Timoptic
Timoptic is a timolol maleate 0.5% eye drop, a beta-blocker that lowers raised pressure inside the eye in glaucoma and ocular hypertension, sold in bottles.
Details
- Conditions
- Glaucoma · Ocular hypertension
- Brands with the same ingredient
- Timolol
- Therapeutic Class
- Beta-blocker
- Pharmacological Class
- Non-selective beta-adrenergic antagonist
- Minor Side Effects
- Eye stinging, Blurred vision
- Moderate Side Effects
- Dry eyes, Headache
- Dosage Forms
- Eye Drops
- Administration Route
- Ophthalmic
- Originator
- Merck Sharp & Dohme
- Onset Time
- 20–30 minutes
- Duration
- 12–24 hours
- Storage Instructions
- Store at room temperature and keep the container tightly closed.
- Drug Interactions
- Oral beta-blockers, Calcium channel blockers
What you will receive
Timoptic is the originator brand name, made by Merck Sharp & Dohme. We use it to identify the medicine; the pack you receive is a generic equivalent, not the original Timoptic.
- The same active ingredient (Timolol) at the same strength.
- The exact brand supplied depends on what is in stock when your order ships.
FAQ
Can I buy Timoptic by the bottle?
Yes. Timoptic 0.5% bottles come in packs of 2, 4 or 6. This is generic timolol maleate, not the original Timoptic. Larger packs cost less per bottle.
How are Timoptic bottles packed for delivery to Hong Kong?
Timoptic bottles travel in plain, unbranded packaging, with nothing on the outside about the contents. Standard airmail takes 14 to 21 business days and is untracked, while tracked courier takes 5 to 9 business days with online tracking. A parcel that arrives damaged is sent again free.
What are the alternative names for Timoptic and timolol?
Timoptic is a brand name of timolol, which is also sold as Timoptol. Here, timolol can be bought online as generic Timoptic. These are generics, not the original brand.
How often do I use Timoptic 0.5%?
Twice a day, morning and evening, is the standard schedule for the 0.5% solution. Your eye pressure check will show whether that is enough. If you also use other eye drops, wait at least 10 minutes between them.
What does 0.5% mean on the Timoptic bottle?
It is the strength of the solution: 0.5% is the amount of timolol maleate dissolved in the liquid, and it is the only strength these bottles come in. A higher percentage would put more timolol into each drop.
Can I wear contact lenses while using Timoptic?
Wait about 15 minutes after putting in the drops before you put your lenses back in. The preservative in the bottle can be absorbed by soft lenses and irritate the eye.
Can Timoptic affect my heart rate?
Yes. Timolol can pass into the bloodstream and slow the heart or lower blood pressure. This is more likely if you already take a beta-blocker or blood-pressure medicine, because the effects add together.
Does Timoptic cure glaucoma?
No. Timolol lowers the pressure inside the eye but does not repair damage already done to the optic nerve. It works while you keep using it, so the drops are usually continued long term.
About Timoptic
What these timolol eye drops are for
Timoptic is a timolol maleate eye drop. Timolol is a beta-blocker, a medicine that blocks certain nerve signals. In the eye it cuts how much fluid the ciliary body produces; the ciliary body is the ring of tissue behind the iris that supplies the fluid inside the eye. Less fluid means lower pressure inside the eye. That is the aim in glaucoma and in ocular hypertension (raised pressure without optic nerve damage). Keeping the pressure down helps protect the optic nerve from further damage. The bottle contains a 0.5% solution.
How to use the 0.5% bottle
Put one drop into each eye that needs treatment, twice a day. Leave about 12 hours between the two doses. After the drop, press gently on the inner corner of the eye near the nose for a minute or two — this keeps more of the medicine in the eye and less going into the bloodstream. Replace the cap straight after use. If the drops are for one eye only, treat just that eye.
Side effects and signs to watch for
Stinging or burning for a few seconds after a drop is common, as are temporary blurring, dry eyes, redness, watery eyes and headache. Timolol can be absorbed into the blood, so it can also cause tiredness, dizziness, cold hands and feet, a slow pulse or shortness of breath. A very slow heartbeat, fainting or sudden breathlessness after using the drops needs urgent help. Some people get eye irritation that does not settle, swelling of the eyelids, or an allergic reaction with face or throat swelling.
Medicines that can add to timolol's effects
Other beta-blockers, including tablets such as propranolol or atenolol, and some calcium channel blockers, can add to the heart-slowing and blood-pressure-lowering effects of timolol eye drops. The same is true of some medicines for high blood pressure or an irregular heartbeat. Timolol can also hide the early signs of low blood sugar in people with diabetes. If you use more than one eye medicine, space them out.
Keeping the bottle in good condition
Keep the bottle closed and upright, away from direct sunlight. Do not use it after the date printed on the label. Do not share an eye drop bottle with anyone else.
Sources
- Glaucoma - symptoms, treatments and causes - Healthdirect — Healthdirect Australia
- Understanding Glaucoma: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment — American Academy of Ophthalmology