Experiences with
BrinzolamideBrinzolamide is not suitable for some people. For example, check with your doctor if you have liver or kidney problems or dry eyes.
Brinzolamide comes as eye drops that you use 2 or 3 times a day. Follow the instructions that come with your medicine.
Side effects of brinzolamide include an itchy or painful eye, or blurred vision. More serious side effects can happen in rare cases.
It can cause problems to use brinzolamide with some other medicines, such as other similar eye drops, antifungal medicines or metformin for diabetes.
Who can use brinzolamide
Most adults aged 18 years and over can use brinzolamide eye drops.
Children can only use brinzolamide if it's prescribed by a specialist.
Who may not be able to use brinzolamide
Brinzolamide is not suitable for some people. To make sure it's safe for you, tell your doctor before starting to use brinzolamide if you:
- have ever had an allergic reaction to brinzolamide or any other medicine
- are allergic to medicines called sulphonamides – these include some medicines used to treat diabetes and infections and also remove extra fluid from your body (diuretics)
- have liver or kidney problems
- have a type of glaucoma called pseudoexfoliative glaucoma, pigmentary glaucoma or narrow angle glaucoma
- have a condition called hyperchloraemic acidosis (where your blood becomes too acidic)
- have dry eyes or problems with your cornea (the clear outer layer of your eye)
- normally wear contact lenses (you can still use brinzolamide, but you'll need to remove the contact lenses before using the eye drops and wait 15 minutes before putting them back in)
Dosage and how to use brinzolamide
The usual dose of brinzolamide for adults is 1 drop into the affected eye or eyes twice a day, in the morning and at night.
Your doctor may increase this to 1 drop into the affected eye or eyes 3 times a day, if needed.
How to use eye drops
Always check the leaflet that comes with the medicine. Instructions can vary between different manufacturers, as some bottles look different and work differently.
You may find using a mirror helps.
If you wear contact lenses, make sure you take them out before using your eye drops, as the drops can change the colour of contact lenses. Wait 15 minutes before putting your lenses back in.
- Wash your hands.
- Shake the bottle and twist off the cap. If it does not come with a separate dropper and you have not used these eye drops before, practise gently squeezing the bottle away from your eye first, to get used to the pressure and the time it takes for 1 drop to fall out.
- Use your finger to gently pull down the lower eyelid to form a small pocket and tilt your head back.
- Make sure the tip of the bottle does not touch your eye, eyelashes, eyelid, your skin, or any other surface.
- Hold the dropper over your eye, look up, squeeze the dropper gently and allow 1 drop to fall into the pocket formed by your lower eyelid. If the drop misses your eye, try again.
- Release your lower eyelid and close your eye. Gently press your finger over the inside corner of your eye (over the eyelid) for about a minute. This helps to keep the drop in the eye.
- Wipe away any extra liquid with a clean tissue.
- Repeat in your other eye if your doctor has told you to do this.
- Put the cap back on the bottle as soon as you've finished using it.
Common side effects of brinzolamide
There are things you can do to help cope with these possible side effects of brinzolamide:
This should go away on its own but talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're concerned about this. A cold water compress on the closed eye may help.
If the eye drops irritate your eyes and make them water so much that you think about stopping using the drops, talk to your doctor straight away. They may prescribe something different for you.
Do not drive, cycle, use tools or operate heavy machinery until your eyes feel comfortable again and your vision is clear.
Wearing sunglasses may help.
This usually only lasts up to 5 minutes. Drink some water or juice, or chew some sugar-free gum.
Keep using the medicine, but speak to a doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering you or does not go away.
Brinzolamide and pregnancy
Treating high pressure in the eye or glaucoma is essential and so it's important to keep using brinzolamide while you're pregnant.
As it is applied to the eye, very little gets into your blood and to your baby. The small amount that might get to your baby is unlikely to harm them.
Brinzolamide and breastfeeding
You can use brinzolamide while you're breastfeeding.
Treating high pressure in the eye or glaucoma is essential and so it's important to keep using brinzolamide while you're breastfeeding.
Brinzolamide eye drops are not thought to pass into breast milk or cause any side effects in breastfed babies.
Medicines containing brinzolamide may also contain other ingredients. Check with a pharmacist or doctor first if you're breastfeeding.
If you notice that your baby is not feeding as well as usual, or if you have any other concerns about your baby, talk to your midwife, health visitor or doctor as soon as possible.
Cautions with other medicines
There are some medicines that do not mix well with brinzolamide and can affect how well it works.
Tell a doctor or pharmacist before you start using brinzolamide if you're taking:
- other eye drops that work in a similar way to brinzolamide, such as acetazolamide or dorzolamide
- antifungals such as itraconazole or clotrimazole
- ritonavir (an antiviral medicine)
- metformin (a medicine used for diabetes)
Related links
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