Drug reference

Brimonidine tartrate

BNF 80 (2020–2021)

Source: BNF 80 (2020–2021)
PDF pages: 1273

Review source pages for extracted sections and age labels. BNF dose snippets show only their first line.

Overview

Drug Action

Brimonidine, an alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist, is thought to lower intra-ocular pressure by reducing aqueous humour formation and increasing uveoscleral outﬂow. Eye

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Indications And Dose

Raised intra-ocular pressure in open-angle glaucoma in patients for whom beta-blockers are inappropriate | Ocular hypertension in patients for whom beta-blockers are inappropriate | Adjunctive therapy when intra-ocular pressure is inadequately controlled by other antiglaucoma therapy ▶TO THE EYE ▶Adult: Apply twice daily

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Cautions

Cerebral insufﬁciency. coronary insufﬁciency. depression. postural hypotension. Raynaud’s syndrome. severe cardiovascular disease. thromboangiitis obliterans

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Safety

Interactions

→Appendix 1: brimonidine

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Side Effects

▶Common or very common Asthenia. dizziness. drowsiness. dry eye. dry mouth. eye discomfort. eye disorders. eye inﬂammation. gastrointestinal disorder. headache. hyperaemia. hypersensitivity. pulmonary reaction. sensation of foreign body. skin reactions. taste altered. vision disorders ▶Uncommon Arrhythmias. nasal dryness. palpitations ▶Rare or very rare Dyspnoea. hypertension. hypotension. insomnia. syncope ▶Frequency not known Face oedema. vasodilation

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Pregnancy

Manufacturer advises use only if beneﬁt outweighs risk—limited information available.

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Breast Feeding

Manufacturer advises avoid—no information available.

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Hepatic Impairment

Manufacturer advises caution (no information available).

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Renal Impairment

Manufacturer advises use with caution.

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Dose and formulations

Medicinal Forms

There can be variation in the licensing of different medicines containing the same drug. Eye drops EXCIPIENTS: May contain Benzalkonium chloride ▶Brimonidine tartrate (Non-proprietary) Brimonidine tartrate 2 mg per 1 ml Brimonidine 2mg/ml eye drops | 5 ml P s DT = £1.68 Brimonidine 0.2% eye drops | 5 ml P £2.29 DT = £1.68 ▶Alphagan (Allergan Ltd) Brimonidine tartrate 2 mg per 1 ml Alphagan 0.2% eye drops | 5 ml P £6.85 DT = £1.68 ▶Brymont (Blumont Pharma Ltd) Brimonidine tartrate 2 mg per 1 ml Brymont 2mg/ml eye drops | 5 ml P £1.50 DT = £1.68 Combinations available: Brinzolamide with brimonidine, p. 1246

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Clinical care

Patient And Carer Advice

Driving and skilled tasks Drowsiness may affect performance of skilled tasks (e.g. driving).

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Dose text by age group

Adult

Apply twice daily

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 1273

Age labels are extracted for navigation. Check the complete source section and current local guidance before clinical use.

Drug reference

Brimonidine tartrate

BNF 80 (2020–2021)

Source: BNF 80 (2020–2021)
PDF pages: 1273

Review source pages for extracted sections and age labels. BNF dose snippets show only their first line.

Overview

Drug Action

Brimonidine, an alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist, is thought to lower intra-ocular pressure by reducing aqueous humour formation and increasing uveoscleral outﬂow. Eye

PDF page 1273

Indications And Dose

PDF page 1273

Cautions

Cerebral insufﬁciency. coronary insufﬁciency. depression. postural hypotension. Raynaud’s syndrome. severe cardiovascular disease. thromboangiitis obliterans

PDF page 1273

Safety

Interactions

→Appendix 1: brimonidine

PDF page 1273

Side Effects

PDF page 1273

Pregnancy

Manufacturer advises use only if beneﬁt outweighs risk—limited information available.

PDF page 1273

Breast Feeding

Manufacturer advises avoid—no information available.

PDF page 1273

Hepatic Impairment

Manufacturer advises caution (no information available).

PDF page 1273

Renal Impairment

Manufacturer advises use with caution.

PDF page 1273

Dose and formulations

Medicinal Forms

PDF page 1273

Clinical care

Patient And Carer Advice

Driving and skilled tasks Drowsiness may affect performance of skilled tasks (e.g. driving).

PDF page 1273

Dose text by age group

Adult

Apply twice daily

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 1273

Age labels are extracted for navigation. Check the complete source section and current local guidance before clinical use.