Indications
- Contains two drugs for treating high pressure inside the eye from glaucoma or other eye diseases.
- Reducing eye pressure helps prevent blindness by decreasing fluid in the eye.
- Timolol is a beta-blocker, while dorzolamide is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor.
Dosage and administration
- Read the Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist before using timolol/dorzolamide and with each refill.
- Direct any questions to your doctor or pharmacist.
- Administer this medication in the affected eye(s) as prescribed, usually one drop twice daily.
- Wash hands before applying eye drops; avoid touching the dropper tip or letting it contact the eye or any surface to prevent contamination.
- If using a product with a preservative and wearing contact lenses, remove lenses before applying drops; wait 15 minutes before reinserting lenses.
- Tilt your head back, look upward, and pull down the lower eyelid to create a pouch. Place one drop directly into the eye, then close eyes gently for 1-2 minutes.
- Apply gentle pressure at the corner of the eye near the nose to prevent medication from draining out; avoid blinking or rubbing the eye.
- Repeat steps for the other eye if directed.
- Do not rinse the dropper; replace the cap after each use.
- If using other eye medications, wait at least 5 minutes before applying them; administer eye drops before eye ointments.
- Use regularly at the same times each day for maximum benefit; continue use even if feeling well, as most individuals with glaucoma or high eye pressure don’t experience symptoms.
Side effects
- Temporary blurred vision, burning/stinging/itching/redness of the eye, watery eyes, dry eyes, sensation of something in the eye, sensitivity to light, strange taste in mouth, or headache may occur; inform your doctor or pharmacist if these effects persist or worsen.
- The medication is prescribed because its benefits outweigh the risks for most people.
- Notify your doctor immediately if you experience serious side effects such as dizziness, slow/irregular heartbeat, muscle weakness, changes in mental/mood, coldness/numbness/pain in hands or feet, vision changes, signs of kidney stones, yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine, unusual tiredness/weakness, easy bruising/bleeding, or signs of infection.
- Seek medical help promptly for very serious side effects like persistent eye redness or discharge, eye or eyelid swelling, eye pain, sudden unexplained weight gain, chest pain, weakness on one side of the body, trouble speaking, confusion, severe dizziness, or fainting.
- Serious allergic reactions to the drug are rare but require immediate medical attention; symptoms include rash, swelling, severe dizziness, or difficulty breathing.
- This list may not include all possible side effects; contact your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any other effects not listed here.
Precautions
- Inform your doctor or pharmacist of any allergies to timolol, dorzolamide, or other substances.
- This medication may contain inactive ingredients like preservatives (e.g., benzalkonium chloride) that can cause allergic reactions; consult your pharmacist for details.
- Disclose your medical history, especially lung disease (e.g., asthma, COPD), certain irregular heartbeats, heart disease (e.g., heart failure), kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, overactive thyroid, muscle weakness disorders, low blood flow to the brain, or severe allergies.
- If you develop an eye infection, injury, or undergo eye surgery, consult your doctor about continuing use of the current bottle; you may need to start a new bottle.
- Before surgery, inform your doctor or dentist of all products you use, including prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and herbal products.
- This medication may mask the fast/pounding heartbeat associated with low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), particularly in diabetes patients. Other symptoms of low blood sugar, like dizziness and sweating, are not affected.
- It may also make blood sugar control more challenging in diabetes patients; monitor blood sugar levels regularly and inform your doctor of any high blood sugar symptoms.
- Temporary blurred vision may occur after applying the medication; refrain from driving or operating machinery until vision clears.
- Use during pregnancy only if clearly needed; discuss risks and benefits with your doctor.
- Timolol passes into breast milk; consult your doctor before breastfeeding, as it’s unknown if dorzolamide does the same.