Preservative system for ophthalmic formulations

Abstract

Stable, clear, antimicrobially effective, ophthalmic formulations are disclosed which provide an antimicrobially effective preservative. The formulations include an ophthalmologically effective amount of a drug, which is a --COOH group-containing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) alone or in combination with an antibiotic drug, and a preservative system formed of a quaternary ammonium preservative and a nonionic polyoxyethylated octylphenol surfactant, all in an aqueous vehicle. The preservative system can be used with other formulations which require the preservative to be ophthamologically acceptable and antimicrobially effective. These formulations are useful for treating diseases and/or conditions that are either caused by, associated with or accompanied by inflammatory processes, including, among others, glaucoma, cystoid macular edema, uveitis, diabetic retinopathy and conjunctivitis, or any trauma caused by eye surgery or eye injury. When the formulation is further comprised of an ophthalmologically acceptable antibiotic, the antibiotic is preferably tobramycin which has been found not to interfere with the rate of diffusion of the NSAID. The combination of the NSAID and antibiotic is particularly effective in simultaneously preventing and/or eliminating infection while preventing and/or eliminating inflammation.