How does brinzolamide work?
Brinzolamide is from a group of medicines known as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.
It works by reducing how much fluid is produced in your eye. This lowers the pressure within your eye. If you're taking it for glaucoma, it helps to stop your glaucoma getting worse.
How long does it take to work?
Brinzolamide may take 1 to 4 weeks to work fully.
Are there any long-term side effects?
You can use brinzolamide eye drops for a long time. Most people use them for many years with no problems.
Can brinzolamide make heart problems worse?
In rare cases, brinzolamide can cause chest pain (angina), heart palpitations or a slow heart rate (bradycardia).
However, if you have an existing heart condition such as atrial fibrillation, there are no reports of brinzolamide making it worse.
Are there other treatments for high pressure in the eye?
Dorzolamide eye drops work in the same way as brinzolamide. They are both from a group of medicines called carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.
There are several other types of medicine that work in a different way to reduce high pressure in the eye and treat glaucoma. They include:
- prostaglandins, such as latanoprost
- beta blockers, such as timolol
- alpha agonists, such as brimonidine
- cholinergic agonists, such as pilocarpine
If brinzolamide does not reduce the pressure in your eye enough, or you cannot use it because of side effects, you may be switched to another type of eye drops.
Some people will need to use more than 1 type of eye drops. If you need 2 types of medicine, a combination eye drop may be available.
Most people can use eye drops for their glaucoma. However, if eye drops are not enough to reduce the pressure in your eyes, there are other options.
Treatments for glaucoma can include laser treatment or surgery. They cannot reverse any loss of vision, but they can help to stop it getting worse.
Will it affect my contraception?
Brinzolamide eye drops do not stop any type of contraception from working, including the combined pill and emergency contraception.
Can I drive or ride a bike?
You might have blurred vision or other changes in your vision for a short time after you've put brinzolamide drops in.
If this happens to you, do not drive a car, ride a bike, or use tools or operate machinery until you can see clearly again.
Brinzolamide can make you feel dizzy, sleepy or clumsy although this is rare. If this happens to you, do not drive, ride a bike, use tools, or operate machinery until it's worn off.
Many people with glaucoma can continue driving a car or motorbike, but their eyesight must be up to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's (DVLA's) standards.
It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected. It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive. If you're in any doubt, do not drive.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's safe for you to drive while using brinzolamide.
Find out more:
Can I drink alcohol while using brinzolamide?
Yes, you can drink alcohol with brinzolamide eye drops.
Is there any food or drink I need to avoid?
You can eat and drink normally while using brinzolamide eye drops.