O General Information and Indications:
Ophthalmic brimonidine is used to lower
pressure in the eyes in patients who have glaucoma (high pressure in the
eyes that may damage nerves and cause vision loss) and ocular hypertension
(pressure in the eyes that is higher than normal but not high enough to
cause vision loss). Brimonidine is in a class of drugs called alpha
adrenergic agonists. Brimonidine works by decreasing the amount of fluid in
the eyes.
O Information For Users:
Brimonidine ophthalmic comes as a solution (liquid) to
instill in the eyes. It is usually instilled in the affected eye(s) three
times a day. Use brimonidine eye drops at around the same times every day,
and try to space your three daily doses about 8 hours apart. Follow the
directions on your prescription label, ask your doctor or pharmacist If you
have any questions. Use brimonidine eye drops exactly as directed. Do not
use more or less of them or use them more often than prescribed by your
doctor.
Brimonidine eye drops may control your condition, but will not cure it.
Continue to use brimonidine eye drops even if you feel well. Do not stop
using brimonidine eye drops without informing your doctor.
To use the eye drops, follow these steps:
o Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
o Use a mirror or have someone else put the drops in your eye.
o Remove the protective cap. Make sure that the end of the dropper is not
chipped or cracked.
o Avoid touching the dropper tip against your eye or anything else.
o Hold the dropper tip down at all times to prevent drops from flowing back
into the bottle and contaminating the remaining contents.
o Lie down or tilt your head back.
o Holding the bottle between your thumb and index finger, place the dropper
tip as near as possible to your eyelid without touching it.
o Brace the remaining fingers of that hand against your cheek or nose.
o With the index finger of your other hand, pull the lower lid of the eye
down to form a pocket.
o Drop the prescribed number of drops into the pocket made by the lower lid
and the eye. Placing drops on the surface of the eyeball can cause stinging.
o Close your eye and keep it closed for a few minutes. Do not blink.
o Replace and tighten the cap right away. Do not wipe or rinse it off.
o Wipe off any excess liquid from your cheek with a clean tissue. Wash your
hands again.
O Special
precautions:
o Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are
allergic to brimonidine eye drops or any other medications.
o do not use brimonidine eye drops if you are taking a monoamine oxidase
inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl),
or tranylcypromine (Parnate).
o Inform your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription
medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are
taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following:
antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine (Asendin),
clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan),
imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil),
and trimipramine (Surmontil); barbiturates such as phenobarbital and
secobarbital (Seconal); digoxin (Lanoxin); medications for anxiety, high
blood pressure, mental illness, pain, or seizures; sedatives; sleeping
pills; and tranquilizers.Your doctor may need to change the doses of your
medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
o if you are using any other eye drops, instill them 5 minutes before or 5
minutes after you instill brimonidine eye drops.
o Inform your doctor if you often feel dizzy when you sit or stand from a
lying position and if you have or have ever had depression; conditions that
affect your blood circulation including Raynaud's disease (a condition that
causes attacks of low blood circulation to the fingers and toes),
thromboangiitis obliterans (a condition that causes poor blood circulation
in the hands and feet), and problems with blood flow to your heart or brain;
or heart, kidney, or liver disease.
o Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you
become pregnant while you are using brimonidine eye drops, call your doctor.
Do not breastfeed while you are using brimonidine eye drops.
o if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, Inform your doctor or
dentist that you are using brimonidine eye drops.
o you should know that brimonidine eye drops may make you drowsy. Your
vision may be blurry for a few minutes after you instill the eye drops. Do
not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication
affects you.
o ask your doctor about the safe use of alcohol while you are using
brimonidine eye drops. Alcohol can make the drowsiness caused by brimonidine
eye drops worse.
o Inform your doctor if you wear soft contact lenses. Remove your soft
contact lenses before instilling brimonidine eye drops and wait at least 15
minutes after using the medication to replace your lenses.
O
Possible Adverse
Effects:
Brimonidine eye drops may cause adverse
effects. Inform your doctor if any of the following symptoms are severe or
do not go away:
o itchy, irritated, red, stinging, or burning eyes
o dry eyes
o watery or runny eyes
o red or swollen eyelids
o sensitivity to light
o blurred vision (Impaired vision)
o headache
o drowsiness
o difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
o dry mouth
o runny nose and other cold symptoms
o cough
o sore throat
o flu-like symptoms
o pain or pressure in the face
o heartburn
Some adverse effects could be serious. If you have any of the following
symptoms, call your doctor without delay:
o rash
o difficulty breathing
o seeing specks or flashes of light
o blind spots
o fainting
o dizziness
o upset stomach
O Brand Name(s):
o Alphagan P® |
