Common uses

Betoptic contains a medication that lowers internal eye pressure and is used to treat open-angle glaucoma (high pressure of the fluid in the eye).

Before using

In some circumstances this medicine may not be suitable for you and your doctor may wish to give you a different medicine.
If your doctor is unaware that you suffer from any of the following conditions please inform your doctor before starting to take this medicine.
• If you have a history of heart failure, bradycardia (slow heart beat), heart block or other heart disease.
• If you are diabetic.
• If you have an overactive thyroid gland.
• If you have any form of lung disease or any condition that causes breathing difficulties e.g. asthma.
• If you are about to have an operation which requires a general anaesthetic.
• If you are pregnant or intending to become pregnant.
• If you are breast feeding a baby.
• If you have ever had to stop taking a medicine because you were allergic to it.
Betoptic may have effects on other medicines that you are also taking e.g. adrenaline, other betablockers taken orally for heart disease or high blood pressure or other medicines taken to reduce high blood pressure e.g. reserpine. Make sure your doctor knows what other medicines you are taking.
• You must not wear soft contact lenses whilst using this medicine.
• If your sight is affected in any way following the use of Betoptic you should not drive or operate machinery.

Directions

Use this medication exactly as prescribed. You may need to use other medications at the same time.
Betoptic S Suspension should be shaken well before each dose.
Administer Betoptic as follows:
1. Wash your hands thoroughly.
2. Gently pull your lower eyelid down to form a pocket between your eye and eyelid.
3. Hold the bottle on the bridge of your nose or on your forehead.
4. Do not touch the applicator tip to any surface, including your eye.
5. Tilt your head back and squeeze the medication into your eye.
6. Close your eyes gently.
7. Keep your eyes closed for 1 to 2 minutes.
8. Wait for 5 to 10 minutes before using any other eyedrops.
9. Do not rinse the dropper.
-If you miss a dose...
Use it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular schedule. Do not use 2 doses at once.
-Storage instructions...
Store at room temperature.

Cautions

Before you use Betoptic, tell your doctor if you have any of the following:
AsthmaDiabetesHeart diseaseThyroid disease
If you are having surgery, your doctor may advise you to gradually stop using Betoptic before you undergo general anesthesia.
This drug may lose some of its effectiveness for glaucoma after you have been taking it a long time.

Possible side effects

Temporary stinging/discomfort of the eye, watery/dry/itchy/red eyes, blurred vision, feeling as if something is in the eye, headache, trouble sleeping, or dizziness may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: eye pain/swelling/discharge, vision changes, increased eye sensitivity to light, swelling of the ankles/feet, tiredness, slow/irregular heartbeat, muscle weakness, mental/mood changes, hair loss.
Seek immediate medical attention if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: trouble breathing, sudden unexplained weight gain, chest pain, weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, confusion, persistent dizziness, fainting.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

If you take too much

Any medication used in excess can have serious consequences. If you suspect an overdose of Betoptic, seek medical attention immediately.
With an oral beta blocker, symptoms of overdose might include:
Heart failure, low blood pressure, slow heartbeat

Additional information

Although Betoptic, a type of drug called a beta blocker, is applied directly to the eye, it may be absorbed into the bloodstream. Because it may have effects in other parts of the body, you should use Betoptic cautiously if you have diabetes, asthma or other respiratory diseases, or decreased heart function.

Drug interactions

Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: certain diabetes drugs (e.g., insulin, sulfonylureas such as glyburide), certain psychiatric drugs (e.g., venlafaxine, tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline), drugs for high blood pressure (e.g., clonidine, reserpine, oral beta blockers such as propranolol, calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem), epinephrine.