Upneeq (oxymetazoline): Uses, Side Effects, Dosage & Reviews (2024)

How Upneeq (oxymetazoline) works

Upneeq (oxymetazoline) is an alpha adrenergic receptor agonist. The medication works by acting on a muscle in your eyelid, which causes it to tighten up. This causes your eyelid to lift up.

What is Upneeq (oxymetazoline) used for?

• Droopy eyelids (acquired ptosis)

Typical dosing for Upneeq (oxymetazoline)

The typical dose is 1 drop into the affected eye(s) once per day.

What is acquired ptosis?

How long does it take for Upneeq (oxymetazoline) to start working?

Can I use Upneeq (oxymetazoline) to treat other eye problems, like dry eye?

Can I use Upneeq (oxymetazoline) with other eye products?

Can I use Upneeq (oxymetazoline) if I'm pregnant?

Before starting this medication, make sure your provider or pharmacist teaches you how to give yourself Upneeq (oxymetazoline) so that you avoid accidentally hurting yourself or wasting the medication. Carefully read the instructions on how to give yourself the eye drops. Contact your provider or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Once you open a single-use container, use it right away. Throw away any leftover medication still in the container after using it.

Be careful not to touch the tip of the singe-use container to your eye or to any other surface so it stays clean. If the tip accidentally touches something, throw it away and use a new container. Using a dirty tip raises your risk for infections and injury to your eye(s).

If you need to use multiple different eye products in the same eye, separate each eye product from Upneeq (oxymetazoline) by at least 15 minutes. This makes sure your eye(s) absorb each medication fully.

If you wear contact lenses, take them out before using Upneeq (oxymetazoline) so your eye(s) can absorb all of the medication. Wait at least 15 minutes after using Upneeq (oxymetazoline) to put your lenses back into your eye(s).

Keep Upneeq (oxymetazoline) single-use containers at room temperature and in the foil pouches they come in to protect them from heat.

Oxymetazoline, the active ingredient in Upneeq (oxymetazoline), is in the same medication class (alpha agonists) as many other products, such as phenylephrine nasal spray or Afrin (oxymetazoline) nasal spray. Using more than one medication containing an alpha agonist can lead to an accidental overdose and cause serious side effects, including fast heart rate and dizziness. If you're not sure if a product is an alpha agonist, ask your pharmacist.

Don't use other eye drops, such as phenylephrine eye drops, in place of using Upneeq (oxymetazoline) for treating droopy eyelids, because they aren't approved for this condition.

• Worsening heart problems: severe headaches, nosebleeds, difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat, dizziness, feeling faint, chest pain
• Sudden glaucoma: severe eye or head pain, red eye, sudden loss of vision, blurry vision

^{Source: DailyMed}

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• changes in vision
• dry eyes
• eye pain
• eye irritation
• headache

Droopy eyelid(s) can be a sign of another problem

Droopy eyelid(s) can be a sign of another serious problem, such as a stroke, Horner's syndrome, an eye infection, or a mass in your eye. If Upneeq (oxymetazoline) doesn't make your droopy eyelid(s) better or if there are other symptoms that occur with your droopy eyelid(s), contact your provider.

Worsening heart problems

Risk factors: Heart disease | High or low blood pressure | Sudden low blood pressure when getting up from a sitting or lying down position (orthostatic hypotension)

Upneeq (oxymetazoline) can affect your blood pressure, even at recommended doses. If you have a history of heart or blood pressure problems or take certain medications that affect the heart (e.g., beta blockers, digoxin (Lanoxin), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), blood pressure medications), ask your provider if Upneeq (oxymetazoline) is safe for you. If you get severe headaches, nosebleeds, difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat, dizziness, feeling faint, or chest pain while taking Upneeq (oxymetazoline), stop taking it and get medical attention right away. These can be signs that your heart or blood pressure conditions have worsened.

Worsening blood flow problems

• Risk factors: Conditions that cause poor blood flow to brain or heart | Sjogren's syndrome

Upneeq (oxymetazoline) should be used with caution in people with poor blood flow to the brain (e.g., stroke, "mini strokes") or heart (e.g., coronary artery disease or CAD), or Sjögren's syndrome, because it can worsen these conditions and cause serious side effects. Make sure your provider knows about all medical conditions you have or have had in the past before starting Upneeq (oxymetazoline). If your symptoms of any of these conditions worsen, stop using Upneeq (oxymetazoline) and contact your provider right away.

Glaucoma

• Risk factors: Untreated glaucoma

Upneeq (oxymetazoline) can raise your risk of glaucoma because of the way it works in your eye. If you get symptoms of glaucoma (e.g., severe eye and head pain, red eye, sudden loss of vision, blurry vision), stop using Upneeq (oxymetazoline) and contact your provider right away.

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