Tacrolimus 0.02% eye drops

[FeeFee]

My dog has recently been changed from Optimmune Eye Ointment to Tacrolimus 0.02% eye drops.

I have been told that I have to buy it on script from a compounding pharmacy in NSW, when I live in Queensland.

It will cost $88 plus postage for a 15ml bottle, which will only last approximately 1 month.

Does anyone know if I can buy it cheaper?

Or, if it is similar to the human compound of the same drug?

[Papillon Kisses]

14 minutes ago, FeeFee said:

My dog has recently been changed from Optimmune Eye Ointment to Tacrolimus 0.02% eye drops.

I have been told that I have to buy it on script from a compounding pharmacy in NSW, when I live in Queensland.

It will cost $88 plus postage for a 15ml bottle, which will only last approximately 1 month.

Does anyone know if I can buy it cheaper?

Or, if it is similar to the human compound of the same drug?

Check:

Ovedhorseandpetstore

Petceutics

The Animal Pharmacy

 

And call around other compounding pharmacies. I find it strange that only one pharmacy would be able to compound it in all of Australia.

 

There can be some unbelievable price differences when it comes to pet meds especially when compounded.

 

ETA you need to make sure it's an Australian pharmacy.

 

Edited February 14, 2017 by Papillon Kisses

[Diva]

Can't help with the chemist, but are you sure 15 ml will only last a month? There should be 300 drops in 15 ml, 10 drops a day is a high dose.

[Boronia]

copied from Wikipedia:

20 drops
The minim was defined as one 60th of a fluid dram or one 480th of a fluid ounce. This is equal to about 61.6 μL (U.S.) or 59.2 μL (Britain). Pharmacists have since moved to metric measurements, with a drop being rounded to exactly 0.05 mL (50 μL, that is, 20 drops per milliliter).

 

a chart (it shows 300 drops which makes sense as a drop is 1/2 ml)

 

 

 

so if I have worked it out correctly there is a good chance I may be incorrect that means that (for a 30 day month) you will put in 10ml daily which is 200 drops and at that rate a 15ml bottle will last you 45 days.

If you were to administer twice daily, and in both eyes, that would mean that you would put 50 drops (2.5ml) in each eye twice a day and that many drops would just run out. it is more likely that you would just put in 2-->5 drops in each eye

can you please let us know how many drops a day your vet recommends?

 

[*kirty*]

Tacrolimus is an expensive but amazing drug. It is very expensive to buy (a box of the capsules used to make the drops is over $1000). There are certainly other compounding chemists that can make the drug but I actually think the price you have been given is extremely reasonable! I work at an animal eye specialist and we have heard of clients paying over $200 per bottle... How often are you using the drops? A 15ml bottle should last you a few months at least. The compounding pharmacy will tell you to throw it out after 4 weeks but that is not necessary with animals. They tell people to dispose of drops after 4 weeks because humans are extremely susceptible to bacterial infections in the eyes. Dogs don't tend to et bacterial eye infections so you can keep using them until they run out.

[helenb]

$108  from Customcare compounding pharmacy -  $192 from eye specialist 

Edited February 20, 2017 by helenb

[Debbie]

Could you please let me know where your were quoted $88 as I am paying $240 a bottle in Adelaide - any tips would be grateful.

I have emailed custom care pharmacy in Adelaide. 

[Sore Eyes]

Compound pharmacies are a rip off.! I ran out of tacrolimus eye drops for our little girl when we were travelling in QLD. Meant that we would have to hang around for our script to be made and sent to us. Went to a vet hoping they would make the drops at there surgery! But woman we saw was awesome! She gave me a script for Tacrolimus capsules . And told me to purchase "tears naturale" . The tablets cost me about $80 for 100 hundred tablets and the tears naturale was $24 up there. Here at home the drops are only around $13 . So subsequently I now make our own drops just like the compound pharmacy does all for about $21 per month. Very easy to empty powder from the capsule into the bottle of tears and that's it. And l have 100 months of medication for her. Shop around and ask vets if they make there own meds. Much much cheaper for us all. Our little girls eyes are not perfect but 90% better than they were with optimmune ointment! That seemed to feed them and make her eyes worse. Very rarely do her eyes have redness in the white of her eyes. Good luck in your search for cheaper medication.

[Heather Campbell]

Sore Eyes I hope you see this question, as I know it is am old thread?  I am hoping you can share what the strength of teh capsules was/ Very interested in this information please?

[Boronia]

Hi @Sore Eyes if you are still around...Heather Campbell (above) wants some info please

[daniintsv]

Hi, I’m desperate for some help from people with some knowledge of Tacrolimus.  It’s a public holiday here so I can’t speak with a vet.
 

We were using Optimmune but it’s effectiveness seemed to be diminishing so we have changed to Tacrolimus drops.  We used them for the first time yesterday and one eye in particular has had a reaction I think.  It’s quite red and sore looking, it’s leaking and Fea is closing it.  

 

I’ve used Refresh Plus to relieve it a little and that takes a little of the redness away but only for a short time.  

 

He’s now overdue for his morning Tacrolimus drops but i don’t know if I should put them in or not.  Can I do more harm by not using them until I can get him to the vet tomorrow?  Can Tacrolimus cause harm or should I just administer the drops in case it’s not the Tacrolimus at all?