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Treatments

Glaucoma Medications

Many glaucoma medications are available to lower high eye pressure (IOP). If you have problems with a medication, you may be able to try another, or use a different dosage. You will need to use the drops and/or pills as long as they help control your eye pressure.

Generally, your doctor is trying to get your IOP to the “target pressure,” the level at which it will not cause further damage to your optic nerve. This target pressure is different in every person and may even change during treatment.

The most common topical glaucoma medications are eye drops. The classes of medication include:


Prostaglandin analogues
This class of drugs works at the drainage area of the eye to help the fluid flow through pathways other than the trabecular meshwork drainage system. These drugs include travoprost (TRAVATAN Z® Solution and TRAVATAN® Solution), latanoprost (XALATAN*) and bimatoprost (LUMIGAN*). Possible side effects from this glaucoma medication type include changes in eye color, darkening of eyelid skin and gradual growth of eyelashes. These changes may be permanent.

INDICATION
XALATAN* is for the treatment of high eye pressure/intraocular pressure (IOP) in people with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

INDICATION
LUMIGAN* is for the treatment of high eye pressure/intraocular pressure (IOP) in people with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

*Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
These drugs reduce the amount of aqueous humor the eye produces. They include brinzolamide (AZOPT® Suspension) and dorzolamide. If you have severe kidney disease or liver diseases, talk to your doctor before taking these drugs. Common side effects of brinzolamide (AZOPT® Suspension) include temporary blurred vision after applying the drug, and bitter, sour or unusual taste in the mouth. Notify your eye doctor if you have kidney stones, since topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitors may make that condition worse. Common side effects of dorzolamide include bitter taste in the mouth, burning or stinging when drops are applied, and foreign body sensation in the eye.
Beta blockers
These drugs reduce the rate at which fluid flows into the eye, as well as the amount of fluid your eye produces. Although the oral form of this drug is commonly used to treat high blood pressure and chest pain (angina), and may lower intraocular pressure, the eye drop form is used to treat glaucoma. Common medications include betaxolol (BETOPTIC S* Suspension), carteolol (OCUPRESS*), levobunolol (BETAGAN*), metipranolol (OPTIPRANOLOL*), and timolol (BETIMOL*, TIMOPTIC*, Timolol GFS and TIMOPTIC-XE*). Some of the side effects from this glaucoma medication type include low blood pressure, slow heart rate, and general fatigue. If you have asthma, let your eye doctor know.

*Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Alpha-adrenergic agonists
These drops reduce the amount of aqueous fluid the eye produces while increasing the amount that flows outward. Drugs include apraclonidine (IOPIDINE* Solution) and brimonidine (ALPHAGAN* P). These drugs are often prescribed when other IOP-lowering medications fail to sufficiently lower intraocular pressure. A higher concentration of this drug also is used after some kinds of glaucoma laser surgery to prevent or control a rise in eye pressure that commonly occurs after the surgical procedure. Common side effects from these glaucoma medication types include dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, eye discomfort, and sensitivity of the eyes to light. The drug can increase blood pressure and aggravate depression. Additionally, brimonidine and apraclonidine should not be used while taking, or within two weeks of taking, certain kinds of antidepressant drugs called monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors.

*Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Miotics or cholinergic agents
These drugs help open the trabecular meshwork drainage system and increase the rate at which the fluid, or aqueous humor, flows out of your eye. The most common is pilocarpine (ISOPTO* CARPINE Solution and PILOCAR*). Pilocarpine usually constricts the pupil, which lets less light into the eye, resulting in darkened or dim vision and reduced night vision. Blurred vision, irritation and brow ache may also occur. Carbachol (CARBASTAT* CARBOPTIC Solution, ISOPTO* CARBACHOL Solution, and MIOSTAT* intraocular Solution) has similar but somewhat stronger effects.

*Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Epinephrine compounds
These glaucoma medications also increase the rate at which the aqueous fluid flows out of the eye while decreasing the rate at which the fluid is produced. They include epinephrine (EPIFRIN*) and dipivefrin (PROPINE*). Common side effects include headache, stinging, burning, redness or other eye irritation, and watery eyes.

*Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Fixed combinations
Combination medication is the use of two or more drugs working together to treat the condition. Examples of these are COMBIGAN*, a combination of beta blocker and alpha agonist, and COSOPT*, a combination of beta blocker and carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. Side effects of COMBIGAN* include the symptoms of beta blockers and alpha agonists. Side effects of COSOPT* include burning and/or stinging of the eyes and bitter taste.

*Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

INDICATION
TRAVATAN Z® Solution is a prescription medicine to lower eye pressure in patients with glaucoma who have trouble tolerating their current medicine or for whom that medication is not working well enough.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Contraindications:
Do not use TRAVATAN Z® Solution if you are hypersensitive to travoprost or any other ingredients in this product.
Precautions and Warnings:
Some patients may experience darkening of the iris (the colored part of the eye) which is most noticeable in patients who only receive treatment in one eye. Patients may also experience growth and thickening of their eyelashes, and/or darkening of the skin around the eye. These changes may be permanent.
Side Effects:
The most common side effect with TRAVATAN Z® Solution is redness of the eye (also known as ocular hyperemia). Other side effects include eye discomfort, a feeling of something in the eye, eye pain and itching.

For more information, please see the full prescribing information