Combined Medications for Glaucoma
| Medication | Company | Brand Name | Generic Name |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Allergan Inc. | Combigan™ | Brimonidine Tartrate & Timolol Maleate |
 |
Merck & Co. Inc. | Cosopt® | Dorzolomide HCI & Timolol Maleate |
Combined medications can offer an alternative for patients who need more than one type of medication. In addition to the convenience of using one eyedrop bottle instead of two, there may also be a financial advantage, depending on your insurance plan. Combigan is a combination of beta blocker and alpha agonist. Cosopt is a combination of beta blocker and carbonic anhydrase inhibitor.
Side Effects:
Side effects of Combigan include the symptoms of beta blockers and alpha agonists. Side effects of Cosopt include burning and/or stinging of the eyes and changes in the sense of taste. Since these medications are new to the market, long term follow up of people using these medications is not yet available.
Other Side Effects
More Common:
- burning, dry, or itching eyes
- discharge or excessive tearing
- redness, pain, swelling of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of the eyelid
- stinging in the eyes
- tiny bumps on the lining of the eyelid
Less Common:
- blurred or loss of vision
- disturbed color perception
- dizziness
- double vision
- feeling of having something in the eye
- halos around lights
- headache
- nervousness
- night blindness
- pounding in the ears
- sensitivity of the eyes to light
- slow, fast, or irregular heartbeat
- tunnel vision
- watery eyes
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of system side effects occur while taking any glaucoma medication.
Systemic Side Effects:
- chest pain or discomfort
- cough
- difficulty breathing
- lightheadedness, dizziness or fainting
- no blood pressure or pulse
- noisy breathing
- stopping of heart
- tightness in the chest
- unconsciousness
This information is to be used for informational educational purposes only. If you have any questions about your medication, please call Dr. Pacuraru. If you are experiencing swelling, or breathing difficulty please seek emergency care immediately. Do not stop medications unless advised to do so by your medical care professional.
Dr. Pacuraru welcomes any and all questions about your medications.