Alphagan Eye Drops: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Alphagan Eye Drops contain brimonidine tartrate, an alpha-adrenergic agonist used to lower high pressure inside the eye and treat glaucoma. They work by reducing the amount of fluid the eye produces and helping fluid drain out more easily. Alphagan is used to treat open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension, either alone or together with other eye pressure-lowering medicines.

What is Alphagan Eye Drops

Alphagan is an eye drop containing brimonidine tartrate. It is used to lower high pressure inside the eye and to treat glaucoma.

Alphagan Eye Drops uses

• Lowering raised pressure in the eye(s)
• Treating open-angle glaucoma
• Treating ocular hypertension

Benefits of Alphagan Eye Drops

• Helps control eye pressure to reduce the risk of damage to the back of the eye and vision loss
• Can be used alone or together with other eye drops/medicines to lower eye pressure

How Alphagan Eye Drops works

Alphagan lowers pressure in the eye by reducing the amount of fluid the eye produces and helping fluid drain out of the eye more easily.

Alphagan Eye Drops dosage

Use the eye drops every day at about the same time each day unless your doctor tells you otherwise. If you use other eye drops too, wait at least 5 to 10 minutes after using this medicine before using the other drops. Remove soft contact lenses before putting the drops in, and wait 15 minutes afterward before putting lenses back in.

Wash your hands well with soap and water before and after using the drops, and shake the bottle gently before use. Sit or lie down to make it easier to put the drops in your eye. Tilt your head back, look up, and gently pull down your lower eyelid to form a pocket, then release one drop without letting the bottle tip touch your eye or eyelid.

Close your eye without blinking or rubbing it, and press a finger against the inside corner of your eye near your nose for about two minutes to stop the medicine draining into your tear duct.

If you forget a dose, use it as soon as you remember, but skip it if it is almost time for your next dose — do not double up.

Children 2 years of age and older, especially those weighing 20 kg or less, should be treated with caution and monitored closely by a doctor. Do not use in children younger than 2 years of age.

Available forms and strengths

• Eye drops (solution)

Side effects of Alphagan Eye Drops

Common

• Redness of the eyes or eyelids
• Eyelid swelling
• Burning or stinging in the eye
• Feeling of something in the eye
• Itching
• Dry eyes
• Blurred vision
• Watering of the eye
• Sensitivity to bright light
• Dry mouth
• Headache
• Fatigue or drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Abnormal taste
• Cold-like symptoms
• Stomach or digestion symptoms

Serious

• Suspected eye infection (redness, discharge, pain)
• Severe swelling, redness, burning, or discomfort in or around the eye
• Eye pain or increased watering
• Vision changes, blurred vision, or halos around light
• Loss of feeling on the surface of the eye
• Signs of a severe allergic reaction, including swelling of the tongue, lips, or throat, difficulty breathing, or hives

Warnings and precautions

• Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to brimonidine tartrate or any of its ingredients, if you are taking monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor antidepressants, or if you are under 2 years old.
• Tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease, severe or uncontrolled heart disease, poor blood flow to the heart or brain, depression, Raynaud's syndrome, or dizziness when standing up, as this medicine should be used with caution in these conditions.
• Do not touch the dropper tip to your eye, eyelid, or any surface, since contaminated drops can cause a serious eye infection.
• Do not wear soft contact lenses while using the drops, because the preservative can be absorbed into the lenses.
• This medicine may worsen conditions linked to poor blood flow, so it should be used carefully if you have depression, poor blood flow to the brain or heart, Raynaud's phenomenon, low blood pressure on standing, or a related blood vessel disorder.
• Serious side effects, including breathing problems and very low body temperature, have been reported in infants and young children who swallowed this medicine by accident.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Your doctor will weigh the possible benefits and risks before prescribing this medicine during pregnancy.
• Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding, since some product information advises against using this medicine while breastfeeding.
• Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease before using this medicine, as it has not been studied in people with kidney problems.
• Tell your doctor if you have liver disease, as this medicine has not been studied in people with liver problems and is broken down by the liver.
• This medicine can cause drowsiness, and drinking alcohol can make this worse.
• Wait until your vision is clear before driving or using machines, and do not drive or use machines if you feel tired or drowsy.

Storage

• Store below 25°C, away from moisture, heat, or sunlight.
• Do not store it in the bathroom or near a sink, or in the car or on windowsills.
• Keep container tightly closed and keep it where young children cannot reach it.
• Discard the bottle 4 weeks after first opening it. Write the date you open it on the bottle.
• If your doctor advises that you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy for safe disposal.
• Do not open the bottle to use this medicine after the expiry date has passed.

When to see a doctor

• Call your doctor right away if you think you have an eye infection (redness, discharge, or pain), or if you become pregnant while using this medicine.
• Call your doctor straight away if you notice blurred vision, halos around lights, or a loss of feeling on the surface of your eye.
• Go straight to the emergency department if you have a severe allergic reaction, including swelling of the tongue, lips, or throat, or difficulty breathing.
• If this medicine is swallowed by accident, contact your doctor immediately or go to the emergency department, even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
• Tell your doctor if you develop an eye infection, have an eye injury, or need eye surgery, since you may need a new bottle or need to stop using this medicine.

Alternatives

• Brinzolamide
• Dorzolamide
• Timolol