Beta-Adrenergic Blocking Agents (Ophthalmic)

Brand name(s): AKBeta

Proper Use of This Medicine

To use:

• First, wash your hands. With the middle finger, apply pressure to the inside corner of the eye (and continue to apply pressure for 1 or 2 minutes after the medicine has been placed in the eye). This is especially important if the ophthalmic beta-adrenergic blocking agent is used to treat infants and children. Tilt the head back and with the index finger of the same hand, pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to form a pouch. Drop the medicine into the pouch and gently close the eyes. Do not blink. Keep the eyes closed for 1 or 2 minutes to allow the medicine to be absorbed.
• Immediately after using the eye drops, wash your hands to remove any medicine that may be on them.
• 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.
• If you are using levobunolol with the compliance cap (C Cap):
  • Before using the eye drops for the first time, make sure the number 1 or the correct day of the week appears in the window on the cap.
  • Remove the cap and use the eye drops as directed.
  • Replace the cap. Holding the cap between your thumb and forefinger, rotate the bottle until the cap clicks to the next position. This will tell you the time of your next dose.
  • After every dose, rotate the bottle until the cap clicks to the position that tells you the time of your next dose.
• If you are using the gel-forming timolol solution:
  • Before using the eye drops each time, turn the closed bottle upside-down and shake once.
  • If you use other eye drops in addition to the gel-forming solution, the other eye drops should be used first, then wait at least ten minutes before using this medicine.
• If you wear soft contact lenses and your eye drops contain benzalkonium chloride:
  • Remove your contacts before you use your eye drops. Wait for fifteen minutes after using the eye drops before putting your contacts in your eyes.

Use this medicine only as directed. Do not use more of it and do not use it more often than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of too much medicine being absorbed into the body and the chance of side effects.

Dosing-

The dose of betaxolol, carteolol, levobetaxolol, levobunolol, metipranolol, or timolol will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The number of doses of medicine that you use also depends on the strength of the medicine.

For betaxolol, carteolol, or metipranolol
• For ophthalmic drops dosage forms:
  • For glaucoma:
    • Adults and older children-Topical, to the conjunctiva, 1 drop two times a day.
    • Infants and younger children-Dose must be determined by the doctor.

For levobetaxolol
• For ophthalmic drops dosage form:
  • For glaucoma:
    • Adults-Topical, to the conjunctiva, 1 drop two times a day.
    • Children-Use and dose must be determined by the doctor.

For levobunolol or timolol
• For ophthalmic drops dosage forms:
  • For glaucoma:
    • Adults and older children-Topical, to the conjunctiva, 1 drop one or two times a day.
    • Infants and younger children-Dose must be determined by the doctor.

Missed dose-

If you miss a dose of this medicine and your dosing schedule is:

• One dose a day-Use the missed dose as soon as possible. However, if you do not remember the missed dose until the next day, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
• More than one dose a day-Use the missed dose as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.

Storage-

To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Store levobetaxolol in an upright position.
• Keep this medicine from freezing.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

Last Revised: 05/25/2000

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