SOFTACORT 3.35 mg/ml EYE DROPS IN SINGLE-DOSE CONTAINERS

2. What you need to know before taking Softacort

Do not use Softacort

• If you are allergic to the active ingredient (hydrocortisone) or to any of the other components of this medication (listed in section 6).
• If you have high eye pressure (ocular hypertension), which is known to be associated with the use of glucocorticoids (corticosteroid family) or other causes.
• If you have acute viral infections caused by the herpes virus and in most other viral diseases in the ulceration phase (unless the infection is being treated with anti-infectious treatment for the herpes virus).
• If you have conjunctivitis with ulcerative inflammation of the cornea (keratitis), even in the initial phase.
• If you have a bacterial infection in the eye (acute purulent infection, conjunctivitis, blepharitis, and hordeolum).
• If you have a fungal infection in the eye (ocular mycosis).
• If you have a bacterial infection called tuberculosis that affects your eye (ocular tuberculosis).

Warnings and precautions

• Consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before starting to use this medication.

• If you have a red eye that has not been diagnosed, do not use this medication.
• If you have a viral eye infection (herpes), use this medication only if the infection is being treated with anti-infectious treatment and close monitoring of your eyes is required.
• If you have a disease that causes thinning of the outer part of your eye (cornea and sclera), there may be a higher risk of perforation due to the use of topical corticosteroids applied to the eye.
• If you have been using a corticosteroid medication for a long time and have an eye wound (corneal ulcer), a fungal infection may be suspected.
• During your treatment, close and regular monitoring of your eyes is required. Prolonged use of corticosteroids has been shown to cause increased pressure inside the eye and the onset of glaucoma, especially in patients who already suffer from high intraocular pressure or are at risk of developing such a condition with local steroid treatment (see Possible side effects) and cause lens opacity in your eye (cataract), particularly in children and the elderly population.
• The use of corticosteroids can cause opportunistic eye infections. Additionally, topical ocular corticosteroids can promote, exacerbate, or mask signs and symptoms of opportunistic eye infections.
• You should avoid wearing contact lenses during treatment with this medication.
• Contact your doctor if you experience blurred vision or other visual disturbances.

Children

There are no safety and efficacy data in children.

Long-term treatment with corticosteroids can produce adrenal suppression.

Increased eye pressure in children occurs more frequently, with greater severity, and with greater rapidity than in adults.

Using Softacort with other medications

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have recently used, or may need to use any other medication, including medications that can be obtained without a prescription.

Some medications may increase the effects of Softacort, and your doctor may want to monitor you closely if you are using these medications (including some medications for HIV: ritonavir, cobicistat).

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or plan to become pregnant, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medication.

• The use of this medication is not recommended during pregnancy except when your doctor considers it necessary and under strict supervision.

It is unknown whether this medication passes into breast milk. Your doctor will decide whether you can use this medication during breastfeeding.

Driving and using machines

You may experience blurred vision immediately after applying Softacort. Do not drive or use machines until this effect has disappeared.

Softacort contains phosphate

This medication contains 0.227 mg of phosphates in each drop.

3. How to use Softacort

Follow the administration instructions for this medication exactly as indicated by your doctor or pharmacist. If in doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.

The recommended dose is 2 drops in the affected eye(s), 2 to 4 times a day, as prescribed by your doctor. A gradual reduction in dose is recommended to avoid relapse. The duration of treatment may vary from a few days to a maximum of 14 days.

The same dose is used for both adults and elderly patients.

Use in children

The efficacy and safety have not been established in children.

Instructions for use

This medication is intended for administration in the eye.

To use the eye drops, follow these instructions:

1. Wash your hands and sit or stand comfortably.
2. Open the pouch containing 10 single-dose containers. Note the date of first opening on the pouch.
3. Separate a single-dose container from the strip.

1. Turn the tip of the single-dose container as shown. Do not touch the tip after opening the container.

1. Use your finger to gently separate the lower eyelid of the affected eye.
2. Place the tip of the single-dose container near the eye, without touching it.
3. Gently press the single-dose container so that two drops fall into the eye, then remove your finger from the lower eyelid.

1. Press the tip of the affected eye, near the nose, with your finger. Apply pressure for 1 minute, keeping your eye closed.

1. Repeat the operation in the other eye, if your doctor has indicated it. Each single-dose container contains enough for both eyes.

1. Discard the single-dose container after use. Do not save it for later use.

1. Place the unopened single-dose containers inside the pouch. Place the opened pouch inside the box. Unopened containers can be used within one month after opening the pouch.

If you use any other eye drops, wait at least 5 minutes between each application.

If you use more Softacort than you should

Rinse your eye with sterile water if too much product has been administered in the eye and there is prolonged irritation.

Contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

If you forget to use Softacort

Do not apply an additional drop in the eye to make up for the missed dose.

If you stop treatment with Softacort

Do not stop treatment suddenly. Always consult your doctor if you are considering stopping treatment.

If you have any other questions about using this medication, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medications, this medication can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.

Frequency not known:cannot be estimated from available data

• transient eye discomfort (burning, stinging) after application.

The following side effects have been reported with medications of the same group (corticosteroids) when used to treat eye conditions.

Frequency unknown:cannot be estimated from available data

• allergic reactions
• delayed wound healing
• lens opacity (posterior subcapsular cataract)
• opportunistic infections (herpes-like viral, fungal)
• increased pressure in your eye (glaucoma)
• pupil dilation (mydriasis)
• drooping eyelids (ptosis)
• inflammation inside your eye (uveitis)
• changes in the thickness of the front part of your eye (cornea)
• corneal inflammation (crystalline keratopathy)
• blurred vision

If you suffer from severe damage to the transparent layer of the front part of your eye (cornea), treatment with phosphates, in very rare cases, can cause cloudy patches on the cornea due to calcium.

Reporting side effects

If you experience any side effects, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse, even if they are side effects not listed in this package leaflet. You can also report them directly through the Spanish Medication Surveillance System for Human Use: https//: notificaram.es. By reporting side effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medication.

5. Storage of Softacort

Keep this medication out of sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medication after the expiration date shown on the box, pouch, and single-dose container after CAD or EXP. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.

Store below 25°C.

After first opening the pouch:use the single-dose container within one month.

Keep the single-dose containers inside the pouch to protect them from light.

Write the date of first opening of the pouch.

After first opening the single-dose container:use immediately and discard the single-dose container after use.

Sterility cannot be maintained after opening a single-dose container, so you must open a new container before each use.

Medications should not be disposed of through wastewater or household waste. Deposit the containers and medications you no longer need at the SIGRE collection point in your pharmacy. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of containers and medications you no longer need. This will help protect the environment.

6. Container contents and additional information

Composition ofSoftacort

• The active ingredient is sodium hydrocortisone phosphate.

1 ml of eye drop solution contains 3.35 mg of sodium hydrocortisone phosphate.

• The other components are disodium phosphate dodecahydrate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate monohydrate, sodium chloride, disodium edetate, hydrochloric acid (for pH adjustment), and water for injectable preparations.

Appearance of the product and container contents

This medication is presented as an eye drop solution in single-dose containers.

The solution is practically transparent, colorless to slightly yellow, practically free of particles, presented inside a pouch with 10 units, each single-dose container contains 0.4 ml of eye drop solution.

The boxes contain 10 (1 x 10), 20 (2 x 10), 30 (3 x 10), or 60 (6 x 10) single-dose containers.

Only some package sizes may be marketed.

Marketing authorization holder and manufacturer

Marketing authorization holder

LABORATOIRES THEA

12 RUE LOUIS BLERIOT

63017 CLERMONT-FERRAND CEDEX 2

FRANCE

Manufacturer

LABORATOIRES UNITHER

1 rue de l’Arquerie

50200 Coutances

FRANCE

or

LABORATOIRES THEA

12, rue Louis Blériot

63017 CLERMONT-FERRAND Cedex 2

FRANCE

Local representative

LABORATORIOS THEA, S.A.

C/ Enric Granados nº 86-88, 2ª planta

08008 – BARCELONA

This medication is authorized in the Member States of the European Economic Area under the following names:

Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Slovenia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, United Kingdom, Romania, Sweden Softacort

Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg Softacor

Ireland Zoftazot

Italy Sofacor

Date of last revision of this package leaflet: October 2023

Detailed information about this medication is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) http://www.aemps.gob.es/.