WHAT IS AZOPT?
Azopt is a brand-name prescription medication. It’s FDA-approved to treat increased eye pressure in adults who have either: ocular hypertension (high blood pressure in the eye), or open-angle glaucoma, which is the most common type of glaucoma (an eye disease that’s usually caused by increased pressure inside the eye). Azopt contains the active drug brinzolamide. It belongs to a class of drugs called carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. (A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way.) Azopt works to decrease pressure inside your eye by reducing the amount of fluid the eye naturally produces. Azopt comes as a liquid solution in a dropper bottle. The bottle has a tip that you’ll use to dispense drops of Azopt into your eye. Azopt is available in one strength: 10 milligrams per milliliter (mg/mL).
USE
AZOPT It reduces pressure within the eye. AZOPT eye drops are used to treat high pressure in the eye. This pressure can lead to an illness called glaucoma.
BEFORE YOU USE THE MEDICATION
You should not use Azopt if you are allergic to brinzolamide. Tell your doctor if you have ever had: narrow-angle glaucoma; an allergy to sulfa drugs; or kidney disease. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.
HOW SHOULD I USE THIS MEDICATION?
The usual starting dose of this medication is 1 drop in the affected eye(s) 2 times a day. If you are not responding well to this dose after a period of time, your doctor may suggest that you use 1 drop 3 times a day.
Before using this medication, shake the bottle well.
To use the eye drops:
- Wash your hands before using the eye drops.
- Remove the cap and place it in a clean location. To avoid possible contamination, keep the tip of the container away from contact with any surface.
- Tilt the head back and look towards the ceiling.
- With your index finger, gently pull the lower eyelid down and away from the eye to form a pouch.
- Apply one drop into the pouch by following the instructions on the eye drop container. Do not allow the tip of the container to touch the eye or areas around the eye.
- Gently apply pressure to the inner corner of the eye (at the bridge of the nose) for about 30 seconds (this is called nasolacrimal occlusion). This prevents the medication from dripping down through the tear duct and entering the bloodstream, which could cause you to experience some side effects.
- Repeat with the other eye, if prescribed by your physician.
- Wash your hands again to remove any medication.
Do not allow the dropper tip of the bottle to touch the eye or other surrounding structures. This can contaminate the tip with common bacteria known to cause eye infections. Serious damage to the eye may result if you use eye drop solutions that have become contaminated.
Brinzolamide eye drops should be used at least 10 minutes before or after other eye drops that are being used.
It is important that this medication be used exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, use it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not use a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
SIDE EFFECTS
Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome.
- blurred vision
- eye discomfort, dryness, redness
- feeling of something in the eye
- headache
- increased tear production
taste changes
STORAGE
Store between 39-86 degrees F (4-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
WHAT SHOULD I AVOID WHILE USING BRINZOLAMIDE OPHTHALMIC?
Azopt may cause blurred vision and may impair your reactions. Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you. Do not use other eye medications unless your doctor tells you.
WHAT SHOULD I AVOID WHILE USING BRINZOLAMIDE OPHTHALMIC?
Azopt is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Azopt is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely use it long term. If you have questions about how long you’ll need to use Azopt, talk with your doctor.
Brinzolamide belongs to the group of medications called carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. It is available in eye drop form and is used to reduce the pressure inside the eye for people with open-angle glaucoma or intraocular hypertension (increased pressure in the eye). Fluid is constantly being formed and drained out of the eye. When this fluid does not drain out of the eye properly or too much fluid is produced, pressure inside the eye increases.
Brinzolamide works by reducing the amount of fluid produced by the eye. This medication may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of this medication may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of this medication may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here. At USA Script Helpers, you can guarantee the best price for your medications. Buy online at www.usascripthelpers.com. USH offers both human medications and PetMeds. USA Script Helpers provides approved and affordable medications to all Americans.
