Alphagan Eye Drops

Drugs

Generic Name: Brimonidine tartrate
Product Name: Alphagan Eye Drops

Indication of Alphagan Eye Drops
Action of Alphagan Eye Drops
Dose advice of Alphagan Eye Drops
Schedule of Alphagan Eye Drops
Common side effects of Alphagan Eye Drops
Uncommon side effects of Alphagan Eye Drops
Reference

Indication of Alphagan Eye Drops:

Alphagan eye drops are used to treat glaucoma.
Alphagan eye drops are also used to lower high pressure in the eye.

Action of Alphagan Eye Drops:

Alphagan contains a drug called brimonidine. Brimonidine reduces the fluid produced in the eye and increases the flow of fluid out of the eye, thus lowering the pressure of the eye.

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Dose advice of Alphagan Eye Drops:

Alphagan is only available via prescription from your doctor.

The normal recommended dose is instillation of 1 drop every 12 hours (twice daily) into the affected eye(s). However, your doctor may prescribe a different dose.
It is possible that you may experience drowsiness or dizziness with this medication. If affected avoid driving or operating machinery.
Immediately after instilling the drop, close your eyes, place your index finger against the inside corner of your eye, and press against your nose for approximately 2 minutes. This prevents the drop from draining via your tear duct to your nose and throat, where it can be absorbed to other parts of the body.
If you wear soft contact lenses, remove them before instilling the eye drops. Wait 15 minutes before inserting them again. This is to prevent the preservative in the eye drop from accumulating in your contact lenses.
It is important you notify your doctor if you are pregnant (Alphagan falls in the ADEC Pregnancy Category B1) or breastfeeding, taking any medications or have any heart conditions, so that your doctor can discuss the risks and benefits of using this medication during these times.
If you are using other eye drops, wait at least 5 minutes between instilling each eye drop to prevent them from washing out.

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Schedule of Alphagan Eye Drops:

Schedule 4

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Common side effects of Alphagan Eye Drops:

All medicines have side effects. Some side effects can be serious, but the most common ones are mild. Common side effects occurring in more than 1% of patients prescribed Alphagan include:

Dizziness
Fatigue
Dry eyes
Dry mouth and nose
Itchy eyes
Redness and swelling of the eye, eyelid and around the eye
Blurry vision
Headache
Abnormal taste
Burning, stinging of the eye or feeling that something is in the eye

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Uncommon side effects of Alphagan Eye Drops:

Uncommon side effects occur in less than 1% of patients. Do not be alarmed by this list. A patient will not necessarily experience any of these:

Consult your doctor if you experience any of the above symptoms, or any other unusual or abnormal symptoms.

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Reference:

Australian Medicines Handbook. Brimonidine. [Monograph online]AMH Pty Ltd 2007. [Cited December 5, 2007]. Available from: http://www.amh.net.au
Alphagan. MIMS Online. [Monograph online] MIMS Australia Pty Ltd 2007. [Cited December 5, 2007]. Available from: http://www.mims/com.au
Lazo, J, Gilman A, Brunton L, Parker K. Goodman & Gilman's the pharmacological basis of therapeutics.11th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2005

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For further information talk to your doctor.