{"id":19872,"date":"2022-03-19T11:23:18","date_gmt":"2022-03-19T11:23:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/?p=19872"},"modified":"2022-03-21T11:27:54","modified_gmt":"2022-03-21T11:27:54","slug":"optimol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/medicines\/optimol\/","title":{"rendered":"Optimol &#8211; Timolol uses, dose and side effects"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>5 mg\/ml\u00a0eye drops, solution<br><a href=\"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/medicines\/timosan\/\">Timolol<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Optimol is and what it is used for<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Optimol contains a so-called beta-blocker that lowers the pressure in the eye by reducing the inflow of\u00a0aqueous humor, ie.\u00a0the fluid in the anterior chamber of the eye.\u00a0Optimol has little or no effect on visual acuity or pupil size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The effect usually sets in quickly, about 20 minutes after dropping the solution into the eye.&nbsp;The pressure drop is greatest for 1-2 hours and can last as long as 24 hours.&nbsp;It may take about 4 weeks before the pressure stabilizes.&nbsp;Optimol is used for lowering the eye pressure in&nbsp;chronic&nbsp;glaucoma&nbsp;(&nbsp;glaucoma&nbsp;), where the ventricular angle is open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please note that the doctor may have prescribed the medicine for different use and\/or with a different\u00a0dosage\u00a0than what is stated in the package leaflet.\u00a0Always follow your doctor&#8217;s\u00a0prescription\u00a0and instructions on the label of the medicine pack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What you need to know before using Optimol<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do not use Optimol<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>if you are allergic to&nbsp;timolol&nbsp;, beta-&nbsp;blockers&nbsp;or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)<\/li><li>if you currently have or have previously had respiratory problems, e.g.&nbsp;asthma&nbsp;, severe&nbsp;chronic&nbsp;obstructive&nbsp;bronchitis&nbsp;(a serious lung disease that can cause wheezing, wheezing and \/ or prolonged cough)<\/li><li>if you have a low&nbsp;heart rate&nbsp;,&nbsp;heart failure&nbsp;or heart rhythm disturbances (irregular heart rhythm)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Warnings and cautions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Talk to your doctor before using Optimol if you currently have or have had<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>coronary heart disease (with symptoms such as chest pain, chest tightness, shortness of breath or shortness of breath),&nbsp;heart failure&nbsp;, low&nbsp;blood pressure&nbsp;, heart rhythm disorders, e.g.&nbsp;slow heart rate<\/li><li>respiratory problems,&nbsp;asthma&nbsp;or chronic&nbsp;obstructive pulmonary disease<\/li><li>disease that causes impaired blood circulation (eg&nbsp;Raynaud&#8217;s disease&nbsp;, Raynaud&#8217;s syndrome or intermittent lameness, so-called&nbsp;window viewing disease&nbsp;)<\/li><li>diabetes&nbsp;, because&nbsp;timolol&nbsp;can mask the signs and symptoms of low blood sugar<\/li><li>overactive&nbsp;thyroid gland&nbsp;, as&nbsp;timolol&nbsp;can mask signs of illness and symptoms<\/li><li>severely impaired renal function<\/li><li>atopy or severe anaphylactic (allergic) reaction, as&nbsp;timolol&nbsp;may affect the effectiveness of&nbsp;adrenaline&nbsp;(used to treat anaphylactic reaction)<\/li><li>disease of the cornea (the front layer of the eyeball), as beta-&nbsp;blockers&nbsp;can cause dry eyes.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are going to have an operation, you should inform your doctor that you are using Optimol, as\u00a0timolol\u00a0may affect the effectiveness of certain medicines used in anesthesia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Children<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In general,\u00a0eye drops\u00a0containing\u00a0timolol should\u00a0be used with caution in the case of younger patients and with extreme caution in the case of newborns, infants, or toddlers.\u00a0If the child suffers from coughing, wheezing, wheezing or abnormal breathing, or abnormal pauses in breathing (\u00a0apnea\u00a0), the medication should be stopped immediately.\u00a0Contact a doctor as soon as possible.\u00a0Your doctor may\u00a0prescribe\u00a0a portable measuring device for apnea monitoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Eye drops&nbsp;with&nbsp;timolol&nbsp;have been studied in newborns and children aged 12 days to 5 years with elevated eye pressure or with a glaucoma diagnosis.&nbsp;Contact a doctor for further information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Other medicines and Optimol<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Optimol\u00a0eye drops\u00a0can affect or be affected by other medicines you use, including other\u00a0eye drops\u00a0for\u00a0glaucoma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tell your doctor if you use or intend to use<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>drugs that lower&nbsp;blood pressure&nbsp;et<\/li><li>heart medications<\/li><li>antidiabetic&nbsp;drugs<\/li><li>quinidine&nbsp;(used in heart disease and to treat certain types of&nbsp;malaria&nbsp;)<\/li><li>antidepressants containing&nbsp;fluoxetine&nbsp;or paroxetine<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pregnancy and breastfeeding<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before using this medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do not use Optimol if you are pregnant unless your doctor tells you it&#8217;s necessary.&nbsp;There is a risk that the fetus is affected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do not use Optimol if you are breast-feeding.\u00a0Timolol\u00a0can be transferred to breast milk.\u00a0A breastfed baby may be affected.\u00a0If you are breast-feeding, talk to your doctor before taking any medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Driving and using machines<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Optimol\u00a0eye drops\u00a0can sometimes cause visual disturbances such as refraction changes, double vision, drooping eyelids, recurrent mild and transient blurred vision, and occasional cases of dizziness or fatigue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You are responsible for assessing whether you are fit to drive a motor vehicle or perform work that requires sharpened vigilance.\u00a0One of the factors that can affect your ability in these respects is the use of drugs due to their effects and\/or\u00a0side effects.\u00a0Descriptions of these effects and\u00a0side effects\u00a0can be found in other sections.\u00a0Therefore, read all the information in this leaflet.\u00a0If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Optimol contains benzalkonium chloride and phosphate buffer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This medicine contains 0.003 mg of benzalkonium chloride per drop corresponding to 0.1 mg\/ml.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Benzalkonium chloride can be absorbed by soft contact lenses and may discolor the contact lenses.&nbsp;Remove contact lenses before using the medicine and wait at least 15 minutes before re-inserting the contact lenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Benzalkonium chloride can be irritating to the eyes, especially if you have dry eyes or problems with the cornea (the clear membrane at the front of the eye).\u00a0If you experience irritation, tingling, or pain in the eye after using the medicine, consult a doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Optimol contains phosphate buffer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This medicine contains 0.3 mg\u00a0phosphate\u00a0per drop corresponding to 11.8 mg\/ml.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have severely damaged\u00a0cornea, in very rare cases,\u00a0phosphate\u00a0can cause cloudy spots on the cornea due to the accumulation of\u00a0calcium\u00a0during treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to use Optimol<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you.&nbsp;Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dose\u00a0one is determined by the doctor who adjusts it individually for you.\u00a0The recommended\u00a0dose\u00a0is 1 drop in the eye morning and evening.\u00a0If Optimol\u00a0eye drops\u00a0are used in combination with other\u00a0eye drops, the preparations should be given at least 5 minutes apart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After applying Optimol, press with one finger in the corner of the eye closest to the nose (fig. 4) and hold the finger there for 2 minutes.&nbsp;This will prevent&nbsp;timolol from&nbsp;reaching other parts of the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Instructions for use<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Before use:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>wash your hands<\/li><li>choose the position that feels most natural to you (eg sitting down, lying on your back or standing in front of the mirror)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The eye drop bottle is personal.\u00a0Never use a cloudy solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Application:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td>1. Open the bottle.&nbsp;Avoid touching anything with the tip of the bottle so that the contents are not contaminated.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2. Tilt your head back and hold the bottle above your eye.<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fass.se\/LIF\/product?userType=2&amp;nplId=19850620000038#\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3. Pull the lower eyelid down, look up, and squeeze a drop into the eye.<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fass.se\/LIF\/product?userType=2&amp;nplId=19850620000038#\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>4. Close the eye and press with the index finger in the inner corner of the eye for about 2 minutes.&nbsp;This way you avoid the eye medicine running down into the tear duct.&nbsp;Close the bottle.<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fass.se\/LIF\/product?userType=2&amp;nplId=19850620000038#\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A tip: Feel free to keep the bottle on the bedside table and drip morning and evening in connection with getting up \/ going to bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Use for children<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A thorough medical examination should be performed before using Optimol.\u00a0The doctor will then make a careful assessment of the risks and benefits of treatment with Optimol.\u00a0If the benefit outweighs the risks, it is recommended that the lowest available concentration of the active substance be used once daily.\u00a0In the case of &#8216;use for children, a concentration of 0.1% of the active substance may be sufficient to keep the pressure in the eye under control.\u00a0If the pressure in the eye cannot be kept under control at this\u00a0dosage, treatment may need to be done twice daily at 12-hour intervals.\u00a0The patient, especially in the case of a newborn baby, should be closely monitored for 1-2 hours after the first\u00a0dose\u00a0and closely monitored for any\u00a0side effects. until an operation is performed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Method of administration<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Only 1 drop of Optimol should be dropped into the eye at each treatment occasion.&nbsp;After application, the eye should be kept closed for as long as possible (eg 3-5 minutes) and a finger should be kept in the inner corner of the eye to prevent Optimol from reaching the whole body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Treatment time<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For short-term treatment of children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If you use more Optimol than you should<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you accidentally take too large a\u00a0dose, rinse your eye with water.\u00a0If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact a doctor or hospital for immediate assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If you forget to use Optimol<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Do not take a double\u00a0dose\u00a0to make up for a forgotten\u00a0dose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If you stop using Optimol<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Do not stop taking Optimol without first talking to a doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Possible side effects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Like all medicines, this medicine can cause\u00a0side effects, although not everybody gets them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can usually continue to use the drops unless the\u00a0side effects\u00a0are severe.\u00a0If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Common&nbsp;side effects&nbsp;(&nbsp;<\/em>&nbsp;<em>in&nbsp;<\/em><em>more than 1 in 100 users)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Signs and symptoms of eye irritation (eg burning or stinging sensation,&nbsp;itching&nbsp;, watery eyes, red eyes) and certain visual disturbances such as blurred vision.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Uncommon (1 to 10 out of 1000 users)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Inflammation&nbsp;of the&nbsp;conjunctiva&nbsp;or&nbsp;cornea&nbsp;(&nbsp;inflammation&nbsp;of the anterior parts of the eye), refraction changes (visual disturbances).<\/li><li>Too low&nbsp;heart rate&nbsp;.<\/li><li>Fainting, fatigue, headache, dizziness, depression.<\/li><li>Nausea.<\/li><li>Breathing difficulties.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Rare (in less than 1 in 1000 users)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Allergic reactions with fever, rash or redness of the skin, subcutaneous swelling, in e.g.&nbsp;face, lips, arms and legs, which can cause narrowing of the airways so that it can be difficult to swallow or breathe (&nbsp;angioedema&nbsp;), sometimes a drop in blood pressure, sudden severe life-threatening&nbsp;allergic reaction&nbsp;.<\/li><li>Chest pain, low&nbsp;blood pressure&nbsp;, palpitations, impaired heart function, changes in&nbsp;heart rate&nbsp;or rhythm, atrioventricular block (a type of heart rhythm disorder), cardiac arrest,&nbsp;heart failure&nbsp;.<\/li><li>Impaired blood supply to the brain, cold hands and feet, cold white fingers due to poor blood circulation (Raynaud&#8217;s phenomenon).<\/li><li>Increased symptoms and signs of&nbsp;myasthenia gravis&nbsp;, a muscle disease that causes muscle weakness.<\/li><li>Nightmares, memory loss, ant crawling in the legs (restless legs), insomnia (insomnia), confusion, abnormal sensations such as tingling and ant crawling.<\/li><li>Diarrhea, indigestion,&nbsp;dry mouth&nbsp;.<\/li><li>Hair loss, white \/ silver (psoriasis-like) rash or worsening&nbsp;psoriasis&nbsp;.<\/li><li>Narrowing of the airways of the lungs (especially in patients with pre-existing disease), cough, respiratory failure.<\/li><li>Inflammation&nbsp;of the eyelids, drooping eyelids (which causes the eye to remain half closed), double vision, decreased sensitivity of the cornea, decreased tear secretion.<\/li><li>Decreased sex drive.<\/li><li>Tinnitus&nbsp;.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>As with other ophthalmic drugs,\u00a0timolol\u00a0is absorbed into the bloodstream.\u00a0This may cause\u00a0side effects\u00a0similar to those seen with beta-blockers\u00a0taken orally (orally) or given by\u00a0injection.\u00a0The incidence of\u00a0side effects\u00a0after the drug has been dropped into the eye is lower than when the drug is taken orally or by\u00a0injection.\u00a0The listed\u00a0adverse reactions\u00a0include the following reactions seen in the\u00a0beta-blocker group for use in the eyes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Allergic reactions affecting the whole body including hives, local or generalized rash,&nbsp;itching&nbsp;.<\/li><li>Edema&nbsp;(fluid retention),&nbsp;chronic&nbsp;heart failure&nbsp;(heart disease with shortness of breath, swollen feet and legs due to fluid retention), heart attack.<\/li><li>Stroke&nbsp;.<\/li><li>Muscle pain that is not exercise-related, muscle weakness \/ muscle fatigue.<\/li><li>Low blood sugar level.<\/li><li>Taste disorders, abdominal pain, vomiting.<\/li><li>Rash.<\/li><li>Loosening of the blood vessel-containing membrane that lies under the retina after filtration surgery, which can cause visual disturbances, dry eyes, corneal&nbsp;erosion&nbsp;(damage to the outer layer of the eyeball).<\/li><li>Impaired sexual function.<\/li><li>Hallucination.<\/li><li>Systemic lupus erythematosus (disease in which the immune system attacks various organs in the body. Common symptoms are joint pain, rash, fever, fatigue, sun sensitivity and hair loss).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Stop taking Optimol and contact your doctor immediately if swelling occurs e.g.\u00a0face, tongue, and\/or throat or if you have\u00a0hives\u00a0or shortness of breath or have difficulty swallowing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to store Optimol<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.<\/li><li>Opened&nbsp;drip bottle&nbsp;is durable for 4 weeks.<\/li><li>Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton.&nbsp;The expiration date is the last day of the specified month.<\/li><li>Do not use this medicine if you notice any signs of change.<\/li><li>Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste.&nbsp;Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required.&nbsp;These measures will help to protect the environment.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Contents of the pack and other information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Content declaration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The active substance is timolol maleate corresponding to 5 mg \/ ml&nbsp;timolol&nbsp;.<\/li><li>The other ingredients are benzalkonium chloride 0.1 mg \/ ml (&nbsp;preservative&nbsp;), sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate, disodium phosphate dodecahydrate, sodium hydroxide and water for injections.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What the medicine looks like and contents of the pack<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>5 ml and 3 x 5 ml.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not all pack sizes may be marketed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Marketing Authorisation Holder<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Santen Oy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Niittyhaankatu 20<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>33720 Tampere<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finland<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Manufacturer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Santen Oy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kelloportinkatu 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>33100 Tampere<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finland<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Optimol contains a so-called beta blocker that lowers the pressure in the eye by reducing the inflow of aqueous humor , ie. the fluid in the anterior chamber of the eye. Optimol has little or no effect on visual acuity or pupil size.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2200,18526],"tags":[20131,14670,20127,20130,5029,5031,20128,5030,20129,8380],"class_list":["post-19872","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-medicines","category-o","tag-benefits-of-optimol","tag-benefits-of-timolol","tag-optimol","tag-optimol-side-effects","tag-timolol","tag-timolol-side-effects","tag-what-is-optimol","tag-what-is-timolol","tag-what-optimol-is-used-for","tag-what-timolol-is-used-for"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19872","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19872"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19872\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19909,"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19872\/revisions\/19909"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19872"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19872"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19872"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}