What is a medicine such as Ganfort (eye drops)? Instructions, a description of the drug and reviews about this tool are indicated in the materials of this article. It also presents indications for the use of the mentioned medicine, prohibitions on its prescription and similar medicines.
Description of the product, its composition and form
The drug "Ganfort" - eye drops, the instructions of which are presented below, produced in plastic dropper bottles, which are placed in cardboard packaging. This medication is a clear and sterile liquid. Its active components are medicinal substances such as bimatoprost and timolol.
Features of a medical device
What is the Hanfort drug (eye drops)? The manual says that this is a combination product containing active ingredients such as timolol and bimatoprost. Mentioned substances contribute to the effective reduction of intraocular pressure. This is due to the interaction of these components.
Ingredient Properties
Why are Hanfort eye drops so effective? The instruction indicates that the therapeutic result obtained after the use of this drug is completely due to its composition. Consider the features of the active ingredients of this tool right now.
Bimatoprost is a synthetic prostamide, which in its chemical structure is very similar to prostaglandin F2a. This component has no effect on prostaglandin receptors.
According to the instructions, the hypotensive properties of the substance in question are manifested due to an increase in the outflow of intraocular fluid, which occurs through the uveoscleral path of the visual organ and along the trabecula.
What other properties do Hanfort eye drops have? The instruction states that timolol is a non-selective beta-blocker. It does not exhibit internal sympathomimetic or membrane-stabilizing activity. A significant reduction in IOP under the influence of this substance occurs due to a decrease in the formation of intraocular fluid. However, it should be noted that the detailed principle of timolol has not been established by experts. There is an assumption that this process is associated with the inhibition of the synthesis of adenosine monophosphate (cyclic), which occurs due to the stimulation of (endogenous) beta-adrenergic receptors.
Pharmacokinetics of the drug
Is the local Hanfort drug (eye drops) absorbed? The instruction says that this medication has minimal systemic absorption. Moreover, it is the same with the combined use, and with the treatment of each of the ingredients separately.
Indications for appointment
What is the use of the Hanfort drug (eye drops) for? The instruction reports that this drug is prescribed to reduce pressure (intraocular) in people with glaucoma (open-angle) and intraocular hypertension, including the insufficient effectiveness of local ophthalmic drugs belonging to the group of beta-blockers, as well as prostaglandin substitutes.
Prohibitions for appointment
When can’t you use the Ganfort medication (eye drops)? Instructions, a description of the drug indicate contraindications for use, such as:
- a syndrome of increased reactivity of the respiratory tract (for example, with bronchial asthma in the acute stage, severe obstructive pulmonary disease of a chronic nature);
- high sensitivity to the ingredients of the product;
- age up to 18 years;
- pregnancy period;
- atrioventricular block of the second and third degree;
- sinus bradycardia;
- lactation period;
- cardiogenic shock;
- severe heart failure.
Careful use of the medication
In what cases should the drug “Ganfort” be carefully prescribed (eye drops)? Instructions, descriptions report that, with extreme caution, this medicine is recommended for those patients whose kidney and liver function is impaired. This is due to the fact that the effect of this medication is not well understood in this category of people. The same applies to patients with risk factors for macular edema (including pseudophakia, aphakia, and rupture of the lens).
People with diabetes mellitus (including those with an unstable course of the disease) and impaired glucose tolerance, this drug is also prescribed with caution, since the beta-blocker included in it can mask the obvious symptoms of hypoglycemia.
Consultation with an ophthalmologist before using Ganfort is required for patients with inflammatory changes in the visual organs, as well as angle-closure, inflammatory and neovascular glaucoma, narrow-angle and congenital glaucoma (since there is no information on the safety and effectiveness of local medicines).
Topical medicine "Ganfort" (eye drops): instructions for use
How should I use the drug in question? The dosage of this medication for adults and elderly patients should be selected only by an experienced ophthalmologist. As a rule, the drug "Ganfort" is prescribed one drop in each conjunctival sac of the affected visual organ, once a day. Such therapeutic measures are best done in the morning.
In the event that the introduction of a local medication is missed once, then it is used only the next day. It is highly recommended not to exceed the dosage prescribed by the doctor (that is, 1 introduction once a day).
If the patient was prescribed more than two ophthalmic agents, then a five-minute interval must be maintained between their instillation.
Common side effects
What are the negative effects of the Hanfort medication (eye drops)? Instructions, reviews speak of the following general reactions of a side nature:
- headache, irritation of the mucous membranes of the visual organs, itching of the skin of the eyelids, conjunctival hyperemia;
- conjunctival edema, eyelash growth, visual impairment, decreased visual acuity, superficial keratitis, corneal erosion ;
- discharge from the eyes, burning sensation, burning pain and itching in the eyes, swelling of the eyelids, foreign body sensation;
- iridocyclitis, dry eyes, epiphora, redness of the eyelids, cystoid macular edema, pain in the eyes;
- blepharitis, photophobia, sore eyelids, rhinitis, asthenopia, trichiasis;
- hirsutism, eyelid skin pigmentation.
Side effects after applying bimatoprost
During the period of use of the Ganfort drug, which includes such a component as bimatoprost, the patient can observe:
- asthenia and peripheral edema;
- increase in blood pressure;
- allergic conjunctivitis, blepharospasm, cataracts, darkening of the eyelashes, retraction of the eyelids, increased pigmentation of the iris, uveitis, retinal hemorrhage;
- changes in the activity of liver enzymes.
Side effects after the use of timolol
What other side effects does Ganfort (eye drops) cause? The instruction states that timolol, which is part of this medication, contributes to:
- the development of mental disorders, including insomnia, nightmares, decreased libido;
- myasthenia gravis, paresthesia, cerebral ischemia;
- decreased sensitivity of the cornea, retinal detachment (including after surgery), diplopia, ptosis, changes in refraction, keratitis;
- tinnitus, heart block, cardiac arrest, heart rhythm disturbance;
- bradycardia, loss of consciousness, heart failure, congestive heart failure, decreased blood pressure, intermittent claudication;
- chest pain, cerebrovascular accident, Raynaud's syndrome, cold extremities, palpitations;
- bronchospasm, shortness of breath, cough;
- nausea, dyspepsia, diarrhea, dry mouth;
- alopecia, psoriasis-like rashes, exacerbation of psoriasis;
- the development of systemic lupus erythematosus;
- Peyronie's disease, the appearance of edema, fatigue.
Overdose cases
What symptoms of an overdose does the Ganfort drug (eye drops) cause? The instruction (analogues of this tool are indicated below) states that until now such cases have not occurred. It should be noted that in case of an overdose of such a component as timolol, the patient may experience the following symptoms: bronchospasm, bradycardia, headache, decreased blood pressure, shortness of breath, dizziness, and cardiac arrest. According to experts, this substance is not fully excreted during hemodialysis. If an overdose of timolol still occurred, then symptomatic treatment is required.
Special recommendations
All signs of heart failure should be necessarily compensated before starting treatment with Ganfort. It also requires regular monitoring of the condition of people with severe heart failure.
When using timolol, patients often complained of the development of side effects from the CVS, as well as respiratory organs. Moreover, there were deaths due to bronchospasm in people with bronchial asthma.
Beta-blockers are able to mask signs of hyperthyroidism and hypoglycemia, as well as cause deterioration of the course of angina pectoris, severe central and peripheral vascular disorders, arterial hypotension.
Before starting treatment with the drug in question, patients should be informed about a possible increase in pigmentation of the iris and eyelid skin, eyelash growth. It should be noted that some of these changes may be permanent.
An additional substance of the drug, such as benzalkonium chloride, can cause irritation of the mucous membrane of the visual organs, as well as discoloration of contact lenses (soft). Therefore, the latter must be removed before the direct administration of the drug, and put on only after ÂĽ hours after the instillation of the drug.
It cannot be said that benzalkonium chloride is capable of causing the development of acute keratitis and toxic corneal ulcer. This fact requires special monitoring of the patient's condition.
After opening the dropper bottle, a possible microbial contamination of its contents cannot be ruled out, which in the future may contribute to inflammatory eye damage.
The shelf life of the drug in question after opening is 28 days. After the specified period, the bottle must be discarded.
Similar drugs
What can replace such an ophthalmic agent as Ganfort? The following medicines are referred to analogues of these eye drops: “Xalatan”, “Stillavit”, “Phloxal”, “Xalatamax”, “Thealosis”, “Vid-Komod”, “Travatan”, “Glauprost”, “Timolol”, “Taurin " and so on. The therapeutic features of these drugs should be obtained from your doctor.
Reviews about the drug
Now you know what the medicine “Ganfort” (eye drops) is used for. Instructions and substitutes for this medication have also been presented above.
What do patients say? Most of them claim that the medication in question is a highly effective anti-glaucoma drug. Its main advantages include accessibility in all pharmacies, ease of use and the ability to replace with similar drugs. As for the shortcomings of this medication, there are a lot of them. According to the claims of patients, the mentioned tool has a huge list of various contraindications, which makes its independent use impossible (only as prescribed by the ophthalmologist). Also, many consumers constantly complain that the use of Ganfort eye drops often causes the development of side effects. In this case, doctors recommend replacing it with a safer, but no less effective local drug.