Timolol/Latanoprost

Timolol/latanoprost is used is indicated in adults (including the elderly) for the reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension who are insufficiently responsive to topical beta-blockers or prostaglandin analogues.

• Timolol/latanoprost is available under the following different brand names: Xalacom (U.K. brand name).

Dosages of Timolol/Latanoprost:

• 1 mL solution contains latanoprost 50 micrograms and timolol maleate 6.8 mg equivalent to 5 mg timolol

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows:

Adults (including the elderly)

• Recommended therapy is one eye drop in the affected eye(s) once daily.
• If one dose is missed, treatment should continue with the next dose as planned. The dose should not exceed one drop in the affected eye(s) daily.
• The safety and efficacy of Xalacom in children and adolescents has not been established.

Method of administration

• Contact lenses should be removed before instillation of the eye drops and may be reinserted after 15 minutes.
• If more than one topical ophthalmic drug is being used, the drugs should be administered at least five minutes apart.
• When using nasolacrimal occlusion or closing the eyelids for 2 minutes, the systemic absorption is reduced. This may result in a decrease in systemic side effects and an increase in local activity.

Side effects of timolol/latanoprost include:

• Eye irritation, stinging, burning
• Eye redness
• Feeling something is in the eye
• Dry eyes
• Watery eyes
• Eyelash changes including dark eyelashes, thicker lashes, or more eyelashes

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, 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.

• Timolol/latanoprost has no listed severe interactions with other drugs.
• Timolol/latanoprost has no listed serious interactions with other drugs.
• Timolol/latanoprost has no listed moderate interactions with other drugs.
• Timolol/latanoprost has no listed mild interactions with other drugs.
   

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns.

Warnings
 

This medication contains timolol/latanoprost. Do not take Xalacom if you are allergic to timolol/latanoprost or any ingredients contained in this drug.

Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.

Contraindications

• Reactive airway disease including bronchial asthma or a history of bronchial asthma, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• Sinus bradycardia, sick sinus syndrome, sino-atrial block, second- or third-degree atrioventricular block not controlled with pace-maker, overt cardiac failure, cardiogenic shock.
• Hypersensitivity to the active substances or to any of the ingredients.

Effects of Drug Abuse

• No information available

Short-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Timolol/Latanoprost?”

Long-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Timolol/Latanoprost?”

Cautions

• No information available

Pregnancy and Lactation

There are no adequate data from the use of latanoprost in pregnant women. Studies in animals have shown reproductive toxicity. The potential risk for humans is unknown. There are no adequate data for the use of timolol in pregnant women. Timolol should not be used during pregnancy unless clearly necessary. Xalacom should not be used during pregnancy.

Beta-blockers are excreted in breast milk. However, at therapeutic doses of timolol in eye drops it is not likely that sufficient amounts would be present in breast milk to produce clinical symptoms of beta-blockade in the infant. Latanoprost and its metabolites may pass into breast milk. Xalacom is not recommended for use in women who are breastfeeding.