metipranolol Ophthalmic

met-i-PRAN-oh-lol

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Optipranolol

Available Dosage Forms:

• Solution

Therapeutic Class: Antiglaucoma

Pharmacologic Class: Beta-Adrenergic Blocker, Nonselective

Uses For metipranolol

Metipranolol is used alone or together with other medicines to treat increased pressure in the eye that is caused by open-angle glaucoma or a condition called ocular (eye) hypertension. metipranolol is a beta-blocker .

metipranolol is available only with your doctor's prescription .

Before Using metipranolol

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 metipranolol, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to metipranolol 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 have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of metipranolol in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established .

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatrics-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of metipranolol in the elderly .

Pregnancy

	Pregnancy Category	Explanation
All Trimesters	C	Animal studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR no animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women.

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 metipranolol, 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 metipranolol 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.

• Albuterol


• Amiodarone


• Arformoterol


• Bambuterol


• Bitolterol


• Broxaterol


• Clenbuterol


• Clonidine


• Colterol


• Diltiazem


• Dronedarone


• Fenoldopam


• Fenoterol


• Formoterol


• Hexoprenaline


• Indacaterol


• Isoetharine


• Levalbuterol


• Metaproterenol


• Pirbuterol


• Procaterol


• Reproterol


• Rimiterol


• Ritodrine


• Salmeterol


• Terbutaline


• Tretoquinol


• Tulobuterol


• Verapamil

Using metipranolol 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


• Acetohexamide


• Alclofenac


• Alfuzosin


• Amlodipine


• Apazone


• Arbutamine


• Benfluorex


• Benoxaprofen


• Bromfenac


• Bufexamac


• Bunazosin


• Carprofen


• Chlorpropamide


• Clometacin


• Clonixin


• Dexketoprofen


• Diclofenac


• Diflunisal


• Digoxin


• Dipyrone


• Doxazosin


• Droxicam


• Etodolac


• Etofenamate


• Felbinac


• Felodipine


• Fenbufen


• Fenoprofen


• Fentiazac


• Floctafenine


• Flufenamic Acid


• Flurbiprofen


• Gliclazide


• Glimepiride


• Glipizide


• Gliquidone


• Glyburide


• Guar Gum


• Ibuprofen


• Indomethacin


• Indoprofen


• Insulin


• Insulin Aspart, Recombinant


• Insulin Glulisine


• Insulin Lispro, Recombinant


• Isoxicam


• Ketoprofen


• Ketorolac


• Lacidipine


• Lercanidipine


• Lornoxicam


• Manidipine


• Meclofenamate


• Mefenamic Acid


• Meloxicam


• Metformin


• Mibefradil


• Miglitol


• Moxisylyte


• Nabumetone


• Naproxen


• Nicardipine


• Nifedipine


• Niflumic Acid


• Nilvadipine


• Nimesulide


• Nimodipine


• Nisoldipine


• Nitrendipine


• Oxaprozin


• Oxyphenbutazone


• Phenoxybenzamine


• Phentolamine


• Phenylbutazone


• Pirazolac


• Piroxicam


• Pirprofen


• Pranidipine


• Prazosin


• Propyphenazone


• Proquazone


• Repaglinide


• St John's Wort


• Sulindac


• Suprofen


• Tamsulosin


• Tenidap


• Tenoxicam


• Terazosin


• Tiaprofenic Acid


• Tolazamide


• Tolbutamide


• Tolmetin


• Trimazosin


• Troglitazone


• Urapidil


• Zomepirac

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.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of metipranolol. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Asthma or


• Bradycardia (slow heartbeat) or


• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), severe or


• Heart block or


• Heart failure—Should not use in patients with these conditions .

• Blood vessel disease (especially blood vessels of the brain) or


• Stroke, history of—Use with caution. metipranolol may worsen these conditions .

• Diabetes or


• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or


• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)—May cover up some of the signs and symptoms of these diseases, such as a fast heartbeat .

• Lung disease—Use with caution. May cause difficulty with breathing in patients with this condition .

• Myasthenia gravis—May worsen symptoms of this condition, such as muscle weakness .

Proper Use of metipranolol

Shake the medicine well just before each use .

To use the eye drops (solution):

• First, wash your hands. Tilt the 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. 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.


• Immediately after using the medicine, 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 medicines .

If your doctor ordered two different eye medicines to be used together, wait several minutes before using the second medicine. This will help prevent the second medicine from “washing out” the first one .

You should not use metipranolol if you have contact lenses in your eyes. Remove your contact lenses before you use metipranolol, and wait 15 minutes before putting the lenses back in .

Dosing

The dose of metipranolol 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 metipranolol. 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 solution dosage form (eye drops):
  
  • For glaucoma or ocular hypertension:
    
    • Adults—One drop in the affected eye(s) two times a day.
    
    
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor .
    
    
  
  

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of metipranolol, apply 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.

Storage

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

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.

Precautions While Using metipranolol

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure metipranolol is working properly and to check for unwanted effects .

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

Metipranolol may cause heart failure in some patients. Check with your doctor right away if you 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 .

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

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using metipranolol. You may need to stop using metipranolol several days before having surgery .

metipranolol 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:

Incidence not determined

• Bloody nose


• blurred vision


• burning, dry, or itching eyes


• changes in vision


• chest pain or discomfort


• cough producing mucus


• difficult or labored breathing


• difficulty in moving


• difficulty seeing at night


• difficulty swallowing


• discharge, excessive tearing


• fast, slow, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse


• headache


• hives


• increased sensitivity of eyes to sunlight


• itching


• lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting


• muscle pain or stiffness


• nausea


• nervousness


• pain in forehead


• pain or discomfort in arms, jaw, back, or neck


• pain, swelling, or redness in joints


• pounding in the ears


• puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue


• redness, pain, swelling, or itching of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of eyelid


• shortness of breath


• skin rash


• sweating


• tightness in chest


• unusual tiredness or weakness


• wheezing


• vomiting

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

Symptoms of overdose

• Confusion


• dilated neck veins


• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position suddenly


• extreme fatigue


• irregular breathing


• swelling of face, fingers, feet, or lower legs


• weight gain

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:

Incidence not determined

• Discouragement


• feeling sad or empty


• irritability


• lack of appetite


• lack or loss of strength


• loss of interest or pleasure


• muscle aching or cramping


• runny nose


• sleepiness or unusual drowsiness


• sneezing


• stuffy nose


• tiredness


• trouble concentrating


• trouble sleeping

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.

See also: metipranolol Ophthalmic side effects (in more detail)

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More metipranolol Ophthalmic resources

• Metipranolol Ophthalmic Side Effects (in more detail)
• Metipranolol Ophthalmic Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Metipranolol Ophthalmic Drug Interactions
• Metipranolol Ophthalmic Support Group
• 0 Reviews for Metipranolol Ophthalmic - Add your own review/rating

• metipranolol ophthalmic Concise Consumer Information (Cerner Multum)


• OptiPranolol Prescribing Information (FDA)


• OptiPranolol Drops MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

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