Combigan 2mg/Ml + 5mg/Ml Eye Drops Solution
1. What COMBIGAN is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you use COMBIGAN
3. How to use COMBIGAN
Package Leaflet: Information for the User Combigan 2mg/ml + 5mg/ml eye drops, solution (brimonidine tartrate and timolol)
Your medicine is available as the above but will be referred to as Combigan throughout the remainder of this leaflet.
Your medicine is known as the above but will be referred to as COMBIGAN throughout the remainder of this leaflet.
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it contains important information for you.
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet:
1. What COMBIGAN is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you use COMBIGAN
3. How to use COMBIGAN
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store COMBIGAN
6. Contents of the pack and other information
COMBIGAN is an eye drop that is used to control glaucoma. It contains two different medicines (brimonidine and timolol) that both reduce high pressure in the eye. Brimonidine belongs to a group of medicines called alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonists. Timolol belongs to a group of medicines called beta-blockers. COMBIGAN is prescribed to reduce high pressure in the eye when beta-blocker eye drops used alone are not enough.
Your eye contains a clear, watery liquid that feeds the inside of the eye. Liquid is constantly being drained out of the eye and new liquid is made to replace this. If the liquid cannot drain out quickly enough, the pressure inside the eye builds up and could eventually damage your sight. COMBIGAN works by reducing the production of liquid and increasing the amount of liquid that is drained. This reduces the pressure inside the eye whilst still continuing to feed the eye.
Do not use COMBIGAN eye drops solution:
• if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to brimonidine tartrate, timolol, beta-blockers or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include swelling of the face, lips and throat, wheeziness, feeling faint, shortness of breath, itching or redness around the eye
• if you have now or have had in the past respiratory problems such as asthma, severe chronic obstructive bronchitis (severe lung disease which may cause wheeziness, difficulty in breathing and/or long-standing cough)
• if you have heart problems such as low heart rate, heart failure, heart beat disorders (unless controlled by a pacemaker)
• if you are taking monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors or certain other antidepressant drugs
COMBIGAN should not be used in children less than 2 years old and should not usually be used in children aged 2 to 17.
If you think any of these points apply to you, do not use COMBIGAN until you have talked again to your doctor.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor before using COMBIGAN
• if you have now or have had in the past
- coronary heart disease (symptoms can include chest pain or tightness, breathlessness or choking), heart failure, low blood pressure
- disturbances of heart rate such as slow heart beat
- breathing problems, asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- poor blood circulation disease (such as Raynaud's disease or Raynaud's syndrome)
- diabetes as timolol may mask signs and symptoms of low blood sugar levels
- over activity of the thyroid gland as timolol may mask signs and symptoms
- kidney or liver problems
- tumour of the adrenal gland
- eye surgery to lower the pressure in your eye
• if you suffer or have suffered from any allergy (e.g. hayfever, eczema) or a severe allergic reaction be aware that the usual dose of adrenaline used to control a severe reaction may need to be increased.
Tell the doctor before you have an operation that you are using COMBIGAN, as the timolol may change effects of some medicines during anaesthesia.
Other medicines and COMBIGAN
COMBIGAN can affect or be affected by other medicines you are using, including other eye drops for the treatment of glaucoma.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take other medicines, including medicines for any condition, even if unrelated to your eye condition, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
There are a number of medicines which may interfere with COMBIGAN, so it is particularly important to tell your doctor if you are taking:
• pain killers
• medicines to help you sleep or for anxiety
• medicines to treat high blood pressure (hypertension)
• medicines for heart conditions (for example an abnormal heartbeat) such as beta blockers, digoxin or quinidine (used to treat heart conditions and some types of malaria)
• medicines to treat diabetes or high blood sugar
• medicines for depression such as fluoxetine and paroxetine
• another eye drop used to lower high pressure in the eye (glaucoma)
• medicines to treat severe allergic reactions
• medicines that affect some of the hormones in your body, like adrenaline and dopamine
• medicines that affect the muscles in your blood vessels
• medicines to treat heartburn or stomach ulcers
If the dose of any of your current medicines is changed or if you are regularly consuming alcohol you should tell your doctor.
If you are due to have an anaesthetic, you should tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking COMBIGAN.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. Do not use COMBIGAN if you are pregnant unless your doctor considers it necessary.
Do not use COMBIGAN if you are breast-feeding. Timolol may get into your milk. Ask your doctor for advice before taking any medicine during breast-feeding.
Driving and using machines
COMBIGAN may cause drowsiness, tiredness or blurred vision in some patients. Do not drive or use any tools or machines until the symptoms have cleared. If you experience any problems, talk to your doctor.
Important information about some of the ingredients of
COMBIGAN
Contact Lenses
• Do not use COMBIGAN while your contact lenses are in your eyes. Wait at least 15 minutes after using COMBIGAN before putting your lenses back in.
• A preservative in COMBIGAN (benzalkonium chloride) may cause eye irritation and is also known to discolour soft contact lenses.
Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
COMBIGAN must not be used in infants below 2 years of age. COMBIGAN should not usually be used in children and adolescents (from 2 to 17 years).
The recommended dose is one drop of COMBIGAN, twice a day about 12 hours apart. Do not change the dose or stop taking it without speaking to your doctor.
If you have other eye drops as well as COMBIGAN, leave at least 5 minutes between using COMBIGAN and the other eye drops.
Instructions for use
You must not use the bottle if the tamper-proof seal on the bottle neck is broken before you first begin to use it.
Wash your hands before opening the bottle. Tilt your head back and look at the ceiling.
1. Gently pull down the lower eyelid until there is a small pocket.
2. Turn the bottle upside down and squeeze it to release one drop into each eye that needs treatment.
3. Let go of the lower lid, and close your eye.
4. Keep the eye closed and press your finger against the corner of your eye (the side where your eye meets your nose) for two minutes. This helps stop COMBIGAN getting into the rest of the body.
If a drop misses your eye, try again.
To avoid contamination, do not let the tip of the bottle touch your eye or anything else. Put the screw-cap back on to close the bottle, straight after you have used it.
If you use more COMBIGAN than you should
Adults
If you use more COMBIGAN than you should, it is unlikely to cause you any harm. Put your next drop in at the usual time. If you are worried, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Babies and Children
Several cases of overdose have been reported in babies and children receiving brimonidine (one of the ingredients of COMBIGAN) as part of medical treatment for glaucoma. Signs include sleepiness, floppiness, low body temperature, paleness and breathing difficulties. Should this happen, contact your doctor immediately.
Adults and Children
If COMBIGAN has been accidentally swallowed then you should contact your doctor immediately.
If you forget to use COMBIGAN
If you forget to use COMBIGAN, use a single drop in each eye that needs treatment as soon as you remember, and then go back to your regular routine. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
