Brimonidine: What Is It And How Is It Used?
The active substance in brimonidine is mainly used to reduce the pressure inside the eye. Therefore, it is intended for those patients who suffer from high eye strain, which is why brimonidine is a well-known treatment, especially for the treatment of glaucoma.
Glaucoma, or intraocular pressure, is the most important risk factor for intraocular pressure, and if the tension inside the eye becomes too great, it can damage the optic nerve and, in the worst case, cause the patient even irreversible and severe vision loss.
How does brimonidine work?
Brimonidine belongs to a class of drugs called alpha-adrenergic agonists and aims to reduce the amount of fluid inside the eyes.
An adrenergic agonist is a substance that has the same or similar effects as adrenaline. In addition, these drugs are also known as sympathomimetics, i.e., they act by mimicking the sympathetic nervous system.
The sympathetic nervous system is one of the branches of the autonomic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for performing unintentional bodily functions, such as:
- Pupil dilation
- Calculation of saliva production
- Elevated heart rate
- Inhibition of digestive system function
How should brimonidine be used?
Brimonidine is a solution available in the form of eye drops and is administered to the patient through the eyes. In adult and elderly patients, the recommended dose is one drop in the eye (or eyes) of the glaucoma twice a day. Thus, approximately 12 hours are maintained between doses.
Instructions for use and recommendations:
Caution: Do not use this medicine if the cap seal is broken before you start using the medicine. In addition, it is important that you wash your hands very carefully before each time you open the bottle.
- Start by leaning your head back and look toward the ceiling.
- Carefully pull the lower eyelid down.
- Next, turn the bottle upside down and squeeze until a drop of medicine drips into each damaged eye.
- Close your eyes.
- To enhance optimal use and systemic absorption, it is recommended to press the tear bag for one minute immediately after applying each drop. In addition, if you are using more than one ophthalmic drug, dosing of the drug should be performed with a break of at least 5-15 minutes between the two different drugs.
- Once opened, the medicine must be used within 28 days.
What are the side effects of brimonidine?
The most commonly reported side effects are:
- Dry mouth
- Ocular hyperemia
- Burning and itchy eyes
- Headache
- Sleepiness
These are usually transient side effects that are not very serious, so it is usually not usually necessary to stop taking brimonidine.
Rare side effects include:
- Corneal discoloration
- Eye phobia or sensitivity to light
- Eyelid edema
- Feeling of powerlessness
- Palpitations or arrhythmias (although these symptoms occur only in very rare cases)
If you experience the following symptoms while taking this medicine, contact your doctor immediately:
- Rash
- Shortness of breath
- Fainting
- Dizziness
- Nausea
When is the use of brimonidine not recommended?
Treatment with brimonidine is not recommended in the following cases:
- If you are hypersensitive (allergic) to the active substance or to any of the other ingredients.
- If the patient is a newborn or a child under 2 years of age.
- If a patient has developed depression and is being treated concomitantly with MAOIs (ie monoamine oxidase inhibitors).
- If the patient is being treated with antidepressants that affect the body’s noradrenergic transmission (for example, tricyclic antidepressants).
Can I use brimonidine if I am pregnant?
Animal studies have supported the conclusion that brimonidine does not cause teratogenic effects. However, studies in rabbits, in which higher levels of brimonidine were observed in animals compared to those achieved during normal human treatment, showed a reduction in fetal postnatal growth.
Although the safety of this medicine for use in human pregnancy has not been established, the use of brimonidine is not recommended during pregnancy.
The use of brimonidine should only be considered in cases where the potential benefit to the mother from the drug justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Its use is also not recommended during breast-feeding.
