In the U.S.—

• Antiglaucoma agent, ophthalmic

Dorzolamide (dor-ZOLE-a-mide) is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor that is used in the eye. It is used to treat increased pressure in the eye caused by open-angle glaucoma. It is also used to treat a condition called hypertension of the eye.

Dorzolamide is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage form:

Ophthalmic
• Ophthalmic solution (eye drops) (U.S.)

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For ophthalmic dorzolamide, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to ophthalmic dorzolamide or to any of the sulfonamides (sulfa medicines); furosemide (e.g., Lasix) or thiazide diuretics (water pills); oral antidiabetics (diabetes medicine you take by mouth); or the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor-type glaucoma medicine you take by mouth (for example, acetazolamide [e.g., Diamox], dichlorphenamide [e.g., Daranide], or methazolamide [e.g., Neptazane]). Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as benzalkonium chloride or other preservatives.

Pregnancy—Ophthalmic dorzolamide has not been studied in pregnant women. However, one animal study has shown that this medicine, when given in very high doses, causes toxicity in the mother and birth defects in the fetus. Before using this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding—It is not known whether ophthalmic dorzolamide passes into breast milk. However, other carbonic anhydrase inhibitors may pass into breast milk. These medicines are not recommended during breast-feeding, because they may cause unwanted effects in nursing babies. It may be necessary for you to use another medicine or to stop breast-feeding during treatment. Be sure you have discussed this with your doctor.

Children—This medicine has been tested in children and, in effective doses, has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults.

Older adults—This medicine has been tested in a limited number of patients 65 years of age or older and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are using ophthalmic dorzolamide, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are using any of the following:

• Silver preparations for the eye, such as silver nitrate—Ophthalmic dorzolamide should not be used with ophthalmic silver preparations, since a chemical reaction may occur

• Acute angle-closure glaucoma—Use of ophthalmic dorzolamide in these patients has not been studied. This condition may need other medicine or treatment besides dorzolamide.

• Kidney disease, severe, or
• Liver disease—Use of ophthalmic dorzolamide may lead to increased side effects from the medication

• Kidney stones—Use of ophthalmic dorzolamide may make this condition worse

To use: First, wash your hands. Tilt the head back and, pressing your finger gently on the skin just beneath the lower eyelid, pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to make a space. Drop the medicine into this space. Let go of the eyelid and gently close the eyes. Do not blink. Keep the eyes closed and apply pressure to the inner corner of the eye with your finger for 1 or 2 minutes to allow the medicine to be absorbed by the eye.

Do not touch or contaminate the tip of the container.

Use this medicine only as directed. Do not use more of it and do not use it more often than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of too much medicine being absorbed into the body and the chance of side effects.

If your doctor ordered two different eye drops to be used together, wait at least 10 minutes between the times you apply the medicines. This will help to keep the second medicine from “washing out” the first one.

Dosing—

The dose of ophthalmic dorzolamide will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of ophthalmic dorzolamide. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

• For ophthalmic dosage form (eye drops):
  • For glaucoma or hypertension of the eye:
    • Adults and teenagers—Use one drop in the eye three times a day.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed dose—

If you miss a dose of this medicine, use it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage—

To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Keep the medicine from freezing. Do not refrigerate.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits. Your doctor may want to do certain tests to see if the medicine is working properly or to see if certain side effects may be occurring without your knowing it.

If itching, redness, swelling, or other signs of eye or eyelid irritation occur, check with your doctor. These signs may mean that you are allergic to ophthalmic dorzolamide.

This medicine may cause some people to have blurred vision for a short time. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you cannot see properly. Also, since blurred vision may be a sign of a side effect that needs medical attention, check with your doctor if it continues.

Ophthalmic dorzolamide may cause your eyes to become more sensitive to light than they are normally. Wearing sunglasses and avoiding too much exposure to bright light may help lessen the discomfort. If the discomfort continues, check with your doctor.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• More common
  • Itching, redness, swelling, or other sign of eye or eyelid irritation  
  
  

• Less common
  • Burning, dry or itching eyes;  discharge from the eye;  excessive tearing;  redness, pain, or swelling of eye, eyelid, or inner lining of eyelid 
  
  

• Rare
  • Blurred vision;  eye pain;  skin rash;  symptoms of kidney stone (blood in urine, nausea or vomiting, or pain in side, back, or abdomen);  tearing 
  
  

• Incidence not known- occurred during clinical practice
  • Change in vision;  cough;  difficult or labored breathing;  flashes of light;  floaters in vision;  hives or welts;  itching skin;  large, hive-like swelling on face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, sex organs;  noisy breathing;  redness of skin;  shortness of breath;  tightness in chest;  wheezing 
  
  

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

• More common
  • Bitter taste;  burning, stinging, or discomfort when medicine is applied;  feeling of something in eye;  sensitivity of eyes to light 
  
  

• Less common
  • Dryness of eyes;  eyelid reactions;  headache;  nausea;  unusual tiredness or weakness 
  
  

• Incidence not known- occurred during clinical practice
  • Blistering, burning, crusting, dryness, flaking of skin;  bloody nose;  burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings;  change in distance vision;  difficulty in focusing eyes;  dizziness;  dry mouth;  eyelid crusting;  scaling of skin;  severe redness, soreness, swelling of skin 
  
  

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.