Beta-adrenergic blocker (Ophthalmic)

Class Name: beta-adrenergic blocker (Ophthalmic route)

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Betagan
• Betimol
• Betoptic S
• Istalol
• Ocupress
• Optipranolol
• Timoptic Ocudose
• Timoptic Ocumeter
• Timoptic Ocumeter Plus
• Timoptic-XE Ocumeter
• Timoptic-XE Ocumeter Plus

In Canada

• Alti-Timolol Maleate
• Apo-Levobunolol
• Apo-Timop
• Betagan 0.25%
• Betagan 0.5%
• Betoptic
• Crown-Tim
• Dom-Timolol
• Novo-Betaxolol
• Novo-Timol
• Ophtho-Bunolol
• Pms-Levobunolol

Available Dosage Forms:

• Suspension
• Solution
• Gel Forming Solution

Uses for this Medicine

Beta-adrenergic blocking agents for the eye are used to treat certain types of glaucoma. They appear to work by reducing the production of fluid in the eye. This lowers the pressure in the eye.

These medicines are available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before using this Medicine

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to medicines in this group or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Infants may be especially sensitive to the effects of ophthalmic beta-adrenergic blocking agents. This may increase the chance of side effects during treatment.

Geriatric

Elderly people are especially sensitive to the effects of ophthalmic beta-adrenergic blocking agents. If too much medicine is absorbed into the body, the chance of side effects during treatment may be increased.

Pregnancy

Ophthalmic beta-adrenergic blocking agents may be absorbed into the body. These medicines have not been studied in pregnant women. Studies in animals have not shown that betaxolol, levobunolol, metipranolol, or timolol causes birth defects. However, high doses of levobetaxolol given by mouth to pregnant rabbits have been shown to cause birth defects in rabbit babies, and very large doses of carteolol given by mouth to pregnant rats have been shown to cause wavy ribs in rat babies. In addition, some studies in animals have shown that beta-adrenergic blocking agents increase the chance of death in the animal fetus. Before using ophthalmic beta-adrenergic blocking agents, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast Feeding

Betaxolol and timolol, and maybe other beta-adrenergic blocking agents, when taken by mouth, may pass into the breast milk. Since ophthalmic beta-adrenergic blocking agents may be absorbed into the body, they, too, may pass into the breast milk. However, it is not known whether ophthalmic beta-adrenergic blocking agents pass into the breast milk, and these medicines have not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking any of these medicines, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicin...