Timoptol

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

The timolol in these eye drops can be absorbed into the bloodstream after application to the eye and it may therefore interact with other medicines that you are taking. It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while using this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.

If you are using more than one type of eye drop you should administer them at least five minutes apart, to prevent the second drop washing away the first.

This medicine should not generally be used in combination with the following medicines:

- amiodarone
- beta-blocker medicines taken by mouth, eg atenolol, propranolol
- calcium channel blockers such as bepridil, diltiazem, nifedipine or verapamil.

If this medicine is used by people taking calcium channel blockers such as nifedipine, there may be an increased risk of slow heart rate, low blood pressure or heart failure.

If this medicine is used with any of the following there may be an increased risk of slow heart rate:

- anti-arrhythmic medicines, eg quinidine or dipyridamole
- digoxin.

If this medicine is used with clonidine, there is a risk of a rebound increase in blood pressure if the clonidine is stopped suddenly. If the clonidine needs to be stopped, this medicine should be stopped several days before slowly stopping the clonidine.

In people with diabetes, timolol can prolong the lowering of blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) caused by insulin or other antidiabetic medicines. People with diabetes should monitor their blood sugar, as timolol can also mask the signs of hypoglycaemia.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredient

Nyogel

Timoptol-LA

Timolol eye drops are also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.

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