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Clinical data | |
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Trade names | Timoptic, others [1] |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Maleate Monograph eent Monograph |
MedlinePlus | a684029 |
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Routes of administration | By mouth, topical (eye drop) |
Drug class | Beta blocker |
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Pharmacokinetic data | |
Bioavailability | 60% |
Metabolism | Liver (80%, mainly CYP2D6 [3] ) |
Onset of action | 15–30 min [4] |
Elimination half-life | 2.5–5 hours |
Duration of action | 24 hours [4] |
Excretion | Kidney |
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ECHA InfoCard | 100.043.651 |
Chemical and physical data | |
Formula | C13H24N4O3S |
Molar mass | 316.42 g·mol−1 |
3D model (JSmol) | |
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Timolol is a beta blocker medication used either by mouth or as eye drops. [4] [5] As eye drops it is used to treat increased pressure inside the eye such as in ocular hypertension and glaucoma. [4] By mouth it is used for high blood pressure, chest pain due to insufficient blood flow to the heart, to prevent further complications after a heart attack, and to prevent migraines. [5]
Common side effects with the drops is irritation of the eye. [4] Common side effects by mouth include tiredness, slow heart beat, itchiness, and shortness of breath. [5] Other side effects include masking the symptoms of low blood sugar in those with diabetes. [4] Use is not recommended in those with asthma, uncompensated heart failure, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). [4] It is unclear if use during pregnancy is safe for the fetus. [6] Timolol is a non-selective beta blocker. [4]
Timolol was patented in 1968, and came into medical use in 1978. [7] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. [8] Timolol is available as a generic medication. [4] [9] In 2022, it was the 155th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 3 million prescriptions. [10] [11]
In its by mouth or oral form, it is used:
The combination of timolol and the alpha-1 blocker prazosin has sedative effects. [13]
In its eye drop form it is used to treat open-angle and, occasionally, secondary glaucoma. [4] [14] The mechanism of action of timolol is probably the reduction of the formation of aqueous humor [4] in the ciliary body in the eye. It was the first beta blocker approved for topical use in treatment of glaucoma in the United States (1978). [15] When used by itself, it depresses intraocular pressure (IOP) 18–34% below baseline within first few treatments. However, there are short-term escape and long-term drift effects in some people. That is, tolerance develops. It may reduce the extent of the daytime IOP curve up to 50%. The IOP is higher during sleep. Efficacy of timolol in lowering IOP during the sleep period may be limited. [16] [17] [18] It is a 5–10× more potent beta blocker than propranolol. Timolol is light-sensitive; it is usually preserved with 0.01% benzalkonium chloride (BAC), but also comes BAC-free. It can also be used in combination with pilocarpine, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors [19] or prostaglandin analogs. [20]
A Cochrane review compared the effect of timolol versus brimonidine in slowing the progression of open angle glaucoma in adults but found insufficient evidence to come to conclusions. [21]
In its gel form it is used on the skin to treat infantile hemangiomas. [22]
The medication should not be taken by individuals with: [23]
The most serious possible side effects include cardiac arrhythmias and severe bronchospasms. [23] Timolol can also lead to fainting, congestive heart failure, depression, confusion, worsening of Raynaud's syndrome and impotence. [23]
Side effects when given in the eye include: burning sensation, eye redness, superficial punctate keratopathy, corneal numbness. [25] [14]
It is available in tablet and liquid formulations. [23] [25]
For ophthalmic use, timolol is also available combined:
Timolol is sold under many brand names worldwide. [1] Timolol eye drops are sold under the brand names Timoptic and Istalol among others. [26] [27]
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can lead to damage of the optic nerve. The optic nerve transmits visual information from the eye to the brain. Glaucoma may cause vision loss if left untreated. It has been called the "silent thief of sight" because the loss of vision usually occurs slowly over a long period of time. A major risk factor for glaucoma is increased pressure within the eye, known as intraocular pressure (IOP). It is associated with old age, a family history of glaucoma, and certain medical conditions or the use of some medications. The word glaucoma comes from the Ancient Greek word γλαυκός, meaning 'gleaming, blue-green, gray'.
The ciliary body is a part of the eye that includes the ciliary muscle, which controls the shape of the lens, and the ciliary epithelium, which produces the aqueous humor. The aqueous humor is produced in the non-pigmented portion of the ciliary body. The ciliary body is part of the uvea, the layer of tissue that delivers oxygen and nutrients to the eye tissues. The ciliary body joins the ora serrata of the choroid to the root of the iris.
Intraocular pressure (IOP) is the fluid pressure inside the eye. Tonometry is the method eye care professionals use to determine this. IOP is an important aspect in the evaluation of patients at risk of glaucoma. Most tonometers are calibrated to measure pressure in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).
Betaxolol is a selective beta1 receptor blocker used in the treatment of hypertension and angina. It is also a adrenergic blocker with no partial agonist action and minimal membrane stabilizing activity. Being selective for beta1 receptors, it typically has fewer systemic side effects than non-selective beta-blockers, for example, not causing bronchospasm as timolol may. Betaxolol also shows greater affinity for beta1 receptors than metoprolol. In addition to its effect on the heart, betaxolol reduces the pressure within the eye. This effect is thought to be caused by reducing the production of the liquid within the eye. The precise mechanism of this effect is not known. The reduction in intraocular pressure reduces the risk of damage to the optic nerve and loss of vision in patients with elevated intraocular pressure due to glaucoma.
Latanoprost, sold under the brand name Xalatan among others, is a medication used to treat increased pressure inside the eye. This includes ocular hypertension and open-angle glaucoma. Latanaprost is applied as eye drops to the eyes. Onset of effects is usually within four hours, and they last for up to a day.
Ocular hypertension is the presence of elevated fluid pressure inside the eye, usually with no optic nerve damage or visual field loss.
Dorzolamide/timolol, sold under the brand name Cosopt among others, is a medication used to treat high pressure inside the eye including glaucoma. It is a combination of dorzolamide hydrochloride and timolol maleate. It may be used when a beta blocker, like timolol, is not sufficient alone. It is used as an eye drop.
Brimonidine is an α2 agonist medication used to treat open-angle glaucoma, ocular hypertension, and rosacea. In rosacea it improves the redness. It is used as eye drops or applied to the skin. It is also available in the fixed-dose combination medication brimonidine/timolol along with timolol maleate.
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors are a class of pharmaceuticals that suppress the activity of carbonic anhydrase. Their clinical use has been established as anti-glaucoma agents, diuretics, antiepileptics, in the management of mountain sickness, gastric and duodenal ulcers, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, neurological disorders, or osteoporosis.
Apraclonidine (INN), also known under the brand name Iopidine, is a sympathomimetic used in glaucoma therapy. It is an α2 adrenergic receptor agonist and a weak α1 adrenergic receptor agonist.
Dorzolamide, sold under the brand name Trusopt among others, is a medication used to treat high pressure inside the eye, including in cases of glaucoma. It is used as an eye drop. Effects begin within three hours and last for at least eight hours. It is also available as the combination dorzolamide/timolol.
Levobunolol is a non-selective beta blocker. It is used topically in the form of eye drops to manage ocular hypertension and open-angle glaucoma.
Bimatoprost, sold under the brand name Lumigan among others, is a medication used to treat high pressure inside the eye including glaucoma. Specifically it is used for open angle glaucoma when other agents are not sufficient. It may also be used to increase the size of the eyelashes. It is used as an eye drop and effects generally occur within four hours.
Brimonidine/timolol, sold under the brand name Combigan among others, is a fixed-dose combination medication eye drop used for the treatment of glaucoma. It is a combination of brimonidine and timolol.
Tafluprost is a prostaglandin analogue. It is used topically to control the progression of open-angle glaucoma and in the management of ocular hypertension, alone or in combination with other medication. It reduces intraocular pressure by increasing the outflow of aqueous fluid from the eyes.
Bimatoprost/timolol, sold under the brand name Ganfort, is a medication for the treatment of certain conditions involving high pressure in the eyes, specifically open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension. It is available as eye drops.
Netarsudil/latanoprost, sold under the brand name Rocklatan among others, is a fixed-dose combination medication use to treat elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in people with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. It contains netarsudil mesylate and latanoprost. It is applied as eye drops to the eyes.
Brinzolamide/brimonidine, sold under the brand name Simbrinza, is a fixed-dose combination medication used to reduce intra-ocular pressure in adults with ocular hypertension or in those with an eye condition known as open-angle glaucoma. It contains brinzolamide and brimonidine tartrate. It is used as an eye drop.
Travoprost/timolol, sold under the brand name Duotrav among others, is a fixed-dose combination medication used for the treatment of glaucoma. It contains travoprost and timolol maleate.
Posner–Schlossman syndrome (PSS) also known as glaucomatocyclitic crisis (GCC) is a rare acute ocular condition with unilateral attacks of mild granulomatous anterior uveitis and elevated intraocular pressure. It is sometimes considered as a secondary inflammatory glaucoma.