In the U.S.—

• Antiglaucoma agent, ophthalmic

Brinzolamide ( brin-ZOH-la-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.

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

Ophthalmic
• Ophthalmic suspension (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 brinzolamide, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to brinzolamide or to any of the sulfonamides (sulfa medicines). Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as benzalkonium chloride or other preservatives.

Pregnancy—Ophthalmic brinzolamide has not been studied in pregnant women. However, in animals given very high doses by mouth it caused decreased weight gain and some harmful effects in both the mothers and offspring. 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 brinzolamide passes into breast milk. However, it has been found to pass into breast milk in animals and the breast-fed offspring gained less weight than normal. Discuss with your doctor whether or not to breast-feed during treatment with this medicine.

Children—Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients and there is no specific information comparing use of brinzolamide in children with use in other age groups.

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 taking brinzolamide, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• 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])—Effects of these medicines and brinzolamide on the body may be increased

• Kidney disease, severe or
• Liver disease—Effects of ophthalmic brinzolamide may be increased because of slower removal from the body

This medicine should be shaken before each use.

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. Immediately after using the eye drops, wash your hands to remove any medicine that may be on them. To keep the medicine as germ-free as possible, do not touch the applicator tip to any surface (including the eye). Also, keep the container tightly closed.

Use this medicine only as directed by your doctor. 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 brinzolamide 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 brinzolamide. 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—Use 1 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 you remember. However, if it is almost time for the 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 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 to make sure that this medicine is working properly and is not causing unwanted effects.

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 brinzolamide.

The preservative used in these eye drops may be absorbed by soft contact lenses and cause irritation of your eyes. Soft contact lenses should be taken out before you use brinzolamide eye drops. Lenses may be put back in the eyes 15 minutes after you have used the medicine.

Check with your doctor if you get an injury or infection in your eye or if you are scheduled to have eye surgery. Your doctor may want you to use a fresh bottle of brinzolamide eye drops in case the present bottle of eye drops has become contaminated during use.

This medicine may cause some people to have blurred vision for a short time after each use. 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.

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:

• Less common
  • Discharge from the eye;  feeling of something in the eye;  headache;  redness, soreness, irritation, or pain of eye or eyelid;  skin rash 
  
  

• Rare
  • Chest pain;  dizziness;  excessive muscle tone;  hair loss;  hives;  kidney pain;  itching, swelling, or other signs of eye or eyelid irritation;  seeing double;  shortness of breath;  sore throat 
  
  

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, sour, or other unusual taste;  blurred vision for a short time after use of medicine 
  
  

• Less common
  • Burning, stinging, or discomfort when medicine is applied;  dry eye;  runny nose 
  
  

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