Timoptic

What Is Timoptic?

Timoptic (timolol ophthalmic solution) is a beta-blocker drug that also reduces pressure inside the eye. Timoptic is used to treat open-angle glaucoma and other causes of high pressure inside the eye.

What Are Side Effects of Timoptic?

Side effects of Timoptic include:

• blurred vision,
• double vision,
• drooping eyelid,
• burning or stinging in your eye,
• eye itching or redness,
• watery eyes,
• feeling as if something is in the eye,
• headache,
• weakness,
• drowsiness,
• numbness,
• tingling,
• cold feeling in your hands or feet,
• ringing in your ears,
• dry mouth,
• nausea,
• diarrhea,
• loss of appetite,
• upset stomach,
• skin rash or worsening psoriasis,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• cough, or
• stuffy nose.

Tell your doctor if you have unlikely but serious side effects of Timoptic including:

• dizziness,
• eye pain/swelling/discharge,
• slow or irregular heartbeat,
• muscle weakness,
• mental/mood changes, or
• coldness/numbness/pain in the hands or feet.

Dosage for Timoptic

The usual starting dose of Timoptic is one drop of 0.25 percent in the affected eye(s) twice a day.

What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Timoptic?

Timoptic may interact with oral beta-blockers, calcium antagonists, catecholamine-depleting drugs, digitalis, quinidine, SSRI antidepressants, clonidine, and injectable epinephrine. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Timoptic During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

It is not known whether timolol ophthalmic is harmful to an unborn baby, so Timoptic should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Timolol ophthalmic is excreted into human breast milk. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions from TIMOPTIC in nursing infants, a decision should be made whether to discontinue breastfeeding or to discontinue the drug.

Additional Information

Our Timoptic Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.

 

Timoptic Consumer Information

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Although the risk of serious side effects is low when timolol is used in the eyes, side effects can occur if the medicine is absorbed into your bloodstream. Call your doctor right away if you have:

• wheezing, chest pain, trouble breathing, slow heartbeats;
• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
• muscle weakness;
• depressed mood, confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior; or
• numbness or cold feeling in your hands and feet.

Also call your doctor if you have:

• severe stinging or burning after using the eye drops:
• eye swelling, redness, severe discomfort, crusting or drainage (may be signs of infection); or
• blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain, or seeing halos around lights.

Common side effects may include:

• burning or stinging in your eye;
• dry eyes, itching;
• feeling like something is in your eye;
• red or puffy eyelids; or
• headache.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Read the entire detailed patient monograph for Timoptic (Timolol Maleate Ophthalmic Solution)

 

Timoptic Professional Information

SIDE EFFECTS

The most frequently reported adverse experiences have been burning and stinging upon instillation (approximately one in eight patients).

The following additional adverse experiences have been reported less frequently with ocular administration of this or other timolol maleate formulations:

Body As A Whole

Headache, asthenia/fatigue, and chest pain.

Cardiovascular

Bradycardia, arrhythmia, hypotension, hypertension, syncope, heart block, cerebral vascular accident, cerebral ischemia, cardiac failure, worsening of angina pectoris, palpitation, cardiac arrest, pulmonary edema, edema, claudication, Raynaud's phenomenon, and cold hands and feet.

Digestive

Nausea, diarrhea, dyspepsia, anorexia, and dry mouth.

Immunologic

Systemic lupus erythematosus.

Nervous System/Psychiatric

Dizziness, increase in signs and symptoms of myasthenia gravis, paresthesia, somnolence, insomnia, nightmares, behavioral changes and psychic disturbances including depression, confusion, hallucinations, anxiety, disorientation, nervousness, and memory loss.

Skin

Alopecia and psoriasiform rash or exacerbation of psoriasis.

Hypersensitivity

Signs and symptoms of systemic allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, angioedema, urticaria, and localized and generalized rash.

Respiratory

Bronchospasm (predominantly in patients with preexisting bronchospastic disease), respiratory failure, dyspnea, nasal congestion, cough and upper respiratory infections.

Endocrine

Masked symptoms of hypoglycemia in diabetic patients [see WARNINGS].

Special Senses

Signs and symptoms of ocular irritation including conjunctivitis, blepharitis, keratitis, ocular pain, discharge (e.g., crusting), foreign body sensation, itching and tearing, and dry eyes; ptosis; decreased corneal sensitivity; cystoid macular edema; visual disturbances including refractive changes and diplopia; pseudopemphigoid; choroidal detachment following filtration surgery [see PRECAUTIONS, General]; and tinnitus.

Urogenital

Retroperitoneal fibrosis, decreased libido, impotence, and Peyronie's disease.

The following additional adverse effects have been reported in clinical experience with ORAL timolol maleate or other ORAL beta-blocking agents and may be considered potential effects of ophthalmic timolol maleate: Allergic: Erythematous rash, fever combined with aching and sore throat, laryngospasm with respiratory distress; Body as a Whole: Extremity pain, decreased exercise tolerance, weight loss; Cardiovascular: Worsening of arterial insufficiency, vasodilatation; Digestive: Gastrointestinal pain, hepatomegaly, vomiting, mesenteric arterial thrombosis, ischemic colitis; Hematologic: Nonthrombocytopenic purpura; thrombocytopenic purpura, agranulocytosis; Endocrine: Hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia; Skin: Pruritus, skin irritation, increased pigmentation, sweating; Musculoskeletal: Arthralgia; Nervous System/Psychiatric: Vertigo, local weakness, diminished concentration, reversible mental depression progressing to catatonia, an acute reversible syndrome characterized by disorientation for time and place, emotional lability, slightly clouded sensorium, and decreased performance on neuropsychometrics; Respiratory: Rales, bronchial obstruction; Urogenital: Urination difficulties.

Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Timoptic (Timolol Maleate Ophthalmic Solution)