Timolol

U.S. Brand Names

Betimol®; Blocadren®; Istalol™; Timolol GFS; Timoptic-XE®; Timoptic®; Timoptic® in OcuDose®

Canadian Brand Names

Alti-Timolol; Apo-Timol®; Apo-Timop®; Gen-Timolol; Nu-Timolol; Phoxal-timolol; PMS-Timolol; Sandoz-Timolol; Tim-AK; Timoptic-XE®; Timoptic®

Mexican Brand Names

Globitan; Horex; Imot Ofteno; Nyolol; Shemol; Timoptol; Timozzard

Pharmacologic Category

Beta-Adrenergic Blocker, Nonselective; Ophthalmic Agent, Antiglaucoma

What key warnings should I know about before taking this medicine?

Do not suddenly stop taking this medicine. To avoid side effects, you will want to slowly stop it.

Reasons not to take this medicine

• If you have an allergy to timolol or any other part of this medicine.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.

• If you have any of the following conditions: Asthma, severely weakened heart, or slow heartbeat without a working pacemaker.

• If you are more than 12 weeks pregnant.

What is this medicine used for?

• This medicine is used to prevent essential tremor.

• This medicine is used after a heart attack to prevent future heart attacks and lengthen life.

• This medicine is used to prevent migraine headaches.

• This medicine is used to prevent performance anxiety.

• This medicine is used to prevent rebleeding from esophageal varices in cirrhosis.

• This medicine is used to treat aggressive behavior.

• This medicine is used to treat chest pain or pressure.

• This medicine is used to treat a fast heartbeat.

• This medicine is used to treat glaucoma and high eye pressure.

• This medicine is used to treat high blood pressure.

• This medicine is used to treat side effects caused by mood-stabilizing medicine.

How does it work?

• Timolol blocks chemicals that stimulate the body.

• It lowers pressure in the eye.

How is it best taken?

Oral:

• Take this medicine at a similar time of day.

• Take this medicine with or without food. Take with food if it causes an upset stomach.

• Follow diet plan and exercise program as recommended by healthcare provider.

Solution:

• For the eye only.

• Take out contact lenses before using medicine. Lenses can be replaced 15 minutes after medicine is given. Do not put contacts back in if eyes are irritated or infected.

• Do not touch the container tip to the eye, lid, or other skin.

• Tilt head back and drop medicine into eye.

• After using medicine, keep your eyes closed. Apply pressure to the inside corner of the eye. Do this for 3-5 minutes. This keeps the medicine in your eye.

• Separate each eye medicine by 5 minutes.

Gel:

• For the eye only.

• Take out contact lenses before using medicine. Lenses can be replaced 15 minutes after medicine is given. Do not put contacts back in if eyes are irritated or infected.

• Do not touch the container tip to the eye, lid, or other skin.

• Turn container upside down and shake once before each use.

• Use other eye medicines 10 minutes before the gel.

What do I do if I miss a dose? (does not apply to patients in the hospital)

Oral:

• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.

• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.

• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.

• Do not change dose or stop medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.

Eye:

• Instill a missed dose as soon as possible.

• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• Do not run out of this medicine.

• Wear disease medical alert identification.

• If you are diabetic and have low blood sugar, talk with healthcare provider. This medicine hides the signs of low blood sugar except sweating.

• If you have a weakened heart, talk with healthcare provider.

• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.

• If you are taking this medicine and have high blood pressure, talk with healthcare provider before using over-the-counter products that may increase blood pressure. These include cough or cold remedies, diet pills, stimulants, ibuprofen or like products, and certain natural products or supplements.

• You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities until you see how this medicine affects you.

• Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) or other medicines and natural products that slow your actions and reactions. These include sedatives, tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, antihistamines, and other pain medicine.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.

• Use birth control that you can trust to prevent pregnancy while taking this medicine.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.

What are some possible side effects of this medicine?

Oral:

• Feeling lightheaded, sleepy, having blurred vision, or a change in thinking clearly. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that require you to be alert or have clear vision until you see how this medicine affects you.

• Feeling dizzy. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or lying position. Be careful climbing.

• Change in sexual ability or desire. This is usually reversible.

Eye:

• Eye irritation.

What should I monitor?

Oral:

• Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?

• Check blood pressure and heart rate regularly.

Eye:

• Have a yearly eye exam.

• Have eye pressure checked regularly. Talk with healthcare provider.

• Follow up with healthcare provider.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.

• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Severe dizziness or passing out.

• Difficulty breathing.

• Significant weight gain.

• Feeling extremely tired or weak.

• Sudden change in vision, eye pain or irritation.

• Any rash.

• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.

How should I store this medicine?

• Store at room temperature.

• Protect from light.

• Protect tablets from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.

• Protect eye solution and gel from freezing.

General statements

• If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.

• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.

• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.

• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).

• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.

Created: 2006-10-13 16:00:11.0

Modified: 2008-04-30 11:13:25.0

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