Betagan
Overview
- About Betagan
Beta blockers may cause muscle weakness; weakened muscles around the eyes may cause double vision or drooping eyelids.
Why should Betagan not be prescribed?
Return to topDo not use Betagan if you have ever had an allergic reaction to it or are sensitive to it.
You should not use Betagan if you have any of the following conditions:
- Asthma
- Cardiogenic shock (shock due to insufficient heart action)
- Certain heart irregularities
- Heart failure
- Severe chronic obstructive lung disease
- Slow heartbeat (sinus bradycardia)
- Calcium-blocking blood pressure medications such as diltiazem hydrochloride and verapamil hydrochloride
- Digitalis
- Epinephrine
- Oral beta blockers such as the blood pressure medications atenolol and propranolol hydrochloride
- Reserpine
Special warnings about Betagan
Return to topBetagan contains a sulfite preservative. In a few people, sulfites can cause an allergic reaction, which may be life-threatening. If you suffer from asthma, you are at increased risk for sulfite allergy.
Betagan may be absorbed into your bloodstream. If too much of the drug is absorbed, this may worsen asthma or other lung diseases or lead to heart failure, which sometimes happens with oral beta-blocker medications.
Beta blockers may increase the risks of anesthesia. If you are facing elective surgery, your doctor may want you to taper off Betagan prior to your operation.
Use Betagan cautiously if you have diminished lung function.
Since beta blockers may mask some signs and symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), you should use Betagan very carefully if you have low blood sugar, or if you have diabetes and are taking insulin or an oral antidiabetic medication.
If your body tends to produce too much thyroid hormone, you should taper off Betagan very gradually rather than stopping the drug all at once. Abrupt withdrawal of any beta blocker may provoke a rush of thyroid hormone ("thyroid storm").
Do not use 2 or more beta-blocker eye medications at the same time.
Possible food and drug interactions when taking Betagan
Return to topIf Betagan is used with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Betagan with the following:
Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
Return to topThe use of Betagan in pregnancy has not been adequately studied. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, notify your doctor immediately. Betagan eyedrops should be used during pregnancy only if the benefit justifies the potential risk to the unborn child. Since other beta blocker medications are known to appear in breast milk, use Betagan eyedrops with caution if you are breastfeeding.
Recommended dosage for Betagan
Return to topADULTS
The recommended starting dose is 1 or 2 drops of Betagan 0.5% in the affected eye(s) once a day.
The typical dose of Betagan 0.25% is 1 or 2 drops twice daily.
For more severe glaucoma, your doctor may have you use Betagan 0.5% twice a day.
Overdosage
Return to topOveruse of Betagan eyedrops may produce symptoms of beta blocker overdosage—slowed heartbeat, low blood pressure, breathing difficulty, and/or heart failure. Any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. If you suspect an overdose of Betagan, seek medical attention immediately.
