What is this medication for?
Brimonidine belongs to a family of medicines known as alpha adrenergic receptor agonists. It works by keeping blood vessels in the eye from narrowing. This reduces the pressure inside the eye.
Brimonidine is used to treat open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension, conditions caused by high pressure inside the eye.
Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than those listed here. As well, some forms of this medication may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking this medication, speak to your doctor. Do not give this medication to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take this medication if their doctor has not prescribed it. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.
What form(s) does this medication come in?
Alphagan® P is available as:
Some medications may have other generic brands available. Always ask your doctor or pharmacist about the safety of switching between brands of the same medication.
How should I use this medication?
The recommended adult dose is one drop of the medication into the affected eye(s) three times daily, about 8 hours apart.
If you are using another eye drop medication after brimonidine to treat high pressure inside the eye, wait at least 5 minutes before using the other medications.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist for proper instructions to use this eye drop medication.
Store this medication at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.
It is important that this medication be taken exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.
Who should NOT take this medication?
Brimonidine eye drops should not be used by anyone who:
- is allergic to brimonidine eye drops or any ingredients in this medication
- has taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) (e.g., phenelzine, tranylcypromine, selegiline) within the past 2 weeks
