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Common uses
Betagan eyedrops are given to treat chronic open-angle glaucoma (increased pressure inside the eye). This medication is in a class called beta blockers. It works by lowering pressure within the eyeball.
Before using
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you have
• asthma or a chronic lung disease;
• a very slow heart rate;
• heart disease such as high blood pressure, heart failure, or heart block;
• diabetes; or
• an overactive thyroid.
You may not be able to use levobunolol ophthalmic, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
Levobunolol ophthalmic is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether levobunolol ophthalmic will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not use this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. It is also not known whether levobunolol passes into breast milk. Do not use levobunolol ophthalmic without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Directions
The recommended starting dose of levobunolol eye drops is 1 drop of levobunolol 0.25% twice a day in the affected eye(s). The dose may be increased to 1 drop of levobunolol 0.5% twice a day if necessary. Doses greater than this have not been found to be any more effective.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to show you the correct way to instill the eye drops. This medication is for external use only. Do not touch the dropper tip to any surface, since this may contaminate the solution. Protect the medication from light and excessive heat. Discard any unused solution after the end of the treatment period.
Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are using the medication without consulting your doctor.
It is very important that this medication be used regularly and exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, use it as soon as possible. If it is the next day before you remember, skip the missed dose and continue on with your regular schedule. Do not double doses.
Cautions
Betagan contains a sulfite preservative. In a few people, sulfites can cause an allergic reaction, which may be life-threatening. If you suffer from asthma, you are at increased risk for sulfite allergy.
Betagan may be absorbed into your bloodstream. If too much of the drug is absorbed, this may worsen asthma or other lung diseases or lead to heart failure, which sometimes happens with oral beta-blocker medications.
Beta blockers may increase the risks of anesthesia. If you are facing elective surgery, your doctor may want you to taper off Betagan prior to your operation.
Use Betagan cautiously if you have diminished lung function.
Since beta blockers may mask some signs and symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), you should use Betagan very carefully if you have low blood sugar, or if you have diabetes and are taking insulin or an oral antidiabetic medication.
If your body tends to produce too much thyroid hormone, you should taper off Betagan very gradually rather than stopping the drug all at once. Abrupt withdrawal of any beta blocker may provoke a rush of thyroid hormone ("thyroid storm").
Do not use 2 or more beta-blocker eye medications at the same time.
Possible side effects
Side effects from Betagan cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor. Only your doctor can determine whether it is safe for you to continue using this medication. You may feel a momentary burning and stinging when you place the drops in your eyes. More rarely, you may develop an eye inflammation.
Beta blockers may cause muscle weakness; weakened muscles around the eyes may cause double vision or drooping eyelids.
If you take too much
Overuse of Betagan eyedrops may produce symptoms of beta blocker overdosage—slowed heartbeat, low blood pressure, breathing difficulty, and/or heart failure. Any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. If you suspect an overdose of Betagan, seek medical attention immediately.
Additional information
Do not touch the dropper to any surface, including the eyes or hands. The dropper is sterile. If it becomes contaminated, it could case an infection in the eye.
If you wear contact lenses, remove them before applying levobunolol ophthalmic. Ask your doctor if contact lenses can be reinserted after application of the medication.
Do not use other eye medications during treatment with levobunolol ophthalmic except under the direction of your doctor.
Drug interactions
If Betagan is used with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Betagan with the following:
Calcium-blocking blood pressure medications such as Calan and Cardizem
Digitalis (the heart medication Lanoxin)
Epinephrine (Epifrin)
Oral beta blockers such as the blood pressure medications Inderal and Tenormin
Reserpine (Serpasil)
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