Vision is one of the main feelings that help us perceive the world around us. Glaucoma is a very serious ophthalmic disease that can cause blindness and, consequently, a person’s disability. It appears most often after 40 years, although it may begin earlier. Naturally, it is necessary to deal with such a pathology at the earliest stages. A drug like Azopt (eye drops) can help you with this. The instructions that come with this medicine will help you understand the features of the drug, its side effects and possible substitutes. This information is very important, since the presented drug is not just drops from a cold.
General description of the drug
So, the presented drug has been successfully and for a long time been used in ophthalmology. It is an anti-glaucoma drug that can significantly reduce intraocular pressure.
The main document that you should study before you purchase "Azopt" (eye drops) is an instruction. It should be noted that this drug can only be obtained with a doctor’s prescription.
It must also be said that the medicine presented is imported. It is made in the UK. Accordingly, its value cannot be low. However, there are substitutes, which include the same active substance. They are cheaper and can be no less effective.
Components of the product and form of release
If you are prescribed "Azopt" (eye drops), the instruction tells only about one form of release - an opaque suspension, which is white. There is such a liquid in a plastic bottle with a dropper. The volume of the bottle is 5 ml.
The preparation itself consists of the following components:
1. Sodium chloride. It is also called ordinary table salt.
2. Disodium edetate.
3. Carboner tyloxapol.
4. Hydrochloric (hydrochloric) acid (concentrate).
5. Ordinary water.
The most important active ingredient of the drug is brinzolamide.
pharmachologic effect
So, if you have been prescribed "Azopt" (eye drops), the instruction tells about the effectiveness of their use. The mechanism of action of the substance is quite simple. Due to the fact that brinzolamide is able to significantly slow down the transport of fluid and sodium inside the eye, respectively, the pressure inside it becomes weaker.
It should be noted that the withdrawal of funds is carried out mainly through the kidneys. That is, the active substance leaves with urine, and in a completely unchanged form. The fact is that its half-life lasts a very long time and is 111 days.
It is necessary to take Azopt (eye drops) with caution. The instruction (the price of the drug ranges from 680 rubles per package) states that they are perfectly absorbed into the bloodstream and accumulate in red blood cells, despite the local use of the drug.
How does Azopt interact with other medicines?
Do not take this drug with other oral medications that slow down the synthesis of carbonic anhydrase. Otherwise, systemic adverse reactions may intensify and lead to unexpected consequences. Particular caution should also be taken with drops in combination with salicylates, which can accumulate in the cells of the body.
If there is such a need, "Azopt" eye drops (instructions, price, reviews - the main criteria that help to choose a remedy) can be combined with other ophthalmic preparations. However, between their use you need to take a 15-minute break.
Indications for use
If you have glaucoma, instead of surgery or in front of him, the ophthalmologist has the right to prescribe "Azopt" (eye drops). Instructions for use indicate such indications for the use of the drug:
1. A significant decrease in pressure inside the eye, which is fraught with damage to nerves and serious visual impairment.
2. Open angle glaucoma.
Known Contraindications
Azopt eye drops, instructions for use, price and some features of the drug are already partially known to you, they also have some restrictions and prohibitions on use. For example, you can not prescribe a medicine to people who have a significant disorder of the liver and kidneys. If the drug becomes even worse, then its administration should be stopped immediately.
Do not use the substance for those patients who have individual immunity to some components of this product. It should be noted that if the doctor prescribes "Azopt", eye drops, instructions (the analogs of this product work no worse) suggests that this remedy should not be used by patients with angle-closure form of glaucoma. The fact is that studies on the effectiveness of the treatment of this disease have not been conducted at all.
With extreme caution, you need to write a prescription for women in position, as well as for nursing mothers. This should be done in cases where the risk of damage caused by the disease is higher than the risk of developing undesirable reactions in the unborn baby. If the drug is prescribed during lactation, then feeding should be stopped immediately.
Ophthalmologists do not recommend the use of a remedy for the treatment of diseases in children. Relevant studies have not been conducted either. The danger of droplets affecting a child’s body is not known.
Dosage and storage features
As already mentioned, "Azopt", eye drops (instructions, reviews and advice from doctors will help you decide whether you need such treatment) are taken locally. That is, you will need to drip one drop in a conjunctival sac twice a day . Some patients feel the effect after triple use of the drug. The duration of therapy is determined by the condition of the patient, the effectiveness of the treatment, as well as the appearance of adverse reactions.
Note that you must shake the vial of liquid well before use. If drops are prescribed to replace other drugs, then they should be used from the next day.
After instillation of the eyes, the eyelids should be tightly closed. This will help reduce the absorption of components into the blood. This, in turn, reduces the risk of side effects.
The product is stored for no more than 2 years, after which it should be discarded. Keep the bottle tightly closed in a dark place. Storage temperature is 4-30 degrees. Note that after you open the bottle, the shelf life of the substance is only 1 month.
Possible adverse reactions
Naturally, each patient is interested in the question of what kind of negative consequences this drug may cause. Therefore, now you will learn about all the possible adverse reactions that Azopt can provoke:
1. Blurred or blurred vision.
2. A significant change in taste due to the appearance of bitterness in the mouth.
3. Blepharitis (inflammation of the edges of the eyelids, which is difficult to get rid of).
4. Discharge from the eyes, as well as their dryness.
5. Skin rash, allergic rhinitis, urticaria, pharyngitis (upper respiratory tract infection).
6. Headache and whirling, conjunctival redness, an unpleasant sensation of the presence of a foreign body in the eye.
7. Increased lacrimation, keratopathy (degenerative pathology of the cornea of the eye).
8. Shortness of breath, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, chest pain.
9. Hypertension.
10. Alopecia (partial or complete hair loss), dyspepsia (difficult digestion).
In addition, deaths have been noted by medicine after using the medication presented. That is why it is strictly forbidden to independently apply it.
Analogues of the drug
I must say that the drug presented is quite expensive. Therefore, many patients are trying to find domestic substitutes. Among the analogues can be called the following drugs:
- "Brinzolamide" (Great Britain).
- "Diuremide" (Ukraine).
- Betoptic (Belgium).
- Cosopt (France).
- Dorzopt (Romania).
- Fotil (Finland)
- "Diacarb" (Poland).
These drugs have the same active substance and are much cheaper, with the exception of the first on the list. Therefore, do not be afraid to ask the doctor about analogues. He must name them for you.
Special instructions and reviews
In general, Azopt has fairly good reviews. However, there are complaints of patients and adverse reactions. For example, blurred vision, nausea, a feeling of bitterness in the mouth are often manifested. In addition, patients complain about the short shelf life of the drug after opening it. Naturally, the cost of this medicine is also considered high. However, these drops really help to get rid of eye diseases.
There are some special instructions regarding the use of the drug. For example, you should not use it if you are going to drive or engage in any activity that requires attention.
Experiments have shown that drug components can accumulate in contact lenses. This can adversely affect vision. To prevent this from happening, wear lenses only a quarter of an hour after instillation.
Please note that after use, the bottle must be closed very tightly. In order to prevent infection of the eye, it is imperative to keep the spout of the dispenser in the cap for protection. Do not touch it with your hands.
In principle, these are all the features of the use of the drug. Now you have reliable information on the topic: “Azopt” eye drops: instructions, price. “The Russian counterpart is not yet available. Remember that you can only use the drug with the permission of the doctor. You simply cannot buy it yourself at the pharmacy. Be healthy and do not self-medicate.