Azopt

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Azopt

Classes

Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors, Ophthalmic

Administration
Ophthalmic Administration

Brinzolamide is for ophthalmic use only.
Instruct patient on proper instillation of the ophthalmic suspension.
Shake well prior to using.
Wash hands before and after use.
To avoid contamination, do not touch the tip of the dropper to the eye, fingertips, or other surfaces.
If more than 1 ophthalmic drug is to be administered, the 2 drugs should be administered at least 10 minutes apart.
Contact lenses should be removed prior to instilling the ophthalmic suspension; they can be reinserted after 15 minutes.

Adverse Reactions
Severe

keratitis / Delayed / 1.0-5.0
keratoconjunctivitis / Early / 0-1.0
agranulocytosis / Delayed / Incidence not known
toxic epidermal necrolysis / Delayed / Incidence not known
aplastic anemia / Delayed / Incidence not known
Stevens-Johnson syndrome / Delayed / Incidence not known
hepatic necrosis / Delayed / Incidence not known

Moderate

blurred vision / Early / 5.0-10.0
hyperemia / Delayed / 1.0-5.0
blepharitis / Early / 1.0-5.0
keratopathy / Delayed / 0-1.0
conjunctivitis / Delayed / 0-1.0
dyspnea / Early / 0-1.0
hypertonia / Delayed / 0-1.0
chest pain (unspecified) / Early / 0-1.0

Mild

dysgeusia / Early / 5.0-10.0
ocular pruritus / Rapid / 1.0-5.0
foreign body sensation / Rapid / 1.0-5.0
ocular irritation / Rapid / 1.0-5.0
rhinitis / Early / 1.0-5.0
xerophthalmia / Early / 1.0-5.0
headache / Early / 1.0-5.0
ocular pain / Early / 1.0-5.0
lacrimation / Early / 0-1.0
diplopia / Early / 0-1.0
xerostomia / Early / 0-1.0
dyspepsia / Early / 0-1.0
nausea / Early / 0-1.0
diarrhea / Early / 0-1.0
pharyngitis / Delayed / 0-1.0
dizziness / Early / 0-1.0
alopecia / Delayed / Incidence not known
urticaria / Rapid / Incidence not known

Common Brand Names

Azopt

Dea Class

Rx

Description

Ophthalmic carbonic anhydrase inhibitor; used for ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma.

Dosage And Indications
For the treatment of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma. Ophthalmic dosage Adults

Instill 1 drop in the affected eye(s) 3 times daily. May be used concomitantly with other topical ophthalmic agents to lower intraocular pressure.

Dosing Considerations
Hepatic Impairment

Use brinzolamide with caution in patients with hepatic disease; data are lacking.

Renal Impairment

CrCl < 30 mL/min: Use is not recommended.

Drug Interactions

There are no drug interactions associated with Brinzolamide products.

How Supplied

Azopt/Brinzolamide Ophthalmic Susp: 1%

Maximum Dosage
Adults

3 drops/day ophthalmic solution in each affected eye.

Elderly

3 drops/day ophthalmic solution in each affected eye.

Adolescents

Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Children

Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Mechanism Of Action

Brinzolamide inhibits carbonic anhydrase II (CA-II). Carbonic anhydrase catalyzes the reversible reaction involving hydration of carbon dioxide and dehydration of carbonic acid. Many body tissues contain carbonic anhydrase; CA-II is the isozyme that plays a key role in controlling aqueous humor production and pressure in the eye. Carbonic anhydrase II is found in the ciliary body of the eye and works by decreasing bicarbonate ion concentrations in ocular fluid. This results in decreased aqueous humor secretion and subsequently a reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP). Carbonic anhydrase II is also present in red blood cells and other cells that secrete hydrogen or hydrogen compounds. Brinzolamide appears to have no clinically significant biochemical or hematologic effects when administered topically to the eye.

Pharmacokinetics

Brinzolamide is administered topically as an ophthalmic suspension.
 
Following administration, brinzolamide is absorbed into the systemic circulation. Brinzolamide distributes extensively into erythrocytes and exhibits a long half-life in whole blood (about 111 days) due to its affinity for carbonic anhydrase type II (CA-II). Approximately 60% of brinzolamide in plasma is protein bound. Brinzolamide is metabolized to N-desethyl brinzolamide which also binds to carbonic anhydrase and accumulates in erythrocytes. In the presence of brinzolamide, this metabolite mainly binds to CA-I. Plasma concentrations of both brinzolamide and the metabolite are low and generally below the level of assay detection (< 10 ng/ml). Brinzolamide is eliminated primarily in the urine as unchanged drug. N-Desethyl brinzolamide is also found in the urine along with lower concentrations of the N-desmethoxypropyl and O-desmethyl metabolites.
 
Because of the extensive distribution of brinzolamide to erythrocytes, an oral pharmacokinetic study was undertaken using doses that approximated the systemic exposure that would occur after ocular administration of brinzolamide at usual ocular doses. Brinzolamide saturation of erythrocyte CA-II was achieved within 4 weeks (erythrocyte concentrations of approximately 20 micromol). N-Desethyl brinzolamide accumulated in erythrocytes to steady-state within 20—28 weeks reaching concentrations ranging from 6—30 micromol. Systemic CA-II was inhibited 70—75%; this level of inhibition is below the level necessary to exert a pharmacological effect on either renal function or respiration in healthy subjects (product literature).

Oral Route

An oral pharmacokinetic study was undertaken using doses that approximated the systemic exposure that would occur after ocular administration of brinzolamide at usual ocular doses because of the extensive distribution of brinzolamide to erythrocytes. Brinzolamide saturation of erythrocyte CA-II was achieved within 4 weeks (erythrocyte concentrations of approximately 20 micromol).

Other Route(s)

Ophthalmic Route
Following topical ocular administration, brinzolamide is absorbed into the systemic circulation. An oral pharmacokinetic study was undertaken using doses that approximated the systemic exposure that would occur after ocular administration of brinzolamide at usual ocular doses because of the extensive distribution of brinzolamide to erythrocytes. Brinzolamide saturation of erythrocyte CA-II was achieved within 4 weeks (erythrocyte concentrations of approximately 20 micromol).

Pregnancy And Lactation
Pregnancy

There are no adequate and well-controlled studies evaluating the use of brinzolamide during human pregnancy. In animal embryo-fetal studies, decreased fetal body weight with reduced skeletal ossification were observed in the off-spring of rats administered oral brinzolamide doses of 18 mg/kg/day [375-times the recommended human ophthalmic dose (RHOD) based on mg/kg]. In rabbits, no treatment-related fetal effects were observed at doses up to 6 mg/kg/day (up to 125-times the RHOD). The no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) for fetal toxicity in rats and rabbits was 6 mg/kg/day (125-times the RHOD). To minimize the amount of drug that reaches systemic circulation, apply pressure over the tear duct in the corner of the eye for 1 to 2 minutes after ophthalmic administration. 

There are no data regarding the presence of brinzolamide in human milk, the effects on the breast-fed infant, or the effects on milk production. To minimize the amount of drug that reaches systemic circulation, apply pressure over the tear duct in the corner of the eye for 1 to 2 minutes after ophthalmic administration. It may be prudent to consider an alternative glaucoma therapy in a mother who is breast-feeding, such as dorzolamide and acetazolamide. Consider the benefits of breast-feeding, the risk of potential infant drug exposure, and the risk of an untreated or inadequately treated condition. If a breast-feeding infant experiences an adverse effect related to a maternally administered drug, health care providers are encouraged to report the adverse effect to the FDA.