Alphagan (Brimonidine Tartrate)

What is Generic Alphagan?

Alphagan eye drops contain the main active ingredient of brominid tartrate. The drug is a solution of greenish color, which is available in vials of five milliliters, which contains 1 mg of active substance.

It belongs to the group of selective α2-adrenomimetics. When administered locally, it reduces intraocular pressure. A distinctive feature of the drug is that brominidine has a minimal effect on the cardiovascular and respiratory system, does not cause mydriasis and vasoconstriction. Hypotensive action of main substance is due to its ability to reduce the production of intraocular fluid and increase uoposcolar outflow. Two hours after the instillation of drops, the maximum effect is achieved.

In what kind of disease treatment Alphagan is helpful?

The drug is used to reduce the increased intraocular pressure in open-angle glaucoma and intraocular hypertension. It is used for monotherapy in patients who have contraindications to the use of contraindicated β-blockers. The drug is instilled when the target pressure inside the eyeball has not been achieved by other drugs.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take Generic Alphagan?

The drug is contraindicated in the following cases:

• in the presence of hypersensitivity to the drug;

• children under 2 years of age;

• patients taking tricyclic antidepressants and myansterol, as well as monoamine oxidase inhibitors.

How should I take Alphagan?

Eye drops containing brimonidine are instilled in the conjunctival sac of the affected eye one drop three times a day.

Dosage information

Usually, the doctor prescribes 1 drop but depending on the diagnosis, the frequency and the number of drops may vary.

What may interact with Generic Alphagan?

Alphagan medication can reduce blood pressure, enhancing the effect of antihypertensive drugs, cardiac glycosides. Although the interaction between it and oppressive central nervous system (opiates, alcohol, sedatives, barbiturates, anesthetics), it is not revealed, with their joint use, the effect of the latter can be enhanced. Despite the lack of sufficient data on the combined use of tricyclic antidepressants, it is possible to reduce the hypotensive effect on IOP last. MAO inhibitors can theoretically influence the metabolism of main substance, which can cause a significant reduction in blood pressure. It is necessary to use with particular caution the use in patients taking MAO inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, as well as methylphenidate, chlorpromazine, reserpine.

A careful approach requires the use and correction of the dose for simultaneous administration of drugs that can affect the work of α-adrenergic receptors (agonists and antagonists of adrenergic receptors).

What should I watch for while taking Alphagan?

Despite the minimal effect of Alphagan on blood pressure, increased monitoring of patients with unstable or decompensated diseases of the cardiovascular system is required. The drug can potentiate syndromes associated with circulatory failure. It should be used with caution in prescribing depression, Reynaud's phenomenon, orthostatic hypotension, obliterating thromboangiitis.

The use of drug in patients with renal and hepatic insufficiency has not been adequately studied. The risk of using the drug in pregnancy by the FDA was B. Alphagan did not have a teratogenic effect in animal experiments, but led to a preimplantation loss of the embryo and a delay in the development of offspring in the postnatal period.

Adequate and controlled studies in pregnant women have not been carried out, however, it is known from animal experiments that the drug penetrates the placenta and enters the fetal bloodstream in a limited amount. Given that the results of studies on the effect of the drug on the reproductive system in animals do not always coincide with those in humans, the use of medication during pregnancy is justified only if the mother benefits from its use over potential risks to the fetus.

Experiments on animals have shown that it penetrates into breast milk. There were no similar studies on humans. In connection with the possibility of developing adverse reactions in the child, the decision to interrupt the natural feeding or its continuation is made taking into account the need for therapy with this drug in the mother.

What side effects may I notice from Alphagan?

When using drops containing brimonidine, there were the most frequent Alphagan side effects:

• hyperemia, itching and burning of the eyeball;
• dryness in the oral cavity;
• arterial hypertension;
• impaired vision;
• conjunctival folliculosis.

They usually do not require treatment and pass after the drug is discontinued. Also sometimes there may be such manifestations of the undesirable effect of the drug:

• local and systemic allergic reactions;
• asthenia;
• disturbance of taste;
• cataract;
• conjunctivitis, blepharitis and blepharoconjunctivitis;
• keratitis;
• hypophagmus;
• blurred vision;
• lacrimation;
• conjunctival edema; dizziness;
• bronchitis, cough;
• dyspnoea;
• dyspeptic phenomena;
• epiphory;
• irritation of the conjunctiva;
• surface keratopathy;
• dryness and pain in the eye;
• foreign body sensation;
• detachable from the eyes;
• edema and redness of the eyelids;
• headache;
• increased fatigue;
• propensity to colds;
• flu-like syndrome;
• arterial hypotension;
• photophobia;
• pharyngitis, rhinitis or sinusitis;
• somnolence;
• visual field defects;
• destruction of the vitreous body;
• vitreous humor.

Very rarely patients worried about dryness in the nose, developed haljazion and erosion of the cornea.

There is no information about an overdose of these eye drops with topical application. In the event of accidental ingestion of the drug, systemic consequences are possible.

Where can I keep Alphagan?

Keep this medication in a low humidity place, far away from children. It is a prescription medication but you can buy Alphagan without prescription in Japan online pharmacy.