Alphagan (Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution Eye Drops)

Alphagan (Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution Eye Drops) work?

Alphagan (Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution Eye Drops) contain the active ingredient Alphagan (Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution Eye Drops), which is a type of medicine called an alpha agonist. It works by stimulating alpha receptors found on blood vessels in the eye.

The pressure within the eyeball is naturally maintained by a continuous flow of liquid called aqueous humour through the eyeball. Aqueous humour is produced by a part of the eye called the ciliary body. It drains out of the eyeball through channels called the trabecular meshwork. If the outflow of aqueous humour is blocked, as in glaucoma, the aqueous humour builds up inside the eye, increasing the pressure within the eyeball. This pressure needs to be reduced, as otherwise it can damage the optic nerve and impair vision as a result.

Alphagan (Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution Eye Drops) stimulates alpha receptors found on the blood vessels that supply the ciliary body. This causes the blood vessels to constrict, and reduces the amount of watery fluid that filters out of the blood vessels to form aqueous humour.

Alphagan (Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution Eye Drops) therefore works by reducing the inflow of aqueous humour into the eyeball, which decreases the pressure within the eye. It is used to treat conditions where there is raised pressure in the eye, such as glaucoma.

Alphagan (Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution Eye Drops) are used to treat glaucoma in people who cannot use beta-blocker eye drops. They may also be used in conjunction with other types of eye drop, for example beta-blockers or prostglandin analogues, to treat glaucoma in people whose eye pressure has not been lowered sufficiently with one medicine.

Eye drops are used to produce a local effect in the eye, with minimal effect on other parts of the body. You can further minimise the amount of medicine that is absorbed into your bloodstream and increase the local action in the eye by pressing on your tear duct (the corner of the eye closest to the nose) while putting in the eye drops and for a minute after.

Use with caution in

• Disease involving the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular disease).
• Decreased blood supply to the heart (coronary insufficiency), eg people with angina.
• Decreased blood supply to the brain (cerebral insufficiency), eg people who have had a stroke or mini-stroke (transient ischaemic attack).
• People who experience drops in blood pressure when moving from lying down to sitting or standing, that result in dizziness and light-headedness (postural hypotension).
• Narrowing of the blood vessels in the hands, causing numb and painful fingers (Raynaud's phenomenon).
• Progressive disease involving narrowing of the blood vessels in the legs (thromboangiitis obliterans).
• Decreased kidney function.
• Decreased liver function.

Not to be used in

• People taking monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) or tricyclic antidepressants or mianserin.
• Babies and infants under two years of age.

This medicine is not recommended for children under 12 years of age. If this medicine is prescribed for children between 2 and 12 years of age it should be done with caution and the child closely monitored, because the medicine very commonly causes sleepiness in this age group, particularly in children wieghing less than 20kg.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.

Alphagan (Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution Eye Drops) Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Just because a side effect is stated here does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

• Red eye due to increased blood supply (hyperaemia).
• Eye burning or stinging.
• Dry mouth.
• Eye irritation.
• Eye itching.
• Fluid-filled sacs in the conjunctiva of the eye (conjunctival follicles).
• Sensation of something being in the eye.
• Blurred vision.
• Eye pain.
• Inflammation of the eyelids (blepharitis).
• Inflammation of the membrane that lines the inside of the eyelids and outside of the eyeball, causing redness and discharge (conjunctivitis).
• Dislike of light (photophobia).
• Corneal erosion.
• Dry eyes.
• Abnormal taste.
• Increase or decrease in heart rate or abnormal heart beats.

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.

precautions or warnings for this medication?

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication.

Contact lenses: People who wear contact lenses should remove the lenses before using the eye drops and wait at least 15 minutes before reinserting them.

Depression: If you have clinical depression or a history of depression, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition and whether any special monitoring is needed. You may need to visit your doctor more often to ensure that this medication is not making your condition worse.

Drowsiness/reduced alertness: Alphagan (Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution Eye Drops) may cause temporary fatigue and drowsiness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or engage in any potentially hazardous activities until you determine how this medication affects you.

Kidney function: The use of Alphagan (Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution Eye Drops) by people with kidney disease has not been studied. If you have reduced kidney function or kidney disease, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how their medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Liver function: The use of Alphagan (Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution Eye Drops) by people with liver disease has not been studied. If you have reduced liver function or liver disease, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how their medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Orthostatic hypotension: Orthostatic hypotension, also known as postural hypotension, is a drop in blood pressure when getting up from a lying position. This may happen to people using Alphagan (Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution Eye Drops). If you experience this, rise slowly from a lying or sitting position when using Alphagan (Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution Eye Drops).

Raynaud's disease: Raynaud's disease is a disorder of the small blood vessels that feed the skin. If you have Raynaud's disease, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical ondition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Severe cardiovascular (heart) disease: Although Alphagan (Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution Eye Drops) typically has little effect on blood pressure and heart rate, it may lower blood pressure and heart rate (pulse) if you have severe heart disease. If you have severe heart disease, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Thromboangiitis obliterans: Thromboangiitis obliterans is a condition causing inflammation of small- and medium-sized arteries and veins. If you have thromboangiitis obliterans, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Pregnancy: This medication should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while using this medication, contact your doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if Alphagan (Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution Eye Drops) passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking this medication, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children: This medication is not recommended for children, as serious side effects have been reported in people less than 18 years of age. Do not use this medication for children less than 2 years old.

• Availability: In Stock
• Model: Alphagan
• Brand: Allergan India