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

Quick overview

Trusopt Eye Drops contain dorzolamide hydrochloride, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor used to lower high pressure inside the eye. They are prescribed for open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension, either alone or together with other eye drops or medicines. Trusopt works by reducing the amount of fluid the eye produces, which lowers eye pressure.

What is Trusopt Eye Drops

Trusopt is a prescription eye drop containing dorzolamide hydrochloride. It is used to lower high pressure inside the eye, which can be caused by glaucoma or other eye conditions.

Trusopt Eye Drops uses

• Treating open-angle glaucoma
• Lowering high pressure inside the eye (ocular hypertension)
• Used alone or together with other eye drops or medicines to lower eye pressure

Benefits of Trusopt Eye Drops

• Helps control glaucoma and protect against vision loss, though it does not cure the condition
• Can be used together with other glaucoma medicines for extra pressure-lowering effect

How Trusopt Eye Drops works

Trusopt blocks an enzyme in the eye called carbonic anhydrase. This reduces the amount of fluid the eye makes, which lowers the pressure inside the eye.

Trusopt Eye Drops dosage

Wash your hands before using the eye drops. Pull down your lower eyelid to make a small pocket and place a drop into it, then close your eyes for 1 to 2 minutes. Do not let the dropper tip touch your eye or any other surface, to avoid contaminating the drops.

If you use other eye drops, wait at least 10 minutes before using them after Trusopt. Do not use the drops while wearing soft contact lenses; wait at least 15 minutes after using Trusopt before putting lenses back in.

Use the drops at about the same time each day for the best effect. If using three times a day, space doses about 8 hours apart (morning, afternoon, bedtime); if using twice a day, space doses about 12 hours apart (morning and evening).

Do not use the eye drops if the liquid has changed color or has particles in it — ask your pharmacist for new medicine. Trusopt is not recommended for use in children, as safety and effectiveness have not been established in this group.

Available forms and strengths

• Eye drops (ophthalmic solution)

Side effects of Trusopt Eye Drops

Common

• Burning or stinging in the eye
• Mild eye discomfort
• A bitter taste in the mouth
• Blurred vision
• Itching, tearing, or redness of the eye
• Dry mouth
• Nosebleeds
• Throat irritation
• Headache, dizziness
• Tiredness, weakness
• Numbness or tingling in fingers or toes

Serious

• Signs of an allergic reaction such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face or throat
• Severe skin reaction with fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, or a red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling
• Swelling or redness of the eyelids
• Sensitivity to light
• Signs of eye infection such as swelling, redness, severe discomfort, crusting, or drainage
• Kidney stones

Warnings and precautions

• Do not use Trusopt if you are allergic to it or any of its ingredients.
• Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergy to sulfa drugs, since Trusopt is chemically related to these medicines.
• Trusopt should not be used with narrow-angle (angle-closure) glaucoma without additional treatment, as it has not been studied for this condition.
• Do not use while wearing soft contact lenses, because a preservative in Trusopt can permanently stain them. Wait at least 15 minutes after using the drops before putting lenses back in.
• Do not touch the dropper tip to your eye or any surface, as this can contaminate the drops and lead to a serious eye infection.
• Tell your doctor right away if you have any eye injury, infection, or surgery, since you may need to stop using Trusopt for a short time.
• Do not stop using Trusopt without talking to your doctor first, because stopping may cause your eye pressure to rise again and damage your eye.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of using Trusopt during pregnancy. Trusopt should not be used while breastfeeding, as it is not known whether it passes into breast milk.
• Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease. Trusopt is not recommended for people with severe kidney problems. Tell your doctor if you have liver disease, since Trusopt should be used with caution in people with liver problems.
• Alcohol is not expected to directly interact with Trusopt, but it is best to avoid alcohol to help keep your vision clear and support overall eye health.
• Trusopt can cause blurred vision and dizziness in some people. Be careful driving or using machinery until you know how this medicine affects you.

Storage

• Store at room temperature, in an upright position, tightly closed
• Do not freeze
• Keep away from light
• Keep in a cool, dry place; do not store above 25°C to 30°C depending on product
• Do not store in the bathroom or near a sink
• Do not leave in the car or on window sills
• Do not carry the eye drops in your clothing pockets
• Do not leave the cap off the bottle for any length of time
• Write the date you opened the bottle and throw away any remaining solution after four weeks
• Keep out of reach of children, ideally in a locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half meters above the ground

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of your face or throat.
• Stop using Trusopt and call your doctor right away if you notice swelling or redness of your eyelids, sensitivity to light, or signs of an eye infection like swelling, redness, severe discomfort, crusting, or drainage.
• If you develop a severe skin reaction with blisters, peeling skin, a red or purple rash, sores, or fever and sore throat, stop using this medicine right away and contact your doctor.
• If you have wheezing, trouble breathing, swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat, or sudden itchy skin swellings (hives), stop using the drops and get emergency help right away.
• If you think you or someone else may have swallowed the eye drops or used too many, contact your doctor or poison control right away, or go to the emergency room, even if there are no symptoms.

Alternatives

• Azopt
• Simbrinza
• Timolol ophthalmic