generic Name: apraclonidine ophthalmic
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Iopidine

Apraclonidine 1% is used prophylactically to prevent or reduce intraoperative and postoperative increases in intraocular pressure (IOP) before and after ocular laser surgery (e.g., argon laser trabeculoplasty, argon laser iridotomy, neodymium yttrium aluminum garnet [Nd:YAG] laser posterior capsulotomy).

Apraclonidine 0.5% is used for short-term (<1 month) adjunctive therapy in patients with open-angle glaucoma receiving maximally tolerated drug therapy (i.e., a topical β-adrenergic blocking agent in conjunction with a systemically administered carbonic anhydrase inhibitor and a sympathomimetic and/or a parasympathomimetic agent) who require additional reduction in IOP.