Brimonidine Tartrate + Benzalkonium Chloride eye prep

Indications

Brimonidine Tartrate + Benzalkonium Chloride eye prep is used for: Open-angle glaucoma, Ocular hypertension

Adult Dose

The recommended dose is one drop in the affected eye(s) three times daily. Shake well before use. Ophthalmic suspension may be used concomitantly with other topical ophthalmic drug products to lower intraocular pressure. If more than one topical ophthalmic drug is being used, the drugs should be administered at least five (5) minutes apart.

Child Dose

Renal Dose

Administration

Contra Indications

Hypersensitivity. Patients receiving MAO inhibitor therapy.

Precautions

Patients wearing soft contact lenses should wait for at least 15 min after instilling brimonidine tartrate before inserting soft contact lenses. Renal or hepatic impairment. CV disease. Use with caution in patients with depression, cerebral or coronary insufficiency, Raynaud's phenomenon, orthostatic hypotension or thromboangitis obliterans. Pregnancy, lactation.

Pregnancy-Lactation

Pregnancy Category: C Lactation: Unknown whether distributed in human breast milk; do not breast feed

Interactions

Possibility of an additive or potentiating effect with CNS depressants e.g. alcohol, barbiturates, opiates, sedatives or anaesthetics. Caution when used with beta-blockers (ophthalmic and systemic), antihypertensives or cardiac glycosides. TCAs can affect the metabolism and uptake of circulating amines.

Adverse Effects

Side effects of Brimonidine Tartrate + Benzalkonium Chloride eye prep : Oral dryness; ocular hyperaemia, burning and stinging; headache, blurring of vision; foreign body sensation, fatigue or drowsiness; conjunctival follicles, ocular allergic reactions and ocular pruritus. Corneal staining or erosion, photophobia, eyelid erythema, ocular ache and pain, ocular dryness, tearing; upper respiratory symptoms; eyelid oedema, conjunctival oedema, dizziness, blepharitis, ocular irritation; GI symptoms; asthaenia; conjunctival blanching, abnormal vision and muscular pain.

Mechanism of Action

Brimonidine is an alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist which works to reduce aqueous humor production and increase uveoscleral flow. Benzalkonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium antiseptic and disinfectant. It is also used as an antimicrobial preservative for pharmaceutical products. It is also used for the disinfection of rigid contact lenses.