DIRECTIONS:

Use one drop two to three times per day according to your eye care provider.

Once the drops are in, lie back with your eyes closed for at least three minutes. Using your thumb and first finger, lightly push in on your nose where the two eye lids come together. This will give you the maximum pressure lowering effect on your eyes with minimum side effects.  Please see proper instillation of eye drops.

HOW IT WORKS:

Azopt is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (CAI). Carbonic anhydrase is an enzyme that is used by the body to produce aqueous (one of the fluids inside the eye). By inhibiting this enzyme the body produces less aqueous and therefore the pressure in the eye is reduced by 15 to 20 percent.

ADVERSE REACTIONS:

Although Azopt is sulfa-based, it probably does not share "sulfa allergy" with sulfonamide antibacterials because of a significantly different chemical structure. No measurable amount of the drug is found in the blood plasma, so there is little or no impact on the kidney. One quarter of patients notice a bitter taste in their throat when taking Azopt. Gentle eyelid closure and punctual pressure for three minutes after instillation tends to eliminate or minimize this (see: proper eye drop instillation). Other side effects may include dry mouth, fatigue, headache, increased eye redness, stinging, burning and blurred vision. If headaches do occurs they tend to go away within a short period of time.

ADVANTAGES:

Azopt has good pressure lowering ability. It causes little if any discomfort to the eyes or vision in most patients.

Pregnancy:

Ophthalmic brinzolamide has not been studied in pregnant women. However, in animals given very high doses by mouth it caused decreased weight gain and some harmful effects in both the mothers and offspring. Before using this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding/ Pregnant:

It is not known whether ophthalmic brinzolamide passes into breast milk. However, it has been found to pass into breast milk in animals and the breast fed offspring gained less weight than normal. Discuss with your doctor whether or not to breast feed during treatment with this medicine.

Children:

Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients and there is no specific information comparing use of brinzolamide in children with use in other age groups.

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