Cosopt Ocumeter Plus

Generic name: Dorzolamide And Timolol
Drug class: Ophthalmic glaucoma agents

Usage of Cosopt Ocumeter Plus

Dorzolamide and timolol ophthalmic (eye) drops is used to treat increased pressure in the eye caused by open-angle glaucoma or a condition called hypertension of the eye. Both eye conditions are caused by high pressure in your eye and can lead to pain from pressure in your eye and then can eventually harm your vision. This medicine can help you keep your sight by reducing the pressure in your eye and stopping eye pain.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Cosopt Ocumeter Plus side effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Blurred vision

burning or stinging of the eye (when medicine is applied)

feeling of something in the eye

itching of the eye

redness of the eye and lining of the eyelid

sensitivity of the eyes to light

Less common

Back, abdominal, or stomach pain

change in vision

coughing, shortness of breath, troubled breathing, tightness in the chest, or wheezing

discharge from the eye

dizziness

eye or eyelid pain, swelling, discomfort, or irritation

increased blood pressure

increased frequency of urination or painful urination

itching of the eyelid

seeing flashes or sparks of light

seeing floating spots before the eyes

swelling of lining of the eyelid

tiny bumps on lining of the eyelid

Rare

Blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin

blood in the urine

blue lips, fingernails, or skin

chest pain or discomfort

chills

cough

diarrhea

difficult or troubled breathing

fainting

headache or weakness, severe and sudden

irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing

itching

joint or muscle pain

lightheadedness

mental depression

nausea or vomiting

pain, numbness, tingling, or burning feeling in the hands or feet

red, irritated eyes

red skin lesions, often with a purple center

shortness of breath

skin rash

slow or irregular heartbeat

sore throat

sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips

sweating

unusual tiredness or weakness

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

Confusion

muscle cramps or pain

numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in the hands or feet

seizures

trembling

weakness and heaviness of the legs

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Bitter, sour, or unusual taste

Less common

Cold- or flu-like symptoms

crusting or scales on eyelid

dryness of the eyes

indigestion or upset stomach

sore throat

stuffy or runny nose

tearing of the eye

Rare

Burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings

depression

dry mouth

stuffy nose

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

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

Before taking Cosopt Ocumeter Plus

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of dorzolamide and timolol eye drops in children 2 years of age and older. However, safety and efficacy have not been established in children younger than 2 years of age.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of dorzolamide and timolol eye drops in the elderly.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Abiraterone Acetate

Albuterol

Aspirin

Bupropion

Ceritinib

Clonidine

Cobicistat

Crizotinib

Darunavir

Desvenlafaxine

Diltiazem

Dronedarone

Duloxetine

Epinephrine

Escitalopram

Fedratinib

Fenoldopam

Fingolimod

Fluoxetine

Formoterol

Indacaterol

Iobenguane I 131

Iohexol

Lacosamide

Levalbuterol

Memantine

Metformin

Olodaterol

Oxymetazoline

Paroxetine

Ponesimod

Rivastigmine

Salmeterol

Sertraline

Terbutaline

Topiramate

Venlafaxine

Verapamil

Vilanterol

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Acarbose

Aceclofenac

Acemetacin

Acetyldigoxin

Albiglutide

Alfuzosin

Alogliptin

Amtolmetin Guacil

Aspirin

Bromfenac

Bufexamac

Bunazosin

Canagliflozin

Celecoxib

Chlorpropamide

Choline Salicylate

Cimetidine

Clonixin

Dapagliflozin

Deslanoside

Dexibuprofen

Dexketoprofen

Diclofenac

Diflunisal

Digitoxin

Digoxin

Dipyrone

Doxazosin

Droxicam

Dulaglutide

Empagliflozin

Ertugliflozin

Etodolac

Etofenamate

Etoricoxib

Exenatide

Felbinac

Fenoprofen

Fepradinol

Feprazone

Floctafenine

Flufenamic Acid

Flurbiprofen

Glimepiride

Glipizide

Glyburide

Ibuprofen

Indomethacin

Insulin Aspart, Recombinant

Insulin Degludec

Insulin Detemir

Insulin Glargine, Recombinant

Insulin Glulisine

Insulin Human Inhaled

Insulin Human Isophane (NPH)

Insulin Human Regular

Insulin Lispro, Recombinant

Ketoprofen

Ketorolac

Linagliptin

Liraglutide

Lixisenatide

Lornoxicam

Loxoprofen

Lumiracoxib

Meclofenamate

Mefenamic Acid

Meloxicam

Metformin

Methyldopa

Metildigoxin

Miglitol

Morniflumate

Moxisylyte

Nabumetone

Naproxen

Nateglinide

Nepafenac

Niflumic Acid

Nimesulide

Nimesulide Beta Cyclodextrin

Oxaprozin

Oxyphenbutazone

Parecoxib

Phenoxybenzamine

Phentolamine

Phenylbutazone

Piketoprofen

Pioglitazone

Piroxicam

Pramlintide

Pranoprofen

Prazosin

Proglumetacin

Propyphenazone

Proquazone

Repaglinide

Rofecoxib

Rosiglitazone

Salicylic Acid

Salsalate

Saxagliptin

Sitagliptin

Sodium Salicylate

St John's Wort

Sulindac

Tamsulosin

Tenoxicam

Terazosin

Tiaprofenic Acid

Tolazamide

Tolbutamide

Tolfenamic Acid

Tolmetin

Trimazosin

Urapidil

Valdecoxib

Vildagliptin

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Relate drugs

How to use Cosopt Ocumeter Plus

Your eye doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.

This medicine comes with a patient information insert. Read and follow the instructions in the insert carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Use only the brand of this medicine that your doctor prescribed. Do not replace preservative-containing (Cosopt®) with the product without preservative (Cosopt® PF).

Cosopt® PF eye drops is a sterile solution that does not contain any preservatives. Use the solution in the single-unit containers immediately after opening. Throw away any unused medicine after each use.

If you normally wear soft contact lenses, remove them before you use Cosopt® eye drops. Wait at least for 15 minutes before putting the contact lenses back in.

If you are using Cosopt® PF eye drops, you may not need to remove your contact lenses while using this medicine.

To use the Cosopt® eye drops:

The bottle is only partially full to provide proper drop control.

First, wash your hands with soap and water.

Before using this medicine for the first time, make sure that the safety strip on the bottle is unbroken.

Tear off the safety strip to break the seal and open the bottle by unscrewing the cap by turning as indicated by the arrows on the top of the cap. Do not pull the cap directly up and away from the bottle.

Tilt your head back and, pressing your finger gently on the skin just beneath the lower eyelid, pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to make a space. Drop the medicine into this space.

Invert the bottle, and press lightly the "finger push area" using your thumb or index finger.

Let go of the eyelid and gently close the eyes. Do not blink. Keep the eyes closed and apply pressure to the inner corner of the eye with your finger for 1 or 2 minutes to allow the medicine to be absorbed by the eye.

If you think you did not get the drop of medicine into your eye properly, replace the cap on the bottle and tighten. Then, remove by turning the cap in the opposite direction as indicated by the arrows on the top of the cap and repeat the process with another drop.

Replace the cap by turning until it is firmly touching the bottle. Do not overtighten or you may damage the bottle and cap.

Immediately after using the eye drops, wash your hands to remove any medicine that may be on them.

To keep the medicine as germ-free as possible, do not touch the applicator tip to any surface (including the eye). Also, keep the container tightly closed. Serious damage to the eye and possible loss of vision may result from using contaminated eye drops.

To use the Cosopt® PF eye drops:

This medicine is packaged in a foil pouch containing a strip of single-use containers.

First, wash your hands with soap and water.

Pull off one single-use container from the strip. Return the remaining strip of single-use container back in the pouch.

Hold the single-use container upright. Twist off the tab to open the container.

Tilt your head backwards or lie down, pressing your finger gently on the skin just beneath the lower eyelid, pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to make a space. Drop the medicine into this space.

Blot any excess solution from the skin around the eye with a tissue.

Discard and unused portion from the single use container.

If your doctor ordered two different eye drops to be used together, wait at least 5 or 10 minutes between the times you apply the medicines. This will help to keep the second medicine from “washing out” the first one.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For ophthalmic dosage form (eye drops):

For glaucoma or hypertension of the eye:

Adults—Use one drop in the affected eye two times a day (morning and evening).

Children 2 years of age or older—Dose must be determined by your doctor.

Children younger than 2 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep the Cosopt® PF single-use containers in the original pouch to protect from light. Write down the date you open the foil pouch in the space provided in the pouch. Throw away any unused single-use containers 15 days after opening the pouch.

Warnings

It is very important that your doctor check the progress of you or your child at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

If itching, redness, swelling, or other signs of eye or eyelid irritation occur, stop using this medicine and check with your doctor. These signs may mean that you or your child are allergic to this medicine.

This medicine may cause heart failure in some patients. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child are having chest pain or discomfort; dilated neck veins; extreme fatigue; irregular breathing; an irregular heartbeat; shortness of breath; swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs; weight gain; or wheezing.

Serious allergic reactions may occur while using this medicine. Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away if you or your child have any of the following symptoms: black, tarry stools; blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin; chills; dark urine; joint or muscle pain; rash; red skin lesions, often with a purple center; sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual tiredness or weakness; or yellow eyes or skin.

This medicine may cause changes in your blood sugar levels. Also, this medicine may cover up signs of low blood sugar, such as a rapid pulse rate. Check with your doctor if you or your child have these problems or if you notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests.

Before you have any kind of surgery, dental treatment, or emergency treatment, tell the medical doctor or dentist in charge that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine several days before having surgery or medical tests.

It is very important that you check with your doctor if you get an injury or infection in your eye or if you are scheduled to have eye surgery. Your doctor will tell you whether to keep using the same container of eye drops or whether you should start using a fresh bottle of eye drops.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

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