This medication is usually used to treat high intraocular pressure due to glaucoma. It also may be used for other purposes not listed in this document. Talk to a doctor for more details. While the active ingredients are Brimonidine Tartrate and Timolol, it also contains other inactive ingredients such as citric acid, benzalkonium chloride, polyvinyl alcohol, sodium chloride, sodium citrate, and others. Combigan 0.2/0.5% belongs to the class of medicines called alpha-adrenergic agonists. Brimonidine works by blocking the production of fluid in the eye, which helps to decrease eye pressure. Combigan 0.2/0.5% also helps to relieve symptoms of minor eye irritations (such as smoke, dust, swimming, or smog).
The manufacturer of Combigan 0.2/0.5% is Allergan Pvt. Ltd.
Administration
It is recommended to use this medication every 6-8 hours as needed and you should not use this medication more than 4 times per day. In some cases, if you are not noticing the desired result, your physician may gradually increase the dosage for several weeks. To get the most benefit from Combigan 0.2/0.5%, it is recommended to follow the doctor’s recommendations carefully such as taking the medicine at a fixed time every day. Additionally, you should not use this medicine more often than your doctor prescribes because it will not treat your condition faster.
- Gently shake the bottle and wash your hands before each use.
- In case you are wearing contact lenses, remove them before administering the medicine.
- Afterward, pull down the lower eyelid to make a pouch and place 1-2 drops of Combigan 0.2/0.5% into this pouch.
- To avoid draining the medicine, put your finger at the corner of your eye and gently press.
- To reduce the risk of contamination do not let the dropper tip touch your eye. Do not rub or blink your eyes after using this drug.
- In case your physician prescribes this medication for both eyes, repeat the steps listed above.
- After you administer the medication, it is advised to wait at least 10-15 minutes before wearing contact lenses.
If your condition does not improve or if it worsens, contact a doctor right away.
Dosages
Usually, dosages are based on your response to therapy, age, the severity of your health condition, and other medicines that you may be using. Thereby, physicians prescribe different dosages for their patients. In case you have doubts about what dosage is better for you, discuss it with a doctor.
- Combigan Eye Drops 0.2/0.5%
Missed Dose
However, you should not miss a dose because symptoms may return and your condition may become difficult to treat. However, if it is near time for the next dose, just skip the missed dose and continue the regular treatment. Do not double the dosage the next time to catch up because your risk of severe side effects may increase.
Overdose
If you are using Brimonidine more often than your doctor prescribes, you may notice an overdose. Stop taking this medication and consult a doctor at once, if you are noticing any of the following symptoms. For example severe dizziness, fainting, fast or pounding heartbeat, breathlessness, and others. Ask your healthcare professional in case you have any questions.
Adverse Effects of Combigan 0.2/0.5%
However, while you are on treatment with Brimonidine, you may experience some side effects. In any case, if your body adjusts to this medicine, you may not notice any of the following adverse effects. There are some factors that can cause negative effects (such as dehydration, overdose, and allergy).
Common Adverse Effects
Inform your doctor in case you notice any of the following negative effects. Usually, most patients ignore mild side effects. Check below some examples:
- Eye itching
- Dry mouth
- Headaches
- Sleepiness
- Dizziness
- Taste change
- Gastrointestinal discomfort
- Fatigue
Severe Adverse Effects
You may rarely notice this category of adverse effects due to an increased dose of Combigan 0.2/0.5%. Therefore, if you experience any of the following side effects, stop taking this medicine and get medical help right away. In addition, your healthcare professional may be able to help you to prevent or avoid side effects. For example:
- Corneal erosion
- Conjunctival hyperemia
- Blurred vision
- Visual disorder
- Stinging sensation
- Eyelid inflammation
- Burning sensation
This article does not contain all possible side effects. Thus, you should tell your physician if you are experiencing any of the adverse reactions listed above or any other effects.
Drug Interaction
Brimonidine may interact with some medicines and substances and reduce the effectiveness of the drug or even increase your risk of side effects. That’s why it is advised to tell your healthcare professional about all products that you are using before taking Combigan 0.2/0.5%. Examples include herbal products, supplements, vitamins, prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, and others. Check some examples below:
- Dorzolamide
- Timolol ophthalmic
- Furosemide
- Metoprolol
- Cetirizine
- Alcohol
- Erectile dysfunction medicines (such as Vardenafil, Avanafil, Sildenafil Citrate, and others)
- Zolpidem
- Verapamil
- Risperidone
- Quinapril
- Selegiline
- Safinamide
- Pimozide
- Phenytoin
- Nitroglycerin
- Methylene blue
- Lithium
- Hydrocodone
- Digoxin
- Warfarin
- Codeine
- Alprazolam
- Acebutolol
- Marijuana (cannabis)
- Digitoxin
Combigan 0.2/0.5% may also interact with some medical conditions. For example:
- Renal and liver dysfunction
- Mental disorders (such as depression)
- Cardiovascular disease
This document does not contain a complete list of disease and drug interactions. That’s why it is important to consult a doctor before taking this drug. Moreover, you should not start, stop, or change the dosages without the doctor’s approval because you may experience unwanted results.
Precautions
Inform your doctor if you have an allergy to the ingredients of Combigan 0.2/0.5% or if you have any other allergies. Additionally, you should share your medical history with your physician before using this medicine. For example:
- Kidney disease (such as kidney stones)
- Liver disease (such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, cirrhosis, and others)
- Cardiovascular disease
- Mental disorders (such as depression, confusion, and others)
- Cancer
- Surgery
- Diabetes
- Eye infection
Brimonidine may blur your vision or may make you drowsy or dizzy. Thus, you should limit or avoid alcoholic drinks and marijuana while you are on treatment with Combigan 0.2/0.5% because these symptoms may increase. Moreover, you should not drive or operate heavy machinery during treatment because it may be harmful to you.
In case you are pregnant or want to become pregnant, it is recommended to use this medication with a doctor’s prescription only. Otherwise, it may harm your unborn baby. Moreover, consult a doctor before breastfeeding because there is no information if Brimonidine or Timolol passes into breast milk.
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