Betaxolol (betaxolol HCl)

Although USP currently states that potency of betaxolol hydrochloride preparations should be expressed both in terms of the salt and the base (''active moiety''), dosage currently is expressed in terms of the base. (See Chemistry and Stability: Chemistry.)

For the treatment of open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension, the therapeutic regimen must be adjusted to the individual requirements and response of the patient as determined by tonometric readings before and during therapy.

For the initial treatment of open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension in adults, the usual dosage of betaxolol is 1 or 2 drops of the 0.5% ophthalmic solution or 1 drop of the 0.25% resin-formulated ophthalmic suspension in the affected eye(s) twice daily. When betaxolol is used for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension in pediatric patients, the usual dosage is 1 drop of the 0.25% resin-formulated suspension in the affected eye(s) twice daily.

Because of diurnal variations, it has been suggested that intraocular pressure (IOP) be measured at different times during the day to determine if an adequate hypotensive effect is maintained in patients receiving twice-daily therapy. IOP may not stabilize for a few weeks after initiating betaxolol therapy in some patients.

If the target IOP is not achieved, alternative or additional ocular hypotensive agents may be required. (See Uses: Ocular Hypertension and Glaucoma.)

Betaxolol hydrochloride is applied topically to the eye as an ophthalmic solution or resin-formulated suspension. Care should be taken to avoid contamination of the dispensing container. (See Cautions: Precautions and Contraindications.) The resin-formulated suspension should be shaken well prior to use.

Patients receiving the resin-formulated suspension should be advised to administer any concomitant topical ophthalmic drugs at least 10 minutes before administering the suspension.

Betaxolol hydrochloride ophthalmic solution and the resin-formulated suspension contain benzalkonium chloride, which may be absorbed by soft contact lenses. Contact lenses should be removed prior to administration of each betaxolol dose, but may be reinserted 15 minutes after the dose.

No dosing information is available for this tab.

No dosing information is available for this tab.

There is no enhanced messaging for this drug.

There are no contraindication interactions for this drug.

There are no severe interactions for this drug.

There are no moderate interactions for this drug.

There is no enhanced messaging for this drug.

There are no contraindication contraindications for this drug.

There are no severe contraindications for this drug.

There are no moderate contraindications for this drug.

There is no enhanced messaging for this drug.

There are no severe adverse reactions for this drug.

There are no less severe adverse reactions for this drug.

No enhanced messaging available.

No enhanced messaging available.

Reproduction studies in rats using oral betaxolol dosages of 4, 40, or 400 mg/kg daily (more than 300, 3000, or 30,000 times the recommended human daily ocular dose, respectively) and in rabbits using oral dosages of 1, 4, 12, and 36 mg/kg daily have not revealed evidence of teratogenicity. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies to date using betaxolol hydrochloride ophthalmic solution or resin-formulated suspension in pregnant women, and the drug should be used during pregnancy only when the potential benefits justify the possible risks to the fetus.

Since betaxolol is distributed into milk, the drug should be used with caution in nursing women. Although betaxolol concentrations in milk may be up to 3 times those in maternal blood, it is unlikely that clinically important doses of the drug would be ingested by breast-fed infants during ophthalmic use of usual betaxolol dosages in the woman.

No enhanced messaging available.