Alphagan 2%

Description

Drug Uses

Alphagan is indicated for lowering eye pressure in patients with wide–angle glaucoma or high blood pressure of the eye.

How Taken

Alphagan comes as eye drops. Before using Alphagan remove contact lenses, wash your hand, tilt your head back and using your index finger pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to form a pouch. Drop the medicine into the pouch and gently close your eyes. Straight after that, use your finger to apply pressure to the inside corner of the eye for 1 to 2 minutes. Do not blink. Remove excess medicine around your eye with a clean, dry tissue, being careful not to touch your eye. Wash your hands to remove any medicine that may be on them. 15 minutes after that you can put your contact lenses back on. Unless directed otherwise by your doctor instill 1 drop into the affected eye(s) 3 times daily with 8 hour intervals between the doses. To prevent germs from contaminating your medicine, do not touch the applicator tip to any surface, including the eye. Keep the container tightly closed.

Warnings/Precautions

Before taking Alphagan, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances, if you have kidney or liver disease, if you have severe heart disease (including not enough blood flow) or kidney or liver problems, if you have a history of depression, if you have Raynaud phenomenon, if you have low blood pressure, inflammation of the blood vessels, or not enough blood flow to the brain, if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breast–feeding. If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Alphagan while you are pregnant. It is not known if Alphagan is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast–feeding while you use Alphagan, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby. Some medicines may interact with Alphagan. Therefore tell your doctor of all prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement that you are taking. Alphagan should be used with extreme caution in children younger than 2 years old, safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed. Do not take Alphagan if you are currently taking furazolidone or a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor (e.g., phenelzine). Lab tests may be performed while you use Alphagan. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose take it as soon as you remember. However if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the Missed Dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Possible Side Effects

Some of the Possible Side Effects are– abnormal vision, cough, dizziness, drowsiness, dry eyes, dry mouth, eye irritation, flu, foreign body sensation, headache, inflamed eyelids, irritation near the eyelashes, loss of color in the eye, muscular pain, rash, redness of eyelid, runny nose, sensitivity to light, sinus infection, sore throat, staining and erosion of the cornea, stomach upset, swelling of the conjunctiva, tearing, tiredness, upper respiratory tract symptoms, weakness. Contact your doctor if any of these or other side effects occur. If you experience any of the following serious side effects, you should seek medical attention immediately– allergic reactions (rash, hives, itching, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue), anxiety, changes in heart rate, difficulty breathing, eyelid crusting, fainting, nasal dryness, palpitations, pounding in the chest.

Storage

Store this medication at room temperature, between 59 – 77 °F (15 – 20 °C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light (not in the bathroom). Keep Alphagan out of the reach of children and away from pets.

Overdose

If overdose is suspected seek medical attention immediately. Contact your health care provider at once if you feel you have used too much of Alphagan.

More Information

Alphagan may cause drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, or lightheadedness. These effects may worsen if Alphagan is taken with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Alphagan with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to this drug. Do not share this medicine with others for whom it was not prescribed. Do not use this medicine for other health conditions. If your symptoms do not improve or if they worsen, contact your doctor. If you are using more than one eye medicine to lower eye pressure, use the products at least 5 minutes apart. Do not use more medicine than prescribed by your doctor.

Disclaimer

This is only general information, it does not cover all directions, drug integrations or precautions. You should not rely on it for any purpose, it does not contain any specific instructions for a particular patient. We disclaim all responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of this information. We`re not responsible for any damage.