Combigan
Brimonidine Tartrate · Timolol
Combigan is a two-ingredient eye drop, brimonidine 0.2% with timolol 0.5%, that brings down the pressure inside the eye in glaucoma and ocular hypertension, in packs of 2, 4 or 6.
- Category
- Eye Care
- Active ingredient
- Brimonidine Tartrate · Timolol
- Route
- Topical
- Form
- Eye drops
- Strengths
- 0.2/0.5%
You will receive a quality generic equivalent, depending on stock.
Shipped in a discreet, unmarked envelope.
Details
- Conditions
- Glaucoma · Ocular hypertension
- Therapeutic Class
- Antiglaucoma
- Pharmacological Class
- Alpha-2 Adrenergic Agonist, Beta-blocker
- Minor Side Effects
- Stinging, Burning, Dry eyes
- Moderate Side Effects
- Blurred vision, Eye redness, Itching
- Dosage Forms
- Eye drops
- Administration Route
- Topical
- Originator
- AbbVie
- Onset Time
- 1–2 hours
- Duration
- 12 hours
- Storage Instructions
- Store at room temperature away from light.
- Drug Interactions
- Beta-blockers, Calcium channel blockers, MAO inhibitors
- Age Restrictions
- Not recommended for children.
What you will receive
Combigan is the originator brand name, made by AbbVie. We use it to identify the medicine; the pack you receive is a generic equivalent, not the original Combigan.
- The same active ingredient (Brimonidine Tartrate / Timolol) at the same strength.
- The exact brand supplied depends on what is in stock when your order ships.
FAQ
How many bottles of Combigan can I order?
Combigan eye drops come in 0.2/0.5% bottles, sold in packs of 2, 4 or 6. It is generic brimonidine tartrate plus timolol maleate, not the original Combigan.
What happens if my Combigan parcel does not arrive in Hong Kong?
If a Combigan parcel does not arrive within the delivery window, or arrives damaged, it is sent again free, or refunded if that is not possible. Every order ships in plain, unbranded packaging with nothing on the outside about the contents.
Can I wear contact lenses while using Combigan?
Take soft lenses out before each drop and wait about 15 minutes before putting them back in. The preservative in the drops can be absorbed by the lens, and the drop itself settles better on a clean eye.
Can I use Combigan alongside another eye drop?
Yes, but leave at least five minutes between the two drops so the first is not washed out before it has been absorbed. That applies to any other eye medicine you use alongside Combigan.
What does 0.2/0.5% mean on a Combigan bottle?
It is the strength of each ingredient in the solution: 0.2% brimonidine tartrate and 0.5% timolol maleate. Two numbers on one label show the drop is a fixed combination rather than a single medicine.
Can I use Combigan in one eye only?
Yes. Put a drop in each eye that needs pressure lowering, so if only one eye is affected, only that eye is treated. Glaucoma usually affects both eyes, which is why both are often treated together.
Can I drink alcohol while using Combigan?
There is no known food or drink interaction with Combigan, but alcohol can add to the blood-pressure-lowering effect of the timolol in the drops. A heavy drinking session may leave you light-headed or dizzy.
About Combigan
Two medicines in one bottle
Ocular hypertension means the pressure inside the eye sits higher than it should. Left at that level, the pressure damages the optic nerve over time, and glaucoma is the name for the sight loss that follows — it often begins at the edges of vision, where it is easy to miss. Combigan takes pressure down from two directions. Brimonidine tartrate reduces how much fluid the eye makes and helps what is already there drain away. Timolol maleate, a beta-blocker, slows production by another route. Combigan is used when a single drop has not brought the pressure down far enough on its own.
Putting the drops in
One drop in each eye that needs treatment, morning and evening, roughly twelve hours apart. Keep the nozzle clear of your eye, lid and fingers, and replace the cap straight after. If you forget a dose, put the drop in as soon as you remember; when the next one is close, wait for it and carry on as usual. Stop using the drops and the pressure creeps back up.
What you might notice
A brief sting when the drop goes in, redness, gritty or dry eyes and a few minutes of blurry vision are the usual complaints. A bitter taste at the back of the throat after each drop is also common, and fades on its own. Some people feel sleepy.
Timolol does not stay in the eye. Enough of it reaches the bloodstream to slow the pulse, lower blood pressure and, in someone whose airways are sensitive, bring on wheeze or breathlessness. A swollen face, lips or throat, or breathing that suddenly becomes difficult, needs urgent treatment.
Who should not use it
Anyone with asthma, severe COPD, an unusually slow resting pulse or certain patterns of heart block. Other beta-blockers — tablets or other eye drops — add to the same effects, and some antidepressants do too.
Packs and storage
Combigan is a 0.2/0.5% solution in bottles, sold in packs of 2, 4 or 6. Keep it capped and away from strong light, and don't share the bottle with anyone else. The version sold here is the generic: brimonidine tartrate with timolol maleate, the same two actives as the original brand.
Sources
- Glaucoma - symptoms, treatments and causes - Healthdirect — Healthdirect Australia