Side effects of Bimiduo (bimatoprost/timolol)

[Maisie79]

Hi folks. I've been trialling Bimiduo for around 3 weeks now and I'm not happy with these drops at all.

Brow pain, headaches, stinging eyes. The worst of these symptoms tend to peak around early evening time ( I take the drops first thing in the morning.) My main concern is the appearance of my eyes. I've developed an indent each side below my brow bone making the creases look much deeper. It becomes more noticeable as the day goes on. Sometimes my eyelids feel weighted. The skin around my eyes looks darker. Family members are commenting on it. I know these can be common symptoms of glaucoma treatment but so early on?

I tried to contact my consultant but she's away. A colleague responded in an off hand manner and said any changes to the appearance of my eyes is likely to be coincidental and probably age related (I'm 45). If the pain is tolerable then put up with it basically. I popped to my opticians to get my pressures checked - 14 in each eye - so the drops are doing what they're supposed to but these side effects are awful. The optician wasn't very compassionate either.

I have a follow up in 4 weeks. I was considering trying to bring that forward or just messaging and asking for different drops but I'm torn between giving them a good go (and also feeling a bit pressured by health professionals that I should just suck it up..) and saying these side effects are just too much. I can't tolerate drops with preservatives so I'm also mindful of that.

Has anyone had similar side effects with Bimiduo? I think they're fairly new to the market. Maybe they'll settle down. It's still early days for me overall so I'm struggling to advocate for myself well. Any tops tips greatly received.

As always many thanks 🙂

[Rainyday2024]

Hello Maisie, So sorry to hear about the trouble these drops are causing you - and that the people you asked for advice were unsympathetic and not at all helpful! Over the years I have used various different drops for my glaucoma, so it is difficult for me to remember them all. I know I have used a Timolol combined with something else, it may have been Bimataprost, it gave me lovely long eyelashes but my current consultant took me off that combination for some reason. It may have been Ganfort? Apart from the longer eyelashes, I don’t remember any uncomfortable side effects. I did use some drops which used to really sting my eyes - they may have been Dorzolamide or Brimonidine. I’m sorry if I’m not being much help to you, but you need to tell whoever that the drops are really uncomfortable and you need a different combination! I’ve just looked on my NHS app to see if I could find out all my “old” previously used drops! I hope you get some helpful replies on here and that you manage to get it sorted soon. Kind regards x

[Maisie79 in reply to Rainyday2024]

Thank you for your reply. It is really helpful to hear other peoples experiences, especially when things are still quite new . It seems very common for people to try many different combinations like you're describing? So I'm trying to stay positive that some other drops will do the trick and be easier side effect wise. I guess getting used to the shifting nature of it all is half the battle. Hope you have a great day 🙂

[FarReuth]

Hi Maisie, I use bimatoprost/timolol, and have experienced effects as you are finding, since starting about 18 months ago. I've changed to a non preservative type, which has decreased (but not completely eliminated) the discomfort. As I think the preservative can cause irritation in the eye; as eyes can be very sensitive to absorbing anything it detects as a toxin. While my eyes feel better since changing I find family still comment my eyes look red and sore. I hope you find a solution to the discomfort. The aesthetics I am less concerned, as long as I know the drops are stabilising my eyesight - which they are, thankfully. Best wishes,

[Maisie79 in reply to FarReuth]

Good morning. Thanks for taking the time to reply. I'm using preservative free drops too. I'm glad to hear they're working for you. Long may it continue 🙂 Do you use anything to help ease the soreness? I use Theoloz Duo drops. They do make a difference. Take care

[FarReuth in reply to Maisie79]

For irritation and soreness, particularly around eyes, I use Eau de Bleuet, it's a cornflower floral water. Very soothing with cotton wool. I'll try Thealoz, thanks. Best,

[Jalleseget]

Hi!

I suggest You change Bimiduo to Timolol(Timosan gel) i the morning and Lumigan in the evening.

[Maisie79 in reply to Jalleseget]

I've never heard of Lumigan. I'm assuming it's similar to bimatoprost? Thanks for the suggestion

[Safehaven23]

Eventually I found that Ganfort drops are the best for me...reduced my pressures...darkened lashes a bit ....and been on this for many years. Finally I had a Consultant who said that I had Cataracts as well but not bad enough for usual hospital to operate on...however he decided that it would be a good idea as my pressures were increasing a bit and it is known that removal of cataracts can help reduce pressure too. Therefore Cataracts removed at end of 2018 and they also put two stents in each eye to help with drainage...and pressures been low over since...10 and 12 only last week at check up. So there are options.

[Maisie79]

Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm glad to hear your treatments are working. A lot of people have mentioned Ganfort to me.

[Iona57]

Hi Maisie 79, I'm sorry you are having a difficult time with the eye drops. I take bimatoprost once a day just before bed. It says on the patient info leaflet to take it in the evening. I'm not sure if that would apply to your combined drop. The change in the appearance of your eye is not coincidental- it's a well known side effect of the '-prost' type of eye drops that they can darken the skin round the eye and give a sunken appearance. I have that and I hate it! I did get it in both eyes when I was using the drops in both. After a trabeculectomy in my right eye I stopped taking the drop for that eye, and the appearance went back to looking more normal. So I have uneven looking eyes. Using a little concealer Round the eye helps disguise it a bit.

The other side effect is longer lashes, and this effect too has reversed in my right eye, which I'm not so happy about!

I can't comment on the timolol. I'm not given that as it is contraindicated for asthma.

[Maisie79 in reply to Iona57]

Hi. I really didn't expect the sunken eye appearance so soon, I naively thought that would be after years of use of drops. I really think that these side effects should be discussed more. It's another difficult thing to come to terms with. I'm going out shopping for concealer tomorrow. I've never been particularly fussy about how I look but when family start pointing things out I find I'm becoming self-conscious. I found my eyelashes grew with Monopost but only on my right eye! It would wouldnt it 😏

I have a follow up soon so I'm trying to get that far with these drops. Then at least I can say I really tried. I wonder if taking in the evening might help me avoid some of the other side effects I'm having because I'd be asleep?!

Thanks for your reply. It really helps to talk

[Iona57 in reply to Maisie79]

I remember that my brother said that my eyes were looking darker, shortly after I started taking thr drops. It didn't help!I did find that if I took the drops at night I didn't get the tired heavy feeling so much during the day.

[Nala2509]

I’m also on these drops and developed dark patches under my eyes and sore lower lids. I have found by wiping away any excess drops from under my eyes after putting the drops in, has improved both symptoms. Not sure if that may help you, but definitely worth chatting to your consultant.

[Maisie79 in reply to Nala2509]

Thanks. I am trying to but also finding the bottle a bit unwieldy especially after how easy the monopost vials were. I've ended up with Bimiduo everywhere several times!