Alphagan is used to treat glaucoma, a condition that increases pressure in the eye and leads to vision loss. Alphagan is in a class of drugs called alpha-2 adrenergic agonists. Alphagan works by decreasing the pressure in the eye.

Dosage and Administration

The recommended dose is one drop of Alphagan® eye drops in the affected eye(s) twice daily, approximately 12 hours apart.

If more than one topical ophthalmic medicine is to be used, other eye drops should not be used within five to ten minutes of using Alphagan® eye drops.

In order to minimise systemic absorption of Alphagan® eye drops, apply pressure to the tear duct immediately following administration.

To use the eyedrops, follow these instructions:

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
• Use a mirror or have someone else put the drops in your eye.
• Remove the protective cap. Make sure that the end of the dropper is not chipped or cracked.
• Avoid touching the dropper tip against your eye or anything else.
• Hold the dropper tip down at all times to prevent drops from flowing back into the bottle and contaminating the remaining contents.
• Lie down or tilt your head back.
• Holding the bottle between your thumb and index finger, place the dropper tip as near as possible to your eyelid without touching it.
• Brace the remaining fingers of that hand against your cheek or nose.
• With the index finger of your other hand, pull the lower lid of the eye down to form a pocket.
• Drop the prescribed number of drops into the pocket made by the lower lid and the eye. Placing drops on the surface of the eyeball can cause stinging.
• Close your eye and press lightly against the lower lid with your finger for 2 - 3 minutes to keep the medication in the eye. Do not blink.
• Replace and tighten the cap right away. Do not wipe or rinse it off.
• Wipe off any excess liquid from your cheek with a clean tissue. Wash your hands again.

Paediatric Use

Safety and effectiveness in paediatric patients have not been established. Symptoms of bradycardia, hypotension, hypothermia, hypotonia and apnea have been reported (rarely) in neonates receiving brimonidine.

Side Effects

Some reported side effects that may go away during treatment, include dry mouth; headache; itching, burning, stinging, redness, or dryness of the eye; blurred vision; feeling of something in the eye; or drowsiness. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor.

Check with your doctore as soon as possible if you experience dizziness, stomach discomfort, eyelid crusting, anxiety, palpitations, sensitivity to light, nasal dryness. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.

Product Maintenance

To avoid contamination of the solution, keep container tightly closed. Do not touch dropper tip to any surface. Contents are sterile if seal is intact.

Shelf life

30 months

Storage

Store below 25°C or 77°F

Discard contents 4 weeks after opening the bot

Inhouse Pharmacy