Brimonidine and Timolol are combined in this medicine.
This medicine is used to treat increased pressure in the eye.
Instil Brimonidine + Timolol eye drop solution in the affected eye(s) exactly as directed by your doctor or according to the instructions on the label. Do not use more or less than instructed by your doctor.
To use the eye drop solution, follow these steps:
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before using the eye drops.
- Tilt your head slightly backwards. With the index finger, pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to form a pouch. Look upward and instil the required number of drops inside the lower eyelid.
- Close your eye and do not blink for a few seconds. Using your index finger, gently press the inner corner of your eye (near the nose bridge) for 1-2 minutes. This may help prevent the absorption of Brimonidine + Timolol into other parts of the body.
- Wipe any excess liquid from your face with a clean tissue.
- Replace and tighten the cap of the bottle.
Do not allow the tip of the dropper of this medicine to touch your eyes, eyelids, or any other surface. Recap the eye drop immediately after use. If the eye drop becomes contaminated, it could cause an infection in your eyes.
If you have been given any other eye drops or medicines to be used together with this medicine, wait for at least 5 minutes before using the other medicine.
Do not share your eye drops with anyone else.
Some brands of Brimonidine + Timolol contain benzalkonium chloride as a preservative. This may discolour soft contact lenses and cause eye irritation. If you are wearing contact lenses, you should remove them before instilling the eye drops. Wait for at least 15 minutes before reinserting your lenses.
Instil the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your normal dosing schedule.
DO NOT double a dose to make up for a missed dose.
If you often forget to instil your medicine, let your doctor and pharmacist know.
Alert your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- lung disease e.g. current or history of asthma, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (a long-term lung disease that causes airflow obstruction making it hard to breathe)
- heart disease e.g. heart rhythm disorder, 2nd- or 3rd-degree heart block, uncontrolled heart failure (weakness and inability of the heart to pump blood), cardiogenic shock (a serious sudden condition when the heart cannot supply enough oxygen-rich blood to the brain and vital organs of the body)
as Brimonidine + Timolol may not be suitable for you.
Do not give this medicine to children below 2 years old unless instructed by the doctor.
Do not use Brimonidine + Timolol with medicines used to treat depression. Please see the section "Can I use this with other medicines?" below for more information.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- other heart diseases e.g. controlled heart failure, Prinzmetal's angina (a rare type of chest pain that occurs when a person is at rest), 1st-degree heart block
- orthostatic hypotension (a sudden fall in blood pressure when standing up from a sitting or lying down position)
- poor blood circulation disease e.g. Raynaud's disease (a condition which makes the toes and fingers numb and pale when feeling cold or stressed)
- mild or moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- history of breathing problems other than asthma
- history of severe allergic reactions to different allergens
- diabetes
- metabolic acidosis (a condition when there is too much acid in the blood)
- untreated phaeochromocytoma (rare tumour of the adrenal gland causing high blood pressure)
- overactive thyroid gland
- other eye diseases e.g. dry eye, corneal disease (a condition affecting the clear outer layer of the eye)
- depression
- disease of the blood vessels supplying the brain
- thromboangiitis obliterans (a rare disease of the small blood vessels in the hands and feet wherein the blood vessels become inflamed and blocked with blood clots)
- myasthenia gravis (muscle weakness disorder)
- kidney disease
- liver disease
Let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
If you are going to have an operation, including minor surgery and dental work, inform your doctor or dentist that you are using Brimonidine + Timolol.
Why is it important to keep my appointments with the doctor?
Keep your appointments with your doctor. Your doctor needs to monitor your condition and check your response to the medication regularly.
- Routine eye examination may be done while you are being treated with this medicine. Your doctor will advise you about how often you need to have an eye test.
- Your blood pressure may rise or fall to unsafe levels without you noticing it. Monitor your blood pressure regularly during treatment.
Brimonidine + Timolol may cause drowsiness, tiredness, or blurred vision. If affected, do not drive or take part in any activity in which you need to be alert or need to see clearly.
Other side effects include any of the following: headache, dry mouth, and eye discomforts such as irritation, itching, redness, swelling, pain, dryness, foreign body sensation, and burning sensation.
Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following:
- signs and symptoms of heart failure e.g. rapid or irregular heartbeat accompanied by breathlessness, weakness and swelling in the arms, legs, ankles, or feet
- weakness of the eye muscles, double vision, drooping of eyelids
- signs and symptoms of breathing distress e.g. chest tightness, wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Do not use Brimonidine + Timolol with certain medicines for depression, namely mianserin and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) such as amitriptyline, desipramine, and doxepin.
Do not use this medicine if you are currently taking or have taken another type of medicine to treat depression known as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid, phenelzine, and tranylcypromine in the last 14 days.
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of these medicines:
- medicines for high blood pressure e.g. clonidine, nifedipine, atenolol, reserpine, guanethidine
- medicines for irregular or abnormal heartbeat e.g. amiodarone, quinidine, digoxin
- other medicines to treat depression e.g. fluoxetine, paroxetine
- medicines for diabetes
- strong painkillers e.g. oxycodone, fentanyl
- medicines for epilepsy (fits or seizures) e.g. phenobarbital
- epinephrine (medicine used for emergency treatment of severe allergic reactions)
- medicines to block pain and sensation e.g. lidocaine
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Brimonidine + Timolol.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking or using any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements, and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol. Alcohol intake may worsen the drowsiness caused by Brimonidine + Timolol.
Store below 25°C, away from the reach of children.
Protect from light.
Throw away any remaining eye drops 4 weeks after opening. Mark the date of opening on the eye drop bottle so that you know when to discard it.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
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