Usage and Side Effects of Brimonidine

Brimonidine are eye drops that are administered ophthalmologically. Medical professionals usually indicate it for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma. How does it work? What are its adverse effects? Read on to find out!

Reviewed and approved by the pharmacist Fabiola Marín Aguilar.

Written by Fabiola Marín Aguilar

Last update: 04 August, 2022

The active component of brimonidine is used to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP). Therefore, medical professionals recommend it for patients with ocular hypertension and also for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma. Find out about the usage and side effects of brimonidine in this article. Glaucoma is the main risk factor of ocular hypertension, which can then lead to so much pressure in the eye that it can damage the optic nerve and cause severe and irreversible vision loss. What is brimonidine? Brimonidine belongs to a class of drugs called alpha-adrenergic agonists and acts to decrease the amount of fluid inside the eye. Alpha-adrenergic agonists are substances that have similar or identical effects to adrenaline. In addition, they’re also known as sympathomimetic drugs, meaning they mimic the sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system is one of the divisions of the autonomic nervous system. It’s responsible for unconscious functions such as: Pupil dilation Decreased saliva production Increased heart rate The inhibition of digestive organs This article may interest you: 5 Things Your Eyes Say About Your Health How should I use brimonidine? [image src=’https://steptohealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/woman-applying-eye-drops-e1568052547809.jpg’]A woman using brimonidine eye drops.[/image] Brimonidine is available as ophthalmic eye drops. In adults and elderly patients, the recommended dose is one drop in the affected eye twice a day, with an approximate 12-hour interval between doses. Instructions and recommendations for use Please note that you shouldn’t use this drug if the cap seal is broken. It’s important to wash your hands thoroughly before opening the bottle. First of all, tilt your head back and look at the ceiling. Then, gently pull your lower eyelid down. After that, place the bottle upside down and squeeze until you get one eye drop in the affected eye. Then close your eye. For optimal use, and to avoid possible systemic absorption, medical professionals recommended pressing the lacrimal sac for one minute after the application of each drop. Furthermore, if patients use more than one ophthalmologically-applied drug, they should administer each one with approximately 15 minutes gap between each application. Once the patient opens the drug, they should use it within the next 28 days. Usage and side effects of brimonidine The most common adverse reactions are: Dry mouth Ocular hyperemia Ocular burning and itching Headache Sleepiness However, these are usually transient side effects that aren’t as severe as to require discontinuation of brimonidine. Some uncommon side effects include: Eyestrain Photophobia or sensitivity to light Swollen eyelids Asthenia Although rare, heart palpitations or arrhythmia may occur. [image src=’https://steptohealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/man-with-a-headache.jpg’]A man with a headache.[/image] Headache and light sensitivity are some of the possible side effects of this drug. If the following symptoms occur, then contact your doctor immediately: Rash Difficulty breathing Fainting Dizziness Nausea Read on to learn more: Four Exercises For Eye Health Contraindications of brimonidine Brimonidine treatment is contraindicated in cases of: Hypersensitivity to the active substance or any of the excipients. Babies and children under the age of two Patients treated with monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) antidepressants. Patients treated with antidepressants that affect noradrenergic transmission (tricyclic antidepressants, for example) Can I use brimonidine if I’m pregnant? Some animal studies show that brimonidine doesn’t cause teratogenic effects. However, studies that were conducted in rabbits, where higher brimonidine levels than those during treatment in humans were detected, showed reduced postnatal growth. The safety of this drug during pregnancy in humans hasn’t been clearly established as of yet. However, the use of brimonidine isn’t recommended during pregnancy. Medical professionals will only consider it if the potential benefit to the mother justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Moreover, they don’t recommend its use while breastfeeding. https://steptohealth.com/usage-and-side-effects-of-brimonidine/