Brinzolamide

What is Brinzolamide?

• Brinzolamide (Azopt) ophthalmic suspension is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor used in the treatment of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma.

Brinzolamide

Brinzolamide Structural Formula V1

What are the uses of this medicine?

• Brinzolamide (Azopt) is used in the treatment of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma.

How does this medicine work?

• Brinzolamide ophthalmic suspension 1% contains brinzolamide, an inhibitor of carbonic anhydrase II (CA-II).
• Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is an enzyme found in many tissues of the body including the eye.
• It catalyzes the reversible reaction involving the hydration of carbon dioxide and the dehydration of carbonic acid.
• In humans, carbonic anhydrase exists as a number of isoenzymes, the most active being carbonic anhydrase II (CA-II), found primarily in red blood cells (RBCs), but also in other tissues.
• Inhibition of carbonic anhydrase in the ciliary processes of the eye decreases aqueous humor secretion, presumably by slowing the formation of bicarbonate ions with subsequent reduction in sodium and fluid transport.
• The result is a reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP).
• Following topical ocular administration, brinzolamide inhibits aqueous humor formation and reduces elevated intraocular pressure.

Who Should Not Use this medicine ?

This medicine cannot be used in patients who:

• are hypersensitive to any component of this product.

What drug interactions can this medicine cause?

• Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Be sure to mention any of the following:

• acetazolamide (Diamox), dichlorphenamide (Daranide), eye medications, methazolamide (Neptazane), products that contain aspirin.

Is this medicine FDA approved?

• Brinzolamide was approved as a generic medication in the United States in November 2020.

How should this medicine be used?

Recommended dosage:

• The recommended dose is one drop of brinzolamide ophthalmic suspension 1% in the affected eye(s) three times daily.
• Brinzolamide ophthalmic suspension 1% may be used concomitantly with other topical ophthalmic drug products to lower intraocular pressure.
• If more than one topical ophthalmic drug is being used, the drugs should be administered at least ten minutes apart.

Administration:

• Ophthalmic brinzolamide comes as a solution (liquid) to instill in the eyes.
• It is usually instilled three times a day.
• The preservative in brinzolamide ophthalmic suspension 1%, benzalkonium chloride, may be absorbed by soft contact lenses.
• Contact lenses should be removed during instillation of brinzolamide ophthalmic suspension 1%, but may be reinserted 15 minutes after instillation.

What are the dosage forms and brand names of this medicine?

This medicine is available in fallowing doasage form:

• As Solution containing 10 mg/mL brinzolamide

This medicine is available in fallowing brand namesː

• Azopt

What side effects can this medication cause?

The most common side effects of this medicine include:

• blurred vision
• bitter, sour or unusual taste
• blepharitis, dermatitis, dry eye, foreign body sensation, headache, hyperemia, ocular discharge, ocular discomfort, ocular keratitis, ocular pain, ocular pruritus and rhinitis

Less common side effects may include:

• allergic reactions, alopecia, chest pain, conjunctivitis, diarrhea, diplopia, dizziness, dry mouth, dyspnea, dyspepsia, eye fatigue, hypertonia, keratoconjunctivitis, keratopathy, kidney pain, lid margin crusting or sticky sensation, nausea, pharyngitis, tearing and urticaria

What special precautions should I follow?

• Brinzolamide ophthalmic suspension 1% is a sulfonamide and although administered topically it is absorbed systemically. Advise patients that if serious or unusual ocular or systemic reactions or signs of hypersensitivity occur, they should discontinue the use of the product and consult their physician.
• Vision may be temporarily blurred following dosing with brinzolamide ophthalmic suspension 1%. Advise patients to exercise care in operating machinery or driving a motor vehicle.
• Instruct patients to avoid allowing the tip of the dispensing container to contact the eye or surrounding structures or other surfaces, since the product can become contaminated by common bacteria known to cause ocular infections. Serious damage to the eye and subsequent loss of vision may result from using contaminated solutions.
• The management of patients with acute angle-closure glaucoma requires therapeutic interventions in addition to ocular hypotensive agents. Brinzolamide ophthalmic suspension 1% has not been studied in patients with acute angle-closure glaucoma.
• Advise patients that if they have ocular surgery or develop an intercurrent ocular condition (e.g., trauma or infection), they should immediately seek their physician's advice concerning the continued use of the present multidose container.
• If more than one topical ophthalmic drug is being used, the drugs should be administered at least ten minutes apart.
• The preservative in brinzolamide ophthalmic suspension 1%, benzalkonium chloride, may be absorbed by soft contact lenses. Contact lenses should be removed during instillation of brinzolamide ophthalmic suspension 1%, but may be reinserted 15 minutes after instillation.

What to do in case of emergency/overdose?

Symptoms of overdosage may include:

• electrolyte imbalance, development of an acidotic state, and possible nervous system effects may occur following oral administration of an overdose.

Management of overdosage:

• In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline of your country. In the United States, call 1-800-222-1222.

• Overdose related information is also available online at poisonhelp.org/help.
• In the event that the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services. In the United States, call 911.
• Serum electrolyte levels (particularly potassium) and blood pH levels should be monitored.

Can this medicine be used in pregnancy?

• Pregnancy Category C.
• There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
• Brinzolamide ophthalmic suspension 1% should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Can this medicine be used in children?

• Safety and effectiveness have been established in pediatric patients 4 weeks to 5 years of age.

What are the active and inactive ingredients in this medicine?

Active ingredient:

• BRINZOLAMIDE

Inactive ingredients:

• MANNITOL
• TYLOXAPOL
• EDETATE DISODIUM
• SODIUM CHLORIDE
• HYDROCHLORIC ACID
• SODIUM HYDROXIDE
• WATER
• BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE
• CARBOMER HOMOPOLYMER TYPE C

Who manufactures and distributes this medicine?

Manufactured by:

• Alcon Laboratories, Inc.
• Fort Worth, Texas

Manufactured for:

• Sandoz Inc.
• Princeton, NJ

What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?

• Store brinzolamide ophthalmic suspension 1% at 4°C to 30°C (39°F to 86°F).
• Shake well before use.

• Dailymed label info on Brinzolamide
• FDA Brinzolamide