On July 25, the online sales of atropine eye drops, the “magic medicine for myopia”, were suspended and made a hot search. Many parents are concerned about this “Internet celebrity potion” and worry that they will not be able to buy it.
On July 22, Shenyang Xingqi Eye Hospital, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Xingqi Eye Medicine, issued a notice saying that the hospital’s Internet hospital suspends the prescription of 0.01% atropine sulfate eye drops in the hospital, and patients can To the physical hospital prescription of Xingqi Eye Hospital. The release of this notice confirms the news that the low-concentration atropine in-hospital preparations that have been widely circulated are about to stop being sold on the Internet.
According to the National Drug Clinical Trial Registration and Information Publicity Platform, there are currently 8 clinical trials on “Atropine Sulfate Eye Drops” in progress. Most of the symptoms are “delaying the progression of myopia in children”. Up to now, there is no atropine eye drop approved by the Food and Drug Administration in China.
Data show that atropine eye drops is a kind of M choline receptor inhibitor. It was used to rescue organophosphorus poisoning, anesthesia, mydriasis and iritis. As early as 2005, this drug was The first study in Singapore to delay myopia. At present, in Singapore, Japan, and other countries, there are already low-concentration atropine products on the market, with an annual cost of about 3,000 to 4,000 yuan.
In my country, many parents are also keen to buy atropine eye drops, making atropine a popular eye drop. On December 23, 2021, Henan’s first in-hospital preparation to inhibit the development of myopia in children and adolescents, 0.01% atropine sulfate eye drops, was approved and put on the shelves in Henan Provincial People’s Hospital. As soon as the news came out, parents queued up to buy eye drops.
“Myopia medicine” atropine eye drops has been suspended online sales, what is the reality? The reporter opened Taobao and searched for “atropine sulfate eye drops”, and found that there were still shops selling it. The product details page of the store shows that the product is shipped from Taiwan, China. After asking the customer service, it is understood that it is overseas direct mail and customs clearance in Hong Kong. The purchase needs to provide an ID photo. The customer service said that the announcement of the suspension of online sales of Atropine should be aimed at mainland online sales. They belong to normal overseas direct mail and can be shipped and sold normally. There are also stores that show delivery from Henan. The customer service said that they purchased through the hospital and can place orders for delivery normally.
The reporter asked the local ophthalmology hospital to get the reply that the online channel has been suspended, and the doctor needs to issue a prescription to buy it in the hospital.
Some experts said that drugs such as 0.01% atropine need to be used under the guidance of a doctor. It is contraindicated in patients with glaucoma or prone to glaucoma. It is contraindicated in patients allergic to scopolamine alkaloids. When allergic conjunctivitis or other eye inflammation occurs, it should be used after recovery. Children with a family history of high myopia, other congenital eye or systemic diseases, or other risk factors, please follow the doctor’s advice and review them regularly.
Xiaoxiang Morning News reporter Xia Sheng intern Cheng Yue and Liu Zhibiao
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