Levobunolol

Levobunolol is a prescription medication that reduces pressure inside the eye and is used to treat open-angle glaucoma and other causes of high pressure inside the eye.

• Levobunolol is available under the following different brand names: Betagan, AKBeta

Common side effects of Levobunolol include:

• temporary burning/stinging of the eye
• itchy/red eyes
• eye discomfort
• headache
• dizziness
• spinning sensation
• blurred vision
• swollen or puffy eyes
• depression
• confusion
• tiredness
• muscle weakness
• skin rash or itching
• nausea
• diarrhea

Serious side effects of Levobunolol include:

• difficulty breathing
• wheezing
• slow or irregular heartbeat
• faintness
• swelling of the feet and legs
• sudden weight gain

Rare side effects of Levobunolol 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, coordination loss, 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, lightheadedness, or passing out

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems that may occur because 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 dosage

Ophthalmic solution

• 0.25%
• 0.5%

Open-Angle Glaucoma

Adult dosage

• 0.25%: 2 drops in affected eye(s) every 12 hours
• 0.5%: 1-2 drops in the affected eye(s) once a day may increase to every 12 hours; more than 1 drop every 12 hours is generally not more effective; consider concomitant therapy if IOP is not at a satisfactory level on this regimen

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, healthcare provider, or pharmacist first.

• Levobunolol has no noted severe interactions with any other drugs
• Levobunolol has no noted serious interactions with any other drugs
• Levobunolol has no noted moderate interactions with any other drugs
• Levobunolol 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 the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your healthcare professional or doctor for additional medical advice, health questions, or concerns.

Contraindications

• Asthma, uncompensated congestive heart failure, any beta-blocker side effects, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sinus bradycardia, 2°/3° AV block, hypersensitivity
• Cardiogenic shock or overt cardiac failure not adequately compensated (eg, treated with cardiac glycosides and/or diuretics)

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

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

Long-Term Effects

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

Cautions

• Caution on inadequate cardiac function, latent cardiac insufficiency, cerebrovascular insufficiency, sick sinus syndrome, peripheral vascular disease, history of psychiatric illness, heart failure, diminished pulmonary function, nonallergic bronchospasm, diabetes mellitus, myasthenia gravis
• Ophthalmic beta-blockers may impair compensatory tachycardia and increase the risk for hypotension
• Patients receiving topical levobunolol and a systemic ß-adrenergic blocking agent concomitantly should be observed for potential additive effects on IOP and/or systemic effects of beta-adrenergic blockade
• May mask signs of hyperthyroidism (ie, tachycardia)
• May potentiate syndromes associated with vascular insufficiency (ie, Raynaud's phenomenon); use with caution
• Choroidal detachment after filtration procedures reported with administration of aqueous suppressant therapy
• Preservative benzalkonium chloride may be absorbed by soft contact lenses; patients wearing soft (hydrophilic) contact lenses should be instructed to remove contact lenses before administration of the solution and wait at least 15 minutes after instilling therapy before reinserting soft contact lenses
• Use with a miotic in angle-closure glaucoma

Pregnancy and Lactation

• There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women; the ophthalmic solution should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus
• Lactation
  • It is not known whether a drug is excreted in human milk; systemic beta-blockers and topical timolol maleate are known to be excreted in human milk; exercise caution when administered to a nursing woman