Pronunciation: dor-ZOE-la-mide
Generic Name: Dorzolamide
Brand Name: Trusopt
Dorzolamide Drops are used for:
Treating increased pressure in the eye (ocular hypertension) and open-angle glaucoma.
Dorzolamide Drops are a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. It works by decreasing fluid formation inside the eye, which decreases the pressure inside the eye.
Do NOT use Dorzolamide Drops if:
- you are allergic to any ingredient in Dorzolamide Drops or to a sulfonamide (eg, sulfamethoxazole)
- you have severe kidney problems
- you are taking another carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (eg, acetazolamide, methazolamide)
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Dorzolamide Drops:
Some medical conditions may interact with Dorzolamide Drops. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
- if you have kidney problems, liver problems, or closed-angle glaucoma
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Dorzolamide Drops. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
- Salicylates (eg, aspirin) because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Dorzolamide Drops
- Other carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (eg, acetazolamide, methazolamide) because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Dorzolamide Drops
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Dorzolamide Drops may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Dorzolamide Drops:
Use Dorzolamide Drops as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
- An extra patient leaflet is available with Dorzolamide Drops. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.
- Remove contact lenses before you use Dorzolamide Drops.
- Dorzolamide Drops are only for the eye. Do not get it in your nose or mouth.
- To use Dorzolamide Drops in the eye, first, wash your hands. Tilt your head back. Using your index finger, pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to form a pouch. Drop the medicine into the pouch by lightly pressing the "finger push area" of the bottle with your thumbs or index finger, then gently close your eyes. Immediately 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.
- If you are using more than one eye drop medicine, the medicines should be given at least 10 minutes apart.
- To prevent germs from contaminating your medicine, do not touch the applicator tip to any surface, including the eye. Keep the container tightly closed.
- If you miss a dose of Dorzolamide Drops, use it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not use 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Dorzolamide Drops.
Important safety information:
- Dorzolamide Drops may cause blurred vision. This effect may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Dorzolamide Drops with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
- Soft contact lenses may absorb a chemical in Dorzolamide Drops; wait 15 minutes after you use Dorzolamide Drops before you put your contacts back in.
- Dorzolamide Drops are a sulfonamide (sulfa) medicine. Some patients who are allergic to sulfonamides have experienced severe and rarely fatal allergic reactions to sulfonamide medicines. Do not use Dorzolamide Drops if you are allergic to sulfonamides (eg, sulfamethoxazole). Contact your doctor right away if you develop fever, chills, or sore throat; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; symptoms of liver damage (eg, yellowing of the eyes or skin, pale stools, dark urine, severe stomach pain, loss of appetite); unusual tiredness or weakness; or unusually pale skin.
- Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Dorzolamide Drops before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
- PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Dorzolamide Drops while you are pregnant. It is not known if Dorzolamide Drops are found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Dorzolamide Drops.
Possible side effects of Dorzolamide Drops:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Bitter taste in mouth; blurred vision; burning and stinging upon instillation; dryness of eyes; eye sensitivity to sunlight; redness of the eyes; tearing.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); burning, numbness, or tingling; dizziness; eye pain; irritated eyelids; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; vision changes.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
See also: Dorzolamide side effects (in more detail)
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Dorzolamide Drops may be harmful if swallowed.
Proper storage of Dorzolamide Drops:Store Dorzolamide Drops at room temperature, between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Dorzolamide Drops out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
- If you have any questions about Dorzolamide Drops, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- Dorzolamide Drops are to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
- If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
- Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Dorzolamide Drops. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
Issue Date: February 1, 2012
Database Edition 12.1.1.002
Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.
More Dorzolamide resources
- Dorzolamide Side Effects (in more detail)
- Dorzolamide Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Dorzolamide Drug Interactions
- Dorzolamide Support Group
- 0 Reviews for Dorzolamide - Add your own review/rating
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