Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Alcon releases Moxeza

MOXEZA from Alcon

Billed as "A NEW ophthalmic solution for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis". Well, okay. Moxeza is 0.5% moxifloxacin, which is the exact same drug in the exact same concentration as Alcon's older drug Vigamox, which has been available for quite some time. This link says the two are "formulated differently", but does not specify how they are different:

They're different?

Moxeza is to be used twice a day for bacterial conjunctivitis, whereas Vigamox was to be used 3x/day. I'm sure there is some difference in the "formulation", but I'd like to know what it is. I personally doubt they are very "different". I'm pretty cynical, right? :P

10 comments:

  1. Hi Dr. Prince,
    I am also a SUNY O grad ('04) and have been enjoying your blog. I found it a couple weeks ago. I have been blogging too since '08. You and I are on the same page with a lot of prescribing/treatment philosophies. Have you ever considered making a public professional profile on FB or using Twitter to promote the blog as well? I now do all three. Would love to talk to you sometime!

    Keep up the GREAT WORK and excellent writing!!!
    Cheryl G. Murphy, OD

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  2. Can you talk about an eye sickness that looks like pink eye, but it's not. So, no eye pinkness, but wake up with eye glued together.

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  3. its very, very difficult (impossible?) to make a diagnosis based on a description. plenty of things can cause the eye to do all sorts of weird stuff.

    ok an eye thats "glued together" in the morning, BUT NOT RED...could be allergies or blepharitis...in a contact lens wearer it could be GPC (mentioned many times here)...there are a few other possibilities

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  4. Hi,

    I don't know if anyone ever answered your question... but I was curious myself, since I'm a PharmD student.

    In any case, I found a rather satisfactory answer here under the "Place in Therapy" section. http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/news/meetings/past/2011/PTC/042211-4g2.pdf

    Based on my limited knowledge of ophthalmic dosage forms, it seems like a reasonable answer.

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  5. thank you for that comment! yes, info much appreciated!

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  6. from that link:

    " Moxeza differs from Vigamox in dosing regimen; twice daily for
    Moxeza compared to thrice daily for Vigamox. Additionally, Moxeza’s inactive ingredients differ
    from Vigamox. Specifically, Moxeza contains xanthan gum which increases the viscosity of the
    formulation increasing the time of residence on the eye allowing for enhanced penetration
    through the cornea. However, there are no data to support superior efficacy or safety of twice
    daily compared to thrice daily moxifloxacin"

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  7. Hi Dr.Prince,
    I am an M.pharm student, I had used Moxeza the last time I had conjunctivitis. I felt the product was quite viscous in nature. I am just a little curious to know the viscosity of the product. I would be glad if you would answer my question.

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  8. It's pretty viscous. Don't have any specific data

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  9. After presenting w/an infectious corneal ulcer, the docs at Cal Optometry sent me home with Moxeza samples [and a consult with their supervisiing specialist the next day]. The samples expire in 4 months. Not sure anyone noticed that, but might have checked when I mentioned that the tiny bottles are not well-matched to the product's viscosity. zit is impossible to get a drop from the tip after the first opening. Close the bottle, try gain later, get nada or a great big stinging glop. My symptoms only worsened with use, every 15min then 30 then 60 for the first few days [which direction, fyi, precludes directing a patient to drive to misc. destinations for exams and Rxes. either suggest or offer transit, or consolidate services to one stop, offer protective gear for those injured and dilated pupils, and put her in a cab.]. As a bonus, the product is pretty much never in stock at any consumer-facing pharmacies; I got my Rx swapped out for Vigamox and am much relieved. No one needs the anxiety that goes along with product failure, when already hobbled by injury.

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  10. sorry you had trouble, but that's not really "product failure". the expiration date should not have been a factor. 4 mo is plenty of time. apparently it's pretty viscous, tho! thanks for the comment

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