Precautions
If you need surgery, including eye surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using timolol ophthalmic. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time. You should not stop using this medicine suddenly. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose. Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
When can I stop using timolol ophthalmic?
Timolol is a beta-blocker that also reduces pressure inside the eye. Timolol ophthalmic (for the eyes) is used to treat open-angle glaucoma and other causes of high pressure inside the eye.
What is timolol used to treat?
You may need to use blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life. If you are taking timolol to prevent migraine headaches: It may take 6 to 8 weeks of daily use before timolol is fully effective. Keep using the medication as directed and tell your doctor if you still have migraine headaches.
How long does it take for timolol to start working?
You should not stop using timolol suddenly. Stopping suddenly may make your condition worse. If you are being treated for high blood pressure: Keep using this medicine even if you feel well.
Can I just stop taking timolol (loratadine)?
When should you hold timolol?
If you experience any of the following symptoms, stop using timolol and call your doctor immediately: slow or irregular heartbeat. difficulty breathing. sudden weight gain.
Can timolol be stopped?
Do not stop taking timolol without talking to your doctor first. If timolol is stopped suddenly, it may cause chest pain or heart attack in some people.
Can I stop timolol eye drops?
Recovery of aqueous flow is slow after stopping timolol. This finding suggests that lower or less frequent doses than are customarily used might be equally efficacious. If timolol is discontinued before filtration surgery, its effects will remain for 2 to 4 weeks.
Can timolol be used long term?
Evaluation of the results shows that in the long term Timolol reduced intraocular pressure by 31%. There were no changes in visual acuity, visual field, excavation and degeneration of the optic disc, or slit lamp examination findings.
What happens if I stop taking glaucoma eye drops?
Forgetting to put your eyedrops may happen once in a while, but consistent/repetitive failure to comply with eyedrop treatment may result in poor glaucoma control and vision loss. If you forget to take a dose of your eye drops, it is best to instill the drop as soon as you remember it.
How long is timolol effective?
Timolol, 0.5%, appears to give the maximal ocular hypotensive effect; however, each concentration of the drug produced an ocular hypotensive effect for at least 24 hours.
Who should not take timolol?
You should not use timolol ophthalmic if you have asthma or severe COPD, or a serious heart condition (such as "sick sinus syndrome," 2nd or 3rd degree "AV block," severe heart failure, or very slow heartbeats). Side effects may occur if this medicine is absorbed into your bloodstream.
Which conditions are contraindications for timolol?
Who should not take TIMOLOL MALEATE?overactive thyroid gland.diabetes.low blood sugar.myasthenia gravis, a skeletal muscle disorder.complete heart block.partial heart block.sinus bradycardia.sudden and serious symptoms of heart failure called acute decompensated heart failure.More items...
How long does it take for timolol eye drops to work?
The onset of reduction in intra-ocular pressure can be detected within one-half hour after a single dose. The maximum effect occurs in one or two hours; significant lowering of IOP can be maintained for as long as 24 hours with a single dose.
Is timolol safe for glaucoma?
Timolol can be used alone or in combination with other treatments for glaucoma, such as bimatoprost, latanoprost, travoprost, tafluprost, brinzolamide, dorzolamide, or brimonidine.
Can timolol cause bradycardia?
Timolol, a non-selective beta-blocker, ophthalmic solutions are well known for the management of this condition which is also associated with some serious cardiovascular side effects including bradycardia.
Can timolol raise eye pressure?
Timolol did not affect blood pressure or pulse rate. Tear production was not reduced after topical application of timolol. Pupillary diameter and facility of outflow were not changed significantly under therapy. It is concluded, that timolol acts primarily by reduction of aqueous inflow.
How to report timolol side effects?
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. Timolol ophthalmic side effects (more detail)
What is timolol used for?
Timolol ophthalmic (for the eyes) is used to treat open-angle glaucoma and other causes of high pressure inside the eye. Timolol ophthalmic may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I avoid while using timolol ophthalmic?
timolol ophthalmic may cause blurred vision and may impair your reactions. Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you.
How old do you have to be to take timolol?
Timolol ophthalmic is not approved for use by anyone younger than 2 years old.
Can you take timolol ophthalmic if you have asthma?
You should not use timolol ophthalmic if you have asthma or severe COPD, or a serious heart condition (such as "sick sinus syndrome," 2nd or 3rd degree "AV block," severe heart failure, or very slow heartbeats).
Can timolol cause hives?
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.
Can you stop timolol before surgery?
If you need surgery, including eye surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using timolol ophthalmic. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.
How does timolol work?
It works on the heart and blood vessels. Timolol slows down the activity of your heart by stopping messages sent by some nerves to your heart. It does this by blocking tiny areas (called beta-adrenergic receptors) where the messages are received by your heart.
What are the side effects of taking timolol?
Continue to take the tablets regularly unless your doctor tells you to stop. The most common side-effects are feeling tired, cold fingers or toes, disturbed sleep, and a slow heartbeat.
What to do if you forget to take a med?
If you do forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless your next dose is due. If your next dose is due then take the tablet which is due but leave out the forgotten one. Do not take two doses together to make up for a forgotten dose.
How to dispose of expired medications?
Do not keep out-of-date or unwanted medicines. Take them to your local pharmacy which will dispose of them for you.
Is timolol a diuretic?
Timolol is also available in combination with medicines known as diuretics (often referred to as ' water tablets'). These combination tablets are only used for the treatment of high blood pressure. Eye drops which contain timolol are available for the treatment of glaucoma. There is a separate medicine leaflet available called Timolol eye drops ...
Can you take timolol while pregnant?
For these reasons, before you start taking timolol it is important that your doctor or pharmacist knows: If you are pregnant, trying for a baby or breastfeeding. If you have asthma or any other breathing disorder. If you have any problems with the way your liver works, or with the way your kidneys work.
Does timolol help with heart attacks?
Timolol can also help to protect the heart following a heart attack. Timolol is also prescribed to help prevent migraines. It can be helpful for people who find other treatments for reducing the number of migraine attacks unsuitable.
How does timolol help with glaucoma?
It is usually caused by an increase in pressure within your eye. Timolol eye drops work by lowering the pressure in your eye.
Why do you need to tell someone you are using timolol?
This is because the drops could interfere with some medicines used during surgery.
What eye drops are good for glaucoma?
Timolol eye drops for glaucoma Timoptol, Tiopex. Timolol eye drops for glaucoma. Timolol eye drops are used to control increased pressure within your eye (glaucoma). Remember to use the drops regularly - try not to miss any doses. If you normally wear soft contact lenses, please make sure your doctor knows about this.
What to do if someone swallows a drop?
If you suspect that someone has swallowed the drops by accident, go to the accident and emergency department of your local hospital. Take the container with you, even if it is empty.
How to dispose of expired medications?
Do not keep out-of-date or unwanted medicines. Take them to your local pharmacy which will dispose of them for you.
How to use eye drops?
Wash your hands well before you use the drops. Shake the container. Remove the cap (or flip off the tip of the unit if you are using a single-dose unit). Tilt your head back a little and pull the lower lid of your eye out to form a pocket. Hold the bottle or single-dose unit upside down near to your eye.
Can timolol be used alone?
By reducing the amount of fluid produced, it reduces the pressure within your eye. Timolol can be used alone or in combination with other treatments for glaucoma, such as bimatoprost, latanoprost, travoprost, tafluprost, brinzolamide, dorzolamide, or brimonidine. Please refer to the individual leaflets which are available for each ...
How to store medicine?
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.
How to use eye drops?
To use the eye drops (solution and gel): First, wash your hands. Tilt the head back and, pressing your finger gently on the skin just beneath the lower eyelid, pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to make a space. Drop the medicine into this space. Let go of the eyelid and gently close the eyes. Do not blink.
Can you touch the applicator tip of a medicine?
To keep the medicine as germ-free as possible, do not touch the applicator tip to any surface (including the eye). Also, keep the container tightly closed. Serious damage to the eye and possible loss of vision may result from using contaminated eye medicines.
When was timolol approved?
Timolol received FDA approval in 1978 for the treatment of glaucoma, and when used as eye drops, patients would report the added benefit of a reduction in migraine attacks. Ophthalmologists Hagen and Migliazzo put these observations together and published a study in 2014 in The Journal of the Missouri State Medical Association.
How much 0.25% in eye drops for asthma?
Although typically not recommended for asthma, her neurologist agreed to let her try 2 drops of 0.25% a day in each eye. It has proven to be a successful abortive medication for her without side effects or a negative impact on her asthma.
Is timolol a beta blocker?
The first study on the use of beta blocker eye drop treatment of headaches was in 1980, however, not much had been followed up with it until 2014. In studies, timolol in pill form has been found to be just as effective as propranolol in migraine prevention at 20-30mg a day. Yet with the oral dosage of beta blockers being the most popular prescription, it absorbs too slowly to be considered an acute treatment. Timolol received FDA approval in 1978 for the treatment of glaucoma, and when used as eye drops, patients would report the added benefit of a reduction in migraine attacks.
Can you use Timolol sublingually?
John C. Hagan III along with Eric Everett, RPh and Tyler Chamberlain discussed using Timolol sublingually as well as a nasal spray. They recommend the nasal spray for those who have trouble properly doing the eye drops, perhaps cause of the stinging sensation. Their research shows nasal administration to be ...
Can you use Timolol nasal spray?
Hagan III along with Eric Everett, RPh and Tyler Chamberlain discussed using Timolol sublingually as well as a nasal spray. They recommend the nasal spray for those who have trouble properly doing the eye drops , perhaps cause of the stinging sensation. Their research shows nasal administration to be the fastest absorbed and most effective. However, currently you can only get this prescribed through them (available through O'Brien Pharmacy )
Is timolol safe for eyes?
In 2020, Dr. Bradley J. Katz published an article on JAMA Ophthalmology called "Pulled a Drop of Timolol Into Each Eye and Call Me in the Morning" recommending Timolol as "inexpensive" and a "very good adverse event profile and safety profile".
Is beta blocker a preventative?
My OB has approved these as an acute medication and a preventative for post pregnancy. Beta blockers are typically one of the approved meds, should women with migraine need the option. You can read more about my experience using them while trying to conceive. This is a big reason why I made them apart of my original treatment plan .
How long does timolol treatment last?
Each patient was started on topical timolol 0.5% eye drop at a twice-daily dose for 4 weeks initially. The resolution of the lesion was measured after 4 weeks. If an excellent response was noted, then the treatment was stopped and patients were further followed weekly for another 2 weeks. In the rest of the patients, treatment was continued for another 2 weeks (total 6 weeks). The second analysis was done in all the patients at 6 weeks. Treatment was aborted after 6 weeks duration if there was no clinical resolution/improvement. All the patients were examined 6 weekly thereafter and the final evaluation was done at 6 months after starting the treatment.
How effective is timolol?
The efficacy of treatment with timolol 0.5% eye drop was measured in terms of percentage reduction in the size of PG and patients were divided into five categories as follows: i) 80–100% reduction – excellent responders, ii) 60–80% – good, iii) 40–60% – satisfactory, iv) 20–40% – poor, and v) < 20% – very poor/nonresponder [Fig. 1].
What is the best treatment for ophthalmic granuloma?
Topical timolol 0.5% as the primary treatment of ophthalmic pyogenic granuloma: A prospective, single-arm study
How long does it take for a timolol lesion to reappear?
The reappearance of the lesion within 6 weeks of stopping treatment was considered as recurrent PG in whom timolol was not restarted. Patients were followed up for at least 6 months in the hope of the late resolution of the lesion. If a satisfactory response was not achieved in the final analysis, then topical steroids or surgical excision was planned after consultation with the patient.
How to treat ophthalmic PG?
Treatment options for ophthalmic PG include topical steroids or surgical excision .[1] However, topical steroids can result in ocular hypertension, with 30% of patients experiencing a 6 to 15 mmHg rise in intraocular pressure (IOP) after 4 to 6 weeks of use,[3] and it may also lead to posterior subcapsular cataract formation. Besides, surgical intervention carries the risk of bleeding, infection, conjunctival scarring, and also increases the treatment cost.[4,5,6]
Is timolol good for PG?
Timolol 0.5% in topical form is a good treatment option for ophthalmic PG in all age groups. The treatment has no adverse effects when given to suitable individuals for a limited period.
Is PG common after eyelid surgery?
PG is not uncommon after eyelid and extraocular surgery. Thus, we have included a patient with eyelid skin involvement. The patient was advised application of cotton moistened with timolol over the lesion for a few minutes.
