Betagan Ophthalmic : Uses, Side Effects, Interactions & More

Health, Medications

Why is this medication prescribed?

Betagan (Levobunolol) ophthalmic is used to treat glaucoma, a condition in which increased pressure in the eye can lead to gradual loss of vision. Betagan is in a class of medications called beta blockers. It works by lowering the pressure in the eye.

How should this medicine be used?

Betagan (Levobunolol) ophthalmic comes as a solution (liquid) to instill into the eyes. Betagan eye drops are usually instilled once or twice a day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any parts you do not understand. Use Betagan eye drops exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of them or use them more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Betagan Ophthalmic control glaucoma but do not cure it. Keep using Betagan eye drops even if you feel fine. Do not stop using Betagan eye drops without consulting your doctor.

To instill the eye drops, follow these steps:

Wash your hands well with soap and water.
Check the dropper tip to make sure it is not chipped or cracked.
Avoid touching the tip of the dropper against your eye or anything else; Eye drops and droppers must be kept clean.
While tilting your head back, lower the lower lid of your eye with your index finger to form a pocket.
Hold the dropper (tip down) with the other hand, as close to the eye as possible without touching it.
Rest the remaining fingers of that hand against your face.
While looking up, gently squeeze the dropper so that a single drop falls into the pocket formed by the lower eyelid. Remove your index finger from the lower eyelid.
Close your eye for 2 to 3 minutes and tilt your head down as if looking at the ground. Try not to blink or squeeze your eyelids.
Place a finger over the tear duct and apply gentle pressure.
Wipe any excess fluid from your face with a tissue.
If you are using more than one drop in the same eye, wait at least 5 minutes before instilling the next drop.
Replace and tighten the dropper bottle cap. Do not clean or rinse the dropper tip.
Wash your hands to remove any medicine.

Other uses for this medicine

This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

What special precautions should I follow?

Before using Betagan Ophthalmic,

Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to Betagan Ophthalmic, other beta-blockers, sulfites, or any other medications.
Tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially other eye medications, beta-blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), carteolol (Cartrol), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor), nadolol (Corgard ), propranolol (Inderal), sotalol (Betapace), or timolol (Blocadren); quinidine (Quinidex, Quinaglute Dura-Tabs); Verapamil (Calan, Isoptin); and vitamins.
Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had thyroid, heart, or lung disease; congestive heart failure; or diabetes.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while using Betagan eye drops, call your doctor.
If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using Betagan eye drops.
If you are using another topical eye medication, instill it at least 10 minutes before or after applying Betagan eye drops.

What should I do if I forget a dose?

Instill the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not instill a double dose to make up for a missed one.

What side effects can this medication cause?

Betagan eye drops may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

eye stinging or burning
discomfort, redness, or itching of the eye
swelling of the eyelids
decreased vision

Some side effects may be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, stop using the eye drops and call your doctor immediately:

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

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor can submit a report online to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?

Keep this medicine in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of the reach of children. Store at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

It is important to keep all medicines out of the sight and reach of children, since many containers (such as those containing weekly pills and those for eye drops, creams, patches and inhalers) are not child-resistant and small children can easily open them. To protect young children from poisoning, always close the safety caps and immediately place the medicine in a safe place, one that is upright and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org

Unnecessary medications must be disposed of in special ways to ensure they cannot be consumed by pets, children, and others. However, you should not flush this medicine down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medications is through a drug take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage / recycling department to find out about take-back programs in your community. Check out the FDA drug safe disposal website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

What other information should I know?

Keep all your appointments with your doctor. Your doctor will order certain eye tests to check your response to Betagan eye drops.

Don’t let anyone use your medicine. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important that you keep a written list of all prescription and over-the-counter (over-the-counter) medications you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should take this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you go into hospital. It is also important information to take with you in case of emergencies.

Brand Names

AKBeta^®
Betagan^®

Disclaimer: We have made every effort to ensure that all information is factually accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a licensed health care professional’s choice of knowledge and expertise. You should always consult your doctor or other health care professional before taking any medication. The information given here is subject to change and it has not been used to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions or adverse effects. The lack of warning or other information for any drug does not indicate that the combination of medicine or medication is safe, effective or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.