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Important: This site presents data from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). A report does not mean the drug caused the event. Full disclaimer.

NEPAFENAC: 1,761 Adverse Event Reports & Safety Profile

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1,761
Total FAERS Reports
5 (0.3%)
Deaths Reported
46
Hospitalizations
1,761
As Primary/Secondary Suspect
2
Life-Threatening
13
Disabilities
Aug 19, 2005
FDA Approved
Harrow Eye, LLC
Manufacturer
Prescription
Status

Drug Class: Anti-Inflammatory Agents · Route: OPHTHALMIC · Manufacturer: Harrow Eye, LLC · FDA Application: 021862 · HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG · FDA Label: Available

Patent Expires: Mar 31, 2032 · First Report: 20040417 · Latest Report: 20250201

What Are the Most Common NEPAFENAC Side Effects?

#1 Most Reported
Eye pain
393 reports (22.3%)
#2 Most Reported
Drug ineffective
270 reports (15.3%)
#3 Most Reported
Treatment failure
208 reports (11.8%)

All NEPAFENAC Side Effects by Frequency

Side Effect Reports % of Total Deaths Hosp.
Eye pain 393 22.3% 1 4
Drug ineffective 270 15.3% 0 1
Treatment failure 208 11.8% 0 0
Vision blurred 133 7.6% 0 6
Eye irritation 67 3.8% 0 0
Visual impairment 66 3.8% 1 2
Product quality issue 57 3.2% 0 0
Liquid product physical issue 55 3.1% 0 0
Off label use 43 2.4% 0 5
Cystoid macular oedema 42 2.4% 0 1
Ocular hyperaemia 42 2.4% 1 1
Cataract 36 2.0% 0 11
Incorrect dose administered 35 2.0% 0 0
Ulcerative keratitis 35 2.0% 1 2
Visual acuity reduced 35 2.0% 1 1
Wrong technique in product usage process 32 1.8% 0 8
Foreign body sensation in eyes 31 1.8% 1 0
Macular oedema 31 1.8% 0 0
Product container issue 29 1.7% 0 0
Product physical consistency issue 29 1.7% 0 0

Who Reports NEPAFENAC Side Effects? Age & Gender Data

Gender: 60.2% female, 39.8% male. Average age: 65.7 years. Most reports from: US. View detailed demographics →

Is NEPAFENAC Getting Safer? Reports by Year

YearReportsDeathsHosp.
2004 1 0 0
2009 1 0 0
2013 15 0 9
2014 22 0 4
2015 38 0 7
2016 43 1 3
2017 49 0 2
2018 22 0 2
2019 15 0 2
2020 12 0 1
2021 13 1 0
2022 7 0 1
2023 10 0 0
2024 19 3 0
2025 3 0 0

View full timeline →

What Is NEPAFENAC Used For?

IndicationReports
Product used for unknown indication 1,130
Cataract operation 183
Postoperative care 151
Posterior capsule opacification 62
Preoperative care 34
Macular oedema 27
Cystoid macular oedema 23
Cataract 15
Inflammation 12
Eye pain 10

NEPAFENAC vs Alternatives: Which Is Safer?

NEPAFENAC vs NERATINIB NEPAFENAC vs NETARSUDIL NEPAFENAC vs NETUPITANT\PALONOSETRON NEPAFENAC vs NEULASTA NEPAFENAC vs NEUPOGEN NEPAFENAC vs NEUPRO NEPAFENAC vs NEURONTIN NEPAFENAC vs NEVIRAPINE NEPAFENAC vs NEXAVAR NEPAFENAC vs NEXIUM

Other Drugs in Same Class: Anti-Inflammatory Agents

Official FDA Label for NEPAFENAC

Official prescribing information from the FDA-approved drug label.

Drug Description

ILEVRO ® 0.3% is a sterile, topical, NSAID prodrug for ophthalmic use. Each mL of ILEVRO ® 0.3% contains 3 mg of nepafenac. Nepafenac is designated chemically as 2-amino-3-benzoylbenzeneacetamide with an empirical formula of C 15 H 14 N 2 O 2 . The structural formula of nepafenac is: Nepafenac is a yellow crystalline powder. The molecular weight of nepafenac is 254.28 g/mol. ILEVRO ® 0.3% is supplied as a sterile, aqueous suspension with a pH approximately of 6.8. The osmolality of ILEVRO ® 0.3% is approximately 300 mOsm/kg. Each mL of ILEVRO ® 0.3% contains: Active: nepafenac 0.3%. Inactives: boric acid, propylene glycol, carbomer 974P, sodium chloride, guar gum, carboxymethylcellulose sodium, edetate disodium, benzalkonium chloride 0.005% (preservative), sodium hydroxide and/or hydrochloric acid to adjust pH and purified water, USP. structural formula of nepafenac

FDA Approved Uses (Indications)

AND USAGE ILEVRO ® 0.3% is indicated for the treatment of pain and inflammation associated with cataract surgery. ILEVRO ® 0.3% is a nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory prodrug indicated for the treatment of pain and inflammation associated with cataract surgery ( 1 ).

Dosage & Administration

AND ADMINISTRATION One drop of ILEVRO ® 0.3% should be applied to the affected eye one-time-daily beginning 1 day prior to cataract surgery, continued on the day of surgery and through the first 2 weeks of the postoperative period. An additional drop should be administered 30 to 120 minutes prior to surgery. ( 2 )

2.1 Recommended Dosing One drop of ILEVRO ® 0.3% should be applied to the affected eye one time daily beginning 1 day prior to cataract surgery, continued on the day of surgery and through the first 2 weeks of the postoperative period. An additional drop should be administered 30 to 120 minutes prior to surgery.

2.2 Use with Other Topical Ophthalmic Medications ILEVRO ® 0.3% may be administered in conjunction with other topical ophthalmic medications such as beta-blockers, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, alpha-agonists, cycloplegics, and mydriatics. If more than one topical ophthalmic medication is being used, the medicines must be administered at least 5 minutes apart.

Contraindications

ILEVRO ® 0.3% is contraindicated in patients with previously demonstrated hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients in the formula or to other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients in the formula or to other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). ( 4 )

Known Adverse Reactions

REACTIONS Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to the rates in the clinical studies of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Most common adverse reactions (5% to 10%) are capsular opacity, decreased visual acuity, foreign body sensation, increased intraocular pressure, and sticky sensation. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Harrow Eye, LLC at 1-833-4HARROW or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch .

6.1 Serious and Otherwise Important Adverse Reactions The following adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of labeling.

Increased Bleeding

Time [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]

Delayed

Healing [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ]

Corneal

Effects [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ]

6.2 Ocular Adverse Reactions The most frequently reported ocular adverse reactions following cataract surgery were capsular opacity, decreased visual acuity, foreign body sensation, increased intraocular pressure (IOP), and sticky sensation. These reactions occurred in approximately 5% to 10% of patients. Other ocular adverse reactions occurring at an incidence of approximately 1% to 5% included conjunctival edema, corneal edema, dry eye, lid margin crusting, ocular discomfort, ocular hyperemia, ocular pain, ocular pruritus, photophobia, tearing, and vitreous detachment. Some of these reactions may be the consequence of the cataract surgical procedure.

6.3 Non-Ocular Adverse Reactions Non-ocular adverse reactions reported at an incidence of 1% to 4% included headache, hypertension, nausea/vomiting, and sinusitis.

Warnings

AND PRECAUTIONS Increased bleeding time due to interference with thrombocyte aggregation ( 5.1 ) Delayed healing ( 5.2 ) Corneal effects including keratitis ( 5.3 )

5.1 Increased Bleeding Time With some NSAIDs including ILEVRO ® 0.3%, there exists the potential for increased bleeding time due to interference with thrombocyte aggregation. There have been reports that ocularly applied nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may cause increased bleeding of ocular tissues (including hyphema) in conjunction with ocular surgery. It is recommended that ILEVRO ® 0.3% be used with caution in patients with known bleeding tendencies or who are receiving other medications which may prolong bleeding time.

5.2 Delayed Healing Topical NSAIDs including ILEVRO ® 0.3%, may slow or delay healing. Topical corticosteroids are also known to slow or delay healing. Concomitant use of topical NSAIDs and topical steroids may increase the potential for healing problems.

5.3 Corneal Effects Use of topical NSAIDs may result in keratitis. In some susceptible patients, continued use of topical NSAIDs may result in epithelial breakdown, corneal thinning, corneal erosion, corneal ulceration, or corneal perforation. These events may be sight threatening. Patients with evidence of corneal epithelial breakdown should immediately discontinue use of topical NSAIDs including ILEVRO ® 0.3% and should be closely monitored for corneal health. Postmarketing experience with topical NSAIDs suggests that patients with complicated ocular surgeries, corneal denervation, corneal epithelial defects, diabetes mellitus, ocular surface diseases (e.g., dry eye syndrome), rheumatoid arthritis, or repeat ocular surgeries within a short period of time may be at increased risk for corneal adverse events, which may become sight threatening. Topical NSAIDs should be used with caution in these patients. Postmarketing experience with topical NSAIDs also suggests that use more than 1 day prior to surgery or use beyond 14 days post-surgery may increase patient risk and severity of corneal adverse events.

5.4 Contact Lens Wear ILEVRO ® 0.3% should not be administered while using contact lenses.