I have to take Brinzolamide/Timolol twice a day. My general routine is to put them in at 9am & 9pm so that the drops are evenly spaced. However occasionally the 9pm dose is not practical. E.G. attending a football match that kicks off at 8pm. I have to leave home about 7pm and usually get back home between 10.45 & 11pm. So my question is - is it better to take my night dose BEFORE I go to the match or when I get back home?
TIA
Alan
I don’t think it’s the end of the world to take a drop a bit later now and again, but if it’s regular, I would say before. I would probably switch the schedule and take them at 8am and 8pm, or even 7. I take mine at 8, but different combination. Check with your doc / pharmacist to see if it’s ok to switch timing, can’t see it being an issue.
It does become a bit of an issue though, I’m with you in that, when I go out I take them with me, and feel like I’m going to get caught taking drugs in the toilet! I also seem to get them everywhere on my face apart from my eye as I normally apply them laying down.
Hi Alanthered!
It’s a conundrum isn’t it?! I just try to take them within an hour of those times usually but agree the 7pm one is often pretty inconvenient. I would probably take my drops with me (in a cooling pooch if necessary) and apply at half time or an interval in the toilets and brave the potential strange comments.
Or if that’s not possible, or the toilets are likely to be very unsanitary 😉 , or say I know I’m going to be driving/travelling and I can’t be sure there’ll be anywhere to stop or similar at my drop time, then I slowly migrate my time of taking drops slowly earlier by an hour or so, over a few days before, and shift my 12 hours temporarily to an earlier time and then after I gradually shift them back to the usual time when things return to normal. If I do it gradually and each time within an hour I deduce I’m not creating a significant gap and it’s better than missing it.
I’m sure there will be some people who say it’s okay to be late or miss one drop occasionally, and that may be true for some people, but I had issues with progression not so long ago so it’s really important for me I don’t leave gaps or miss my drops. But I’m also a really active person, and I have to have a life, so this is how I compromise.
Hi. Ditto to what great answers you have had so far. If possible do your drops at half time or end of the match before leaving. If it is only once a week you can give yourself an hour window either side of your usual drop time. The drops work for 12 hours which is why it is important to keep to your regular times, as much as possible.
Thanks to those who have commented. Beecalmed Jon1988 . As my wife usually administers my drops (& I would certainly not be able to put them in in the Gents at Old Trafford at half time - - it's rammed!😁), I think I will try to move the regime to 8am & 8pm. That way if I have them in at 7pm I will only be the 1 hour out. Just means not being able to sleep in too long in the morning!! 😢
Because of the potential for Timolol to lower overnight blood pressure, my doctor has advised taking it no later than 7pm. I do 7am / 6pm, but I am also taking Latanaprost at night (8:30-9pm). I have a home tonometer, and that is pretty optimal. If I were to wait until 9am, my IOP would already be on the rise.
That’s interesting, have you tried taking the latanoprost earlier? I take latanoprost and timolol in the same bottle at 8pm and also have a tonometer. My pressure is normally low before I go to bed but creeps up when I sleep. I was having some issues with pressure hitting 20 recently, started being a lot stricter when applying my drops and holding for two minutes and it seems stable at 16 when I sleep now, a small change really made a big difference. Having a tonometer is so useful isn’t it?
Yes, the tonometer has helped me a lot with drop spacing too. I've not taken Latanaprost earlier than 8:30pm. You could try measuring BP also, to see if it's even a concern. Or obviously could take the Timolol and Latanaprost as separate drops. I found that Timolol just once in the morning to be good enough. Adding the 2nd drop in the evening really didn't have much effect.
Interesting question and no one has ever emphasised a strict regime to me and working shifts as a nurse (both days and night it's impossible to maintain a strict regime
I also take my Brimonidine twice daily, 7am and 7pm. I just set my alarm on my Apple Watch and it’s a reminder to take as soon as the alarm sounds.
Wherever I am at 7pm, whether it be the movies, out at dinner or a friends place, I just take out my drops and tilt my head and put in the drops.
It isn’t an inconvenience so just give that a go. People don’t take any notice
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