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| Pronunciation |
|
 (bri
MOE ni
deen) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Alphagan® |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Alpha2 Agonist, Ophthalmic; Ophthalmic Agent, Antiglaucoma |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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- If you have an allergy to brimonidine or any other part of the
medicine.
- If you are taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (phenelzine,
tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid).
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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|
- This medicine is used to lower intraocular pressure in patients with
glaucoma or high pressure in the
eye.
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| How does it work? |
|
|
- Brimonidine decreases intraocular pressure in patients with elevated
or normal pressures. The patient may not have glaucoma. Some surgical procedures
may increase the pressure in the eye. This medicine brings the pressure
down.
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| How is it best taken? |
|
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- For the eye only.
- Shake well first.
- Take out soft contact lenses before using medicine. Lenses can be
replaced 15 minutes after medicine is given.
- After using medicine keep your eyes closed. Apply pressure to the
inside corner of the eye. Do this for 3-5 minutes. This keeps medicine in the
eye.
- Separate each eye medicine by 5 minutes. Give one and wait 5 minutes
before using the next.
- Do not touch the bottle tip to eye, lid, or other
skin.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Instill a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not instill a double dose or extra
doses.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) and other medicines
and herbs that slow your actions and reactions. This includes sedatives,
tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, or pain medicine. Talk with healthcare
provider.
- Do not use these medicines with monoamine oxidase inhibitors. These
include isocarboxazid, phenelzine, and tranylcypromine. Separate use by 2 weeks.
- This medicine should be used for less than 1 month.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- Redness, itching, tearing, discomfort, and lid swelling.
- Dry mouth. Frequent mouth care, sucking hard candy, or chewing gum may
help.
- Feeling tired or lightheaded. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or
activities that require you to be alert until you see how this medicine affects
you.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- Check eye pressures regularly. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Check blood pressure and heart rate regularly if you have a history of
high blood pressure or other heart disease.
- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Low blood pressure or heart rate.
- Any rash.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
|
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- Store at room
temperature.
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| General statements |
|
|
- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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