Daily Medication Pearl: Brinzolamide/Brimonidine Tartrate (Simbrinza)

Medication Pearl of the Day: Brinzolamide/Brimonidine Tartrate (Simbrinza)

Indication: Brinzolamide/brimonidine tartrate (Simbrinza) is a fixed combination of a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor and an alpha 2 adrenergic receptor agonist indicated for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

Insight:

• Dosing: Shake well before use. Instill 1 drop in the affected eye(s) 3 times daily. If more than 1 topical ophthalmic drug is being used, the drugs should be administered at least 5 minutes apart.
• Dosage forms: Suspension containing 10 mg/mL brinzolamide and 2 mg/mL brimonidine tartrate.
• Adverse events: Most common adverse reactions occurring in approximately 3% to 5% of patients included blurred vision, eye irritation, dysgeusia, dry mouth, and eye allergy.
• Mechanism of action: Simbrinza is comprised of 2 components: brinzolamide (carbonic anhydrase inhibitor) and brimonidine tartrate (alpha 2 adrenergic receptor agonist). Each of these components decreases elevated intraocular pressure. Elevated intraocular pressure is a major risk factor in the pathogenesis of optic nerve damage and glaucomatous visual field loss. The higher the level of intraocular pressure, the greater the likelihood of glaucomatous field loss and optic nerve damage.

Source: LABEL (fda.gov)