 Using brimonidine and timolol (Combigan)
Dear Patient,
Your health care provider has prescribed a combination medication to treat your glaucoma or increased intraocular pressure. This medication contains an alpha blocker (brimonidine) and a beta blocker (timolol) both of which work to decrease the pressure inside your eye to help prevent nerve damage that may occur as a result of high pressure. By acting at two sites, this medication may be more effective than using one medication alone. The brand name of this medication is Combigan.
How you’ll use Combigan
You’ll put one drop of the Combigan solution into the affected eye or eyes, twice a day. Put the drops in about 12 hours apart.
What to do if you miss a dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Take the next dose at the regular time. Don’t take more than two doses per day.
What to do about side effects
Notify your health care provider if you experience side effects to this medication.
Common: drowsiness; blurred vision (don’t drive or operate dangerous machinery until you know how this medication will affect you), burning, eye irritation.
Less common: difficulty breathing, heart palpitations.
What you must know about other medications
This medication may be less effective if it’s combined with certain other medications. Tell all of your health care providers that you’re taking this medication. If you’re taking other topical ophthalmic drugs, administer them at least 5 minutes apart.
Special directions
- To put in the eye drop, tilt your head back, gently grasp the lower eyelid and pull the eyelid away from the eyeball; instill the drop in the pouch formed by the eyelid; release the eyelid slowly and close your eye. Look downward and apply gentle pressure to the inside corner of the eye.
- Don’t touch the tip of the applicator to your eyeball, or to any other surface. This could contaminate the contents and could result in a serious eye infection that could threaten your vision.
- Remove soft contact lenses before applying; they may be reinserted 15 minutes after you have inserted the eye drop.
- If you’re using other topical eye preparations, put the drops in at least 5 minutes apart.
- If you’re diabetic, this medication may mask the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia; if you’re taking antidiabetics, check your blood sugar more frequently.
Keep in mind
- It isn’t known if this medication could affect an unborn baby; use of contraceptives is advised.
- It isn’t known how this medication could affect a breast-fed baby. Because of the potential for serious adverse effects on an infant, you should use another method of feeding the baby while you’re taking this medication.
- Your health care provider will monitor your eye pressure periodically to evaluate the effects of this medication and to determine if your eye pressure is adequately controlled.
- Report palpitations, difficulty breathing, eye pain or swelling, or severe muscle weakness.
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