Alerts
Cyclopentolate and Tropicamide Administration Errors
June 27, 2008
Health care providers are concerned that Bausch & Lomb’s cyclopentolate 1% ophthalmic solution and tropicamide 1% ophthalmic solution look similar. Cyclopentolate is a long acting agent that causes cycloplegia and mydriasis for approximately 24 hours although mydriasis may last for several days. Tropicamide is a short acting agent that causes cycloplegia for approximately 1 to 6 hours and mydriasis for approximately 6 to 7 hours.
The bottles of solution are virtually identical with the same color of cap, lettering, and background. Bausch & Lomb manufacture both solutions.
Recommendations for preventing medication administration errors include the following:
- Encourage staff to read drug labels prior to administering the drug.
- Store the solutions in separate areas.
Updated
June 27, 2008; University of Utah, Drug Information Service. Copyright 2008, Drug Information Service, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.
