Label: AKTEN- lidocaine hydrochloride gel

  • Category: HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG LABEL
  • DEA Schedule: None
  • Marketing Status: New Drug Application

Drug Label Information

Updated November 15, 2021

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  • HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION
    These highlights do not include all the information needed to use AKTEN® safely and effectively. See full prescribing information for AKTEN®.
    AKTEN® (lidocaine hydrochloride ophthalmic gel), for topical ophthalmic use
    Initial U.S. Approval: 1972

    RECENT MAJOR CHANGES

    Warnings and Precautions (5.3) 2/2022

    INDICATIONS AND USAGE

    AKTEN® is a local anesthetic indicated for ocular surface anesthesia during ophthalmologic procedures. (1)

    DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

    The recommended dose of AKTEN® is 2 drops applied to the ocular surface in the area of the planned procedure. Additional anesthesia may be reapplied as needed. (2)

    DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS

    AKTEN® 3.5% (35 mg/mL) Ophthalmic Gel. (3)

    CONTRAINDICATIONS

    None. (4)

    WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

    • For Topical Ophthalmic Use: Not for Injection. (5.1)
    • Corneal Opacification: Prolonged use of a topical ocular anesthetic may produce permanent corneal opacification and ulceration with accompanying visual loss. (5.2)
    • For Administration by Healthcare Provider: AKTEN® is not intended for patient self-administration. (5.3)

    ADVERSE REACTIONS

    Most common adverse reactions are conjunctival hyperemia, corneal epithelial changes, headache, and burning upon instillation. (6)

    To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Akorn Operating Company LLC at 1-800-932-5676 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

    Revised: 2/2022

  • Table of Contents
  • 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE

    AKTEN® is indicated for ocular surface anesthesia during ophthalmologic procedures.

  • 2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

    The recommended dose of AKTEN® is 2 drops applied to the ocular surface in the area of the planned procedure. AKTEN® may be reapplied to maintain anesthetic effect.

  • 3 DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS

    AKTEN® Ophthalmic Gel, 3.5% contains 35 mg per mL of lidocaine hydrochloride for topical ophthalmic administration.

  • 4 CONTRAINDICATIONS

    None.

  • 5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

    5.1 For Topical Ophthalmic Use

    AKTEN® is indicated for topical ophthalmic use. Not for Injection.

    5.2 Corneal Opacification

    Prolonged use of a topical ocular anesthetic may produce permanent corneal opacification and ulceration with accompanying visual loss.

    5.3 For Administration by Healthcare Provider

    AKTEN® is indicated for administration under the direct supervision of a healthcare provider. AKTEN® is not intended for patient self-administration.

  • 6 ADVERSE REACTIONS

    Most common adverse reactions are conjunctival hyperemia, corneal epithelial changes, headache, and burning upon instillation.

  • 8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

    8.1 Pregnancy

    Reproduction studies for lidocaine have been performed in both rats and rabbits. There was no evidence of harm to the fetus at subcutaneous doses up to 50 mg/kg lidocaine (more than 800 fold greater than the human dose on a body weight basis) in the rat model. There are, however, no adequate and well controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, this drug should be used in pregnancy only if clearly needed.

    8.3 Nursing Mothers

    Lidocaine is secreted in human milk. The clinical significance of this observation is unknown. Although no systemic exposure is expected with administration of AKTEN®, caution should be exercised when AKTEN® is administered to a nursing woman.

    8.4 Pediatric Use

    Safety and efficacy in pediatric patients have been extrapolated from studies in older subjects and studies in pediatric patients using different formulations of lidocaine.

    8.5 Geriatric Use

    No overall clinical differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between the elderly and other adult patients.

  • 10 OVERDOSAGE

    Prolonged use of a topical ocular anesthetic may produce permanent corneal opacification and ulceration with accompanying visual loss.

    Acute emergencies from local anesthetics are generally related to high plasma levels encountered during therapeutic use of local anesthetics or to unintended subarachnoid injection of local anesthetic solution.

    However, topical ocular application of AKTEN® is not expected to result in systemic exposure.

  • 11 DESCRIPTION

    AKTEN® (lidocaine hydrochloride ophthalmic gel) 3.5% is a sterile, preservative-free, single-patient use ophthalmic gel preparation for topical ocular anesthesia. Lidocaine hydrochloride is designated chemically as acetamide, 2-(diethylamino)-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl) monohydrochloride with a molecular formula of C14H22N2O • HCl and molecular weight of 270.8. The structural formula of the active ingredient is:

    Structural Formula

    AKTEN® contains 35 mg of lidocaine hydrochloride per mL as the active ingredient. AKTEN® also contains Hypromellose, Sodium Chloride, and Water for Injection as inactive ingredients in the 1 mL tube configuration. AKTEN® contains Hypromellose, Sodium Chloride, and Water for Injection as inactive ingredients in the 5 mL in 10 mL bottle configuration. The pH may be adjusted to 5.5 to 7.5 with Hydrochloric Acid and/or Sodium Hydroxide.

  • 12 CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY

    12.1 Mechanism of Action

    AKTEN® is a local anesthetic agent that stabilizes the neuronal membrane by inhibiting the ionic fluxes required for the initiation and conduction of impulses, thereby effecting local anesthetic action. Anesthesia generally occurs between 20 seconds to 1 minute and persists for 5 to 30 minutes.

    12.3 Pharmacokinetics

    Lidocaine may be absorbed following topical administration to mucous membranes. Its rate and extent of absorption depend upon various factors such as concentration, the specific site of application, viscosity of the agent, and duration of exposure.

    The plasma binding of lidocaine is dependent on drug concentration, and the fraction bound decreases with increasing concentration. At concentrations of 1 to 4 mcg of free base per mL, 60 to 80 percent of lidocaine is protein bound. Binding is also dependent on the plasma concentration of the alpha-1-acid glycoprotein.

    Lidocaine is metabolized rapidly by the liver, and metabolites and unchanged drug are excreted by the kidneys. Biotransformation includes oxidative N-dealkylation, ring hydroxylation, cleavage of the amide linkage, and conjugation. N-dealkylation, a major pathway of biotransformation, yields the metabolites monoethylglycinexylidide and glycinexylidide. The pharmacologic/toxicologic actions of these metabolites are similar to, but less potent than, those of lidocaine. Approximately 90% of lidocaine administered is excreted in the form of various metabolites, and less than 10% is excreted unchanged. The primary metabolite in urine is a conjugate of 4-hydroxy-2, 6-dimethylaniline.

    Studies of lidocaine metabolism following intravenous bolus injections have shown that the elimination half-life of this agent is typically 1.5 to 2 hours. Because of the rate at which lidocaine is metabolized, any condition that affects liver function may alter lidocaine kinetics. The half-life may be prolonged twofold or more in patients with liver dysfunction. Renal dysfunction does not affect lidocaine kinetics but may increase the accumulation of metabolites.

  • 13 NONCLINICAL TOXICOLOGY

    13.1 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

    Long-term studies in animals have not been performed to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of AKTEN®.

  • 14 CLINICAL STUDIES

    The effect of AKTEN® on ocular anesthesia was studied in a multi-center, randomized, controlled, double-blind study.

    A total of 209 subjects were enrolled, with 54, 51, 53, and 51 subjects randomized to the sham, AKTEN® 1.5%, AKTEN® 2.5%, and AKTEN® 3.5% groups, respectively. Ocular anesthesia was achieved within 5 minutes of anesthetic application by 47 of 51 subjects (92%) in the AKTEN® 3.5% group.

    The mean time to anesthesia onset ranged from 20 seconds to 5 minutes and was not affected by AKTEN® dose. The mean time to anesthesia onset was approximately 60 seconds, with a median onset time of 40 seconds for the AKTEN® 3.5% group. Among the subjects in the AKTEN® groups who achieved anesthesia within 5 minutes, approximately 90% had achieved anesthesia within 60 seconds of application.

    The duration of anesthesia generally ranged from approximately 5 minutes to 30 minutes, with mean anesthesia durations of approximately 15 minutes for the AKTEN® 3.5% group.

    Approximately 84% of the subjects in the AKTEN® 3.5% group experienced anesthesia for at least 5 minutes, approximately 55% of subjects experienced anesthesia for 10 minutes or longer and 27% experienced anesthesia for 15 minutes or longer. The anesthetic effect of additional applications of AKTEN® has not been evaluated.

  • 16 HOW SUPPLIED/STORAGE AND HANDLING

    AKTEN® (lidocaine hydrochloride ophthalmic gel) 3.5% is supplied as a clear gel for single-patient use as follows:

    NDC 17478-792-01 1 mL fill in a white polyfoil tube*
    NDC 17478-792-25 Package of 25 units of 1 mL fill in a white polyfoil tube*
    (NDC 17478-792-01)
    NDC 17478-792-10 5 mL fill in a 10 mL natural, round plastic dropper bottle

    Storage

    Store at 15°C to 25°C (59°F to 77°F).

    Keep container closed and protected from light in the original carton until use. Discard after use.

    AKORN

    Manufactured by: Akorn Operating Company LLC
    Lake Forest, IL 60045
    *Made in Switzerland
    Patent Pending
    AE00N        Revised 2/2022

  • PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL

    Principal Display Panel Text for Container Label:

    NDC 17478-792-01

    Akten®

    (lidocaine HCl

    ophthalmic gel) 3.5%

    1 mL Sterile Rx only

    PRESERVATIVE FREE

    Principal Display Panel Text for Container Label
  • PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL

    Principal Display Panel Text for Carton Label:

    NDC 17478-792-01

    Akten®

    (lidocaine

    hydrochloride

    ophthalmic

    gel) 3.5%

    For Topical

    Ophthalmic

    Use Only

    Rx only

    1 mL Sterile

    PRESERVATIVE FREE

    For Single-Patient Use Only.

    Discard Unused Portion.

    Akorn Logo

    Principal Display Panel Text for Carton Label
  • INGREDIENTS AND APPEARANCE
    AKTEN 
    lidocaine hydrochloride gel
    Product Information
    Product TypeHUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUGItem Code (Source)NDC:17478-792
    Route of AdministrationOPHTHALMIC
    Active Ingredient/Active Moiety
    Ingredient NameBasis of StrengthStrength
    Lidocaine Hydrochloride Anhydrous (UNII: EC2CNF7XFP) (Lidocaine - UNII:98PI200987) Lidocaine Hydrochloride Anhydrous35 mg  in 1 mL
    Inactive Ingredients
    Ingredient NameStrength
    Hypromelloses (UNII: 3NXW29V3WO)  
    Sodium Chloride (UNII: 451W47IQ8X)  
    Sodium Hydroxide (UNII: 55X04QC32I)  
    Hydrochloric Acid (UNII: QTT17582CB)  
    Water (UNII: 059QF0KO0R)  
    Packaging
    #Item CodePackage DescriptionMarketing Start DateMarketing End Date
    1NDC:17478-792-011 in 1 CARTON12/07/2012
    11 mL in 1 TUBE; Type 0: Not a Combination Product
    2NDC:17478-792-2525 in 1 CARTON03/11/2014
    21 mL in 1 TUBE; Type 0: Not a Combination Product
    3NDC:17478-792-101 in 1 CARTON10/08/200804/29/2022
    35 mL in 1 BOTTLE, DROPPER; Type 0: Not a Combination Product
    Marketing Information
    Marketing CategoryApplication Number or Monograph CitationMarketing Start DateMarketing End Date
    NDANDA02222110/08/2008
    Labeler - Akorn (117696770)
    Registrant - Akorn Operating Company LLC (117693100)
    Establishment
    NameAddressID/FEIBusiness Operations
    Akorn117696840MANUFACTURE(17478-792) , ANALYSIS(17478-792) , STERILIZE(17478-792) , PACK(17478-792) , LABEL(17478-792)
    Establishment
    NameAddressID/FEIBusiness Operations
    Akorn AG482198285MANUFACTURE(17478-792) , ANALYSIS(17478-792) , PACK(17478-792) , LABEL(17478-792)