Why is this medication prescribed?
Ophthalmic Brinzolamide is used to treat glaucoma, a disorder that worsens visual loss by raising pressure inside the eye. The drug brinzolamide belongs to the group of drugs known as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. It lessens the eye’s pressure.
How should this medicine be used?
Ophthalmic brinzolamide is available as a liquid solution that is injected into the eyes. Typically, it is administered three times each day. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. As prescribed, use brinzolamide eye drops. Use it only as directed by your doctor, neither more nor less often.
Glaucoma is not cured with brinzolamide eye drops, although they do control it. Even if you feel better, continue to use brinzolamide eye drops. Without first seeing your doctor, do not stop using brinzolamide eye drops.
Follow these steps to administer the eye drops:
- Use soap and water to thoroughly wash your hands.
- Make sure the dropper tip is not cracked or chipped by inspecting it.
- Eye drops and droppers must be kept clean; avoid touching the dropper tip to your eye or anything else.
- Pull your lower eyelid down to create a pocket with your index finger while cocking your head back.
- With your other hand, place the dropper as near to your eye as you can without touching it, tip down.
- Place the hand’s remaining fingers against your face.
- Squeeze the dropper gently while looking up so that a single drop falls into the lower eyelid’s pocket. Your index finger should be taken off the lower eyelid.
- Tip your head down so that you are looking at the floor while closing your eyes for two to three minutes. Avoid blinking or squeezing your eyelids.
- Give the tear duct a slight squeeze with your finger.
- Use a tissue to remove any extra liquid from your face.
- Wait at least 5 minutes before administering the subsequent drop if you need to use more than one in the same eye.
- Replace and secure the dropper bottle’s cap. Never rinse or clean the dropper tip.
- To get rid of any medication, wash your hands.
Other uses for this medicine
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you’re interested in using this medication for any other conditions.
What special precautions should I follow?
Before using brinzolamide eye drops,
- If you have any allergies, including those to other antibiotics, sulfa medications, or brinzolamide eye drops, tell your doctor and pharmacist right away.
- In particular, mention acetazolamide (Diamox), dichlorphenamide (Daranide), eye medications, methazolamide (Neptazane), products containing aspirin, vitamins, and herbal products to your doctor and pharmacist if you take any prescription or over-the-counter medications.
- If you are applying another topical eye medication, do so 10 minutes either before or after applying brinzolamide eye drops.
- If you have kidney or liver problems now or in the past, let your doctor know.
- Inform your doctor if you are expecting, intend to become pregnant, or are nursing a baby.
- Inform the surgeon or dentist that you are using brinzolamide eye drops if you are having surgery, including dental surgery.
- Call your doctor to find out if you should continue using the same eye drop bottle if you have an eye injury or infection.
- If you wear soft contact lenses, let your doctor know. After using the medication, wait at least 15 minutes before inserting soft contact lenses.
- After placing the drops, your vision may become blurry, so proceed with caution when driving or operating machinery.
What should I do if I forget a dose?
The missed dose should be administered as soon as you remember. If the next dose is soon due, skip the missed one and carry on with your regular dosing plan. To make up for a missing dose, do not provide a second dose.
What side effects can this medication cause?
Side effects from brinzolamide eye drops are possible. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right away:
- Distorted vision
- Strange, sour, or bitter flavour after ingesting the drops
- Wet eyes
- Noticing anything in your eye
- Headache
- Clogged nose
Call your doctor right away and stop using brinzolamide eye drops if you experience any of the following signs:
- Itchy skin or eyes
- Eye, tongue, lip, or skin redness or swelling
- Moist eyes
- Eye discomfort
- Hives, a skin rash, or other skin changes
- Breathing or swallowing challenges
- Throat ache
- Fever
- Chest pain
You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you experience a serious side effect.
What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?
Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Store it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature.
Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the best way to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back program, visit the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for more information.
As many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and immediately stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org
What other information should I know?
Keep all of your doctor’s appointments. To determine how well you respond to brinzolamide eye drops, your doctor may prescribe specific eye exams.
Do not share your medication with anyone else. Any queries you may have regarding prescription refills should be directed to your pharmacist.
You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information on you in case of emergencies.
Brand names
- Azopt®
