Brimonidine

1 medicine

Brimonidine is an alpha-2 agonist eye drop that lowers pressure in glaucoma and ocular hypertension. It must never be given to infants or young children, since absorption through the eye can cause serious sedation and slowed breathing.

Combigan

Brimonidine, Timolol

0.2/0.5%

Combigan is a eye care medication containing Brimonidine + Timolol, available as 0.2/0.5% bottles.

from $36.41 / bottle View

Key facts

  • Brimonidine (an ingredient in Alphagan and the combination drop Combigan) is an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist that lowers eye pressure by reducing fluid production and improving drainage.
  • It's used as an eye drop, usually two to three times daily, spaced evenly through the day.
  • Brimonidine eye drops must not be used in infants or young children: absorption through the eye can cause serious central-nervous-system depression, including extreme sleepiness, low blood pressure, slow breathing, or apnoea.
  • Seek urgent care for severe eye pain, sudden vision changes, or, in a child given a dose, unusual sleepiness, slow or shallow breathing, or limpness.

What brimonidine treats

Brimonidine treats open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension, conditions where pressure inside the eye is raised and threatens the optic nerve. It is sometimes added when a first eye drop does not control pressure well enough alone, or used after certain eye procedures to control pressure spikes.

How brimonidine works

Brimonidine stimulates alpha-2 receptors in the eye's fluid-producing tissue, which reduces how much fluid the eye makes and helps fluid drain away more easily. Both effects lower the pressure inside the eye.

Before you take it

  • Do not use brimonidine in infants or young children, and use it with caution in older children, because of the risk of serious sedation and slowed breathing.
  • Tell your prescriber about any heart or blood vessel disease, depression, or reduced blood flow to the brain or heart.
  • Brimonidine should not be combined with monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or used soon after stopping one, since this combination can raise blood pressure dangerously.
  • Remove contact lenses before applying the drop and wait at least 15 minutes before reinserting them.

Side effects

Common effects are eye redness, stinging, dry mouth, and a bitter taste after applying the drop.

Stop and seek urgent medical care for:

  • Sudden severe eye pain or rapid vision loss.
  • Signs of an allergic reaction: swelling around the eyes, rash, or difficulty breathing.
  • In a child, unusual drowsiness, weak or slow breathing, or limpness after a dose.

Safety essentials

  • Keep brimonidine drops away from infants and young children and out of their reach; accidental eye exposure or swallowing in a child has caused serious low blood pressure, extreme sleepiness and breathing problems needing hospital care.
  • Never combine it with an MAOI antidepressant.
  • If you use more than one eye-drop medicine, space them at least five minutes apart so each drop is absorbed properly.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.