Brimonidine Tartrate (brimonidine tartrate)

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Brimonidine tartrate is applied topically to the eye as an ophthalmic solution. Brimonidine tartrate also is commercially available in fixed combination with brinzolamide (as an ophthalmic suspension) and in fixed combination with timolol (as an ophthalmic solution) for topical application to the eye.

Although topical brimonidine has been administered twice daily as an ocular hypotensive agent in certain clinical studies, reductions in intraocular pressure (IOP) induced by the drug appear to diminish 8 hours following administration. Therefore, the manufacturers recommend administering brimonidine tartrate 0.1, 0.15, or 0.2% ophthalmic solution 3 times daily at intervals of approximately 8 hours. The fixed-combination ophthalmic suspension containing brinzolamide and brimonidine tartrate also is administered 3 times daily. However, when used in fixed combination with timolol, brimonidine is administered twice daily at intervals of approximately 12 hours. For self-medication for temporary relief of ocular redness, brimonidine tartrate 0.025% may be administered up to 4 times daily.

The fixed-combination ophthalmic suspension containing brinzolamide and brimonidine tartrate should be shaken well prior to use.

Care should be taken to avoid contamination of the dispensing container. (See Bacterial Keratitis under Cautions: Warnings/Precautions.)

Some brimonidine ophthalmic preparations contain benzalkonium chloride, which may be absorbed by soft contact lenses. Contact lenses should be removed prior to administration of each dose of these preparations, but may be reinserted 15 minutes after the dose. The manufacturer of brimonidine tartrate 0.025% ophthalmic solution states that contact lenses may be reinserted 10 minutes after the dose.

If the patient is receiving more than one topical ophthalmic preparation, the preparations should be administered at least 5 minutes apart.

No formal drug interaction studies have been performed.

There are no contraindication interactions for this drug.

There are no severe interactions for this drug.

There are no moderate interactions for this drug.

Brimonidine is contraindicated in neonates and infants younger than 2 years of age. (See Pediatric Use under Warnings/Precautions: Specific Populations, in Cautions.) Brimonidine also is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to the drug or any ingredient in the formulation.

There are no contraindication contraindications for this drug.

There are no severe contraindications for this drug.

• Buerger's disease
• Cerebrovascular disorder
• Depression
• Orthostatic hypotension
• Raynaud's phenomenon

Adverse effects reported in approximately 10-30% of patients receiving brimonidine tartrate 0.1-0.2% ophthalmic solution include oral dryness, ocular or conjunctival hyperemia, burning and stinging, allergic conjunctivitis, headache, blurring, foreign body sensation, fatigue/drowsiness, conjunctival follicles, ocular allergic reactions, and ocular pruritus. In addition, corneal staining/erosion, photophobia, eyelid erythema, ocular ache/pain, ocular dryness, tearing, upper respiratory symptoms, eyelid edema, conjunctival edema, dizziness, blepharitis, ocular irritation, GI symptoms, hypertension, asthenia, conjunctival blanching, abnormal vision, visual disturbances, and muscular pain have been reported in approximately 3-9% of patients receiving brimonidine tartrate 0.1-0.2% ophthalmic solution.

Adverse effects reported in approximately 1-4% of patients receiving brimonidine tartrate 0.025% ophthalmic solution include decreased visual acuity, conjunctival or ocular hyperemia, dry eye, instillation site pain, and headache.

More Frequent

• Conjunctival hyperemia
• Follicular conjunctivitis
• Headache disorder
• Ocular itching
• Ocular redness

Less Frequent

• Blepharitis
• Blurred vision
• Chemosis
• Chest pain
• Conjunctival hemorrhage
• Corneal erosion
• Depression
• Diabetes mellitus
• Dizziness
• Eyelid edema
• Gastrointestinal irritation
• Hypertension
• Mucopurulent conjunctivitis
• Myalgia
• Nasal congestion
• Nausea
• Ocular discomfort
• Ocular pain
• Rhinitis
• Sneezing
• Syncope
• Visual changes
• Vitreous detachment
• Vomiting

Rare or Very Rare

• Bradycardia

More Frequent

• Allergic conjunctivitis
• Drowsy
• Eye tearing
• Fatigue
• Ocular irritation
• Xerostomia

Less Frequent

• Acute abdominal pain
• Arthralgia
• Arthritis
• Blepharoconjunctivitis
• Bronchitis
• Cataracts
• Conjunctival blanching
• Conjunctivitis
• Corneal staining
• Cough
• Dry eye
• Dysgeusia
• Dyspepsia
• Dyspnea
• Eyelid crusting
• Eyelid erythema
• Foreign body sensation of eye
• General weakness
• Hypercholesterolemia
• Hypotension
• Infection
• Insomnia
• Keratitis
• Muscle weakness
• Ocular discharge
• Ocular hypertension
• Osteoporosis
• Palpitations
• Pharyngitis
• Photophobia
• Sinusitis
• Skin rash
• Symptoms of anxiety
• Visual field defect
• Vitreous floater

Rare or Very Rare

• Dry nose
• Iritis

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Safety and efficacy of topical brimonidine tartrate for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension in pediatric patients younger than 2 years of age have not been established. Because potentially serious adverse effects, including apnea, bradycardia, coma, hypotension, hypothermia, hypotonia, lethargy, pallor, respiratory depression, and somnolence, have been reported in infants treated with topical brimonidine tartrate, use of the drug is contraindicated in infants younger than 2 years of age. In a well-controlled clinical study in children 2-7 years of age with glaucoma who received brimonidine tartrate 0.2% ophthalmic solution 3 times daily, the most commonly observed adverse effects were somnolence and decreased mental alertness; approximately 16% of these children discontinued therapy because of somnolence. The incidence of somnolence generally appeared to be age and weight related, occurring in 50-83% of children 2-6 years of age and 25% of those 7 years of age who weighed more than 20 kg.

The individual components of brinzolamide and brimonidine tartrate fixed-combination ophthalmic suspension have been studied in pediatric patients 4 weeks to 5 years of age (brinzolamide) and 2-7 years of age (brimonidine).

Safety and efficacy of brimonidine tartrate and timolol fixed-combination ophthalmic solution in pediatric patients 2-16 years of age have been established based on evidence from adequate and well-controlled studies of the fixed combination in adults and additional data from a study evaluating the individually administered drugs (brimonidine tartrate 0.2% administered 3 times daily as an adjunct to timolol therapy) in children 2-7 years of age with glaucoma.

Safety and efficacy of brimonidine tartrate 0.025% ophthalmic solution for self-medication for relief of ocular redness due to minor irritation have not been established in children younger than 5 years of age. Safety and efficacy in pediatric patients 5 years of age or older are supported by evidence from controlled clinical trials in adults and additional data from a safety study that included both adults and pediatric patients 5 years of age or older.

In studies in animals, brimonidine crossed the placenta and entered the fetal circulation to a limited extent; no evidence of teratogenicity was observed. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of brimonidine to date in pregnant women. Brimonidine should be used during pregnancy only if potential benefits to the woman justify the potential risk to the fetus.

Brimonidine is distributed into milk in animals. It is not known whether brimonidine is distributed into human milk following topical application to the eye. A decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the woman.

No substantial differences in safety and efficacy have been observed between geriatric patients and younger adults.