Dorzolamide

Dorzolamide is a prescription medication used that reduces the amount of fluid in the eye, which decreases pressure inside the eye, used to treat open-angle glaucoma and other causes of high pressure inside the eye. 

• Dorzolamide is available under the following different brand names: Trusopt

Common side effects of Dorzolamide include:

• temporary blurred vision,
• cloudy vision,
• double vision,
• temporary burning/stinging/itching/redness of the eye,
• watery eyes,
• dry eyes,
• feeling as if something is in the eye,
• drooping eyelid,
• sensitivity of eyes to light,
• bitter or strange taste in the mouth,
• cough,
• flu symptoms,
• nausea,
• upset stomach,
• stomach pain,
• back pain,
• sore throat,
• stuffy nose,
• headache, or
• drowsiness.

Serious side effects of Dorzolamide include:

• vision changes,
• signs of a kidney stone (e.g., pain in the back/side/abdomen, nausea, vomiting, blood in the urine),
• yellowing eyes or skin,
• dark urine,
• unusual tiredness or weakness,
• easy bruising or bleeding, or
• signs of infection (e.g., fever, chills, persistent sore throat).

Rare side effects of Dorzolamide include:

• none

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors;
• Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
• Serious heart symptoms include fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in the chest; shortness of breath; sudden dizziness, lightheartedness, or passing out.

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems that may occur as a result of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Adult and pediatric dosage

Ophthalmic solution

• 2 %

Ocular Hypertension

Adult dosage

• Instill 1 drop in the affected eye(s) every 8 hours

Pediatric dosage

• As in adults; 1 drop in affected eye(s) 8 hours

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See “Dosages”

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first.

• Dorzolamide has no noted severe interactions with any other drugs.
• Dorzolamide has no noted serious interactions with any other drugs.
• Dorzolamide has no noted moderate interactions with any other drugs.
• Dorzolamide has no noted minor interactions with any other drugs.

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all your products. Keep a list of all your medications with you and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your health care professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions or concerns.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity
• Severe renal impairment (CrCl below 30 mL/min)

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Dorzolamide?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Dorzolamide?”

Cautions

• Bacterial contamination can occur with multiple-dose ophthalmic solutions and cause bacterial keratitis
• Remove contact lenses, since the solution contains benzalkonium chloride which may be absorbed by some lenses
• Absorbed systemically, the potential risk of adverse effects similar to those for systemic sulfonamides (.g, Stevens-Johnson synd, blood dyscrasias, fulminant hepatic necrosis, and toxic necrolysis) may occur with ophthalmic use; sensitization may recur when a sulfonamide is readministered irrespective of the route of administration; if signs of serious reactions or hypersensitivity occur, discontinue use
• Conjunctivitis and lid reactions reported with chronic administration (may resolve with discontinuation of drug therapy
• Carbonic anhydrase activity was observed in both cytoplasm and around the plasma membranes of the corneal endothelium; there is an increased potential for developing corneal edema in patients with low endothelial cell counts; use caution when prescribing to this group of patients
• Use concomitantly with oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors not recommended
• Management of patients with acute angle-closure glaucoma requires therapeutic interventions in addition to ocular hypotensive agents

Pregnancy & Lactation

• There are no adequate and well-controlled studies on pregnant women
• Lactation
  • There are no data on the presence of drugs in human milk, effects on breastfed infants or milk production; developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for therapy and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from the drug; the drug is present in the milk of lactating rats