No specific data are available. Overdosage is unlikely to occur as one 5ml bottle of Timolol Eye Drops 0.5% contains 25 mgs of Timolol maleate compared with the usual adult oral dose of 20-60 mgs per day. However, in the rare event that overdosage occurs the most common signs and symptoms to be expected following overdosage with a beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agent are symptomatic bradycardia, hypotension, bronchospasm, and acute cardiac failure. If overdosage occurs, the following measures should be considered:
1 Gastric lavage, if ingested. Studies have shown that timolol cannot be easily removed by hemodialysis.
2 Symptomatic bradycardia: Atropine sulphate, 0.25 to 2mg intravenously, should be used to induce vagal blockade. If bradycardia persists, intravenous isoprenaline hydrochloride should be administered cautiously. In refractory cases, the use of a cardiac pacemaker may be considered.
3 Hypotension: A sympathomimetic pressor agent such as dopamine, dobutamine or noradrenaline should be used. In refractory cases, the use of glucagon has been reported to be useful.
4 Bronchopasm: Isoprenaline hydrochloride should be used. Additional therapy with aminophylline may be considered.
5 Acute cardiac failure: conventional therapy with digitalis, diuretics and oxygen should be instituted immediately. In refractory cases, the use of intravenous aminophylline is suggested. This may be followed, if necessary, by glucagon which has been reported to be useful.
6 Heart block (second or third degree): Isoprenaline hydrochloride or a pacemaker should be used.
| Unopened: Opened: | 24 months 4 weeks |
Timolol Eye Drops 0.5% is contraindicated in patients with:
- Cardiogenic shock;
- Overt cardiac failure;
- Second and third degree AV block not controlled with pace-maker;
- Sinus bradycardia, sick sinus syndrome sino-atrial block;
- Reactive airway disease including bronchial asthma or a history of bronchial asthma;
- Presence or history of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;
- Severe peripheral circulatory disturbances (Raynaud disease);
- Hypersensitivity to the active substance, any of the excipients or other beta-blocking agents.
Benzalkonium chloride may be deposited in soft contact lenses. These lenses should therefore be removed before instillation of the eye drops and not reinserted earlier than 15 minutes after use.
Benzalkonium chloride
Disodium edetate
Disodium phosphate dodecahydrate
Sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate
Sodium chloride
Water for injection
Eye drops, solution.
Like other topically applied ophthalmic drugs, timolol is absorbed into the systemic circulation. This may cause similar undesirable effects as seen with systemic beta-blocking agents. Incidence of systemic ADRs after topical ophthalmic administration is lower than for systemic administration. Listed adverse reactions include reactions seen within the class of ophthalmic beta-blockers
Immune system disorders:
Systemic allergic reactions including angioedema, urticaria, localized and generalized rash, pruritus, anaphylactic reaction.
Metabolism and nutrition disorders:
Hypoglycaemia.
Psychiatric disorders:
Insomnia, depression, nightmares, memory loss.
Nervous system disorders:
Syncope, cerebrovascular accident, cerebral ischemia, increases in signs and symptoms of myasthenia gravis, dizziness, paraesthesia, and headache.
Eye disorders:
Signs and symptoms of ocular irritation (e.g. burning, stinging, itching, tearing, redness), blepharitis, keratitis, blurred vision and choroidal detachment following filtration surgery (see 4.4 Special warnings and special precautions for use), conjunctivitis, decreased corneal sensitivity, dry eyes, corneal erosion ptosis, diplopia.
Cardiac disorders:
Bradycardia, chest pain, palpitations, oedema, arrhythmia, congestive heart failure, atrioventricular block, cardiac arrest, cardiac failure.
Vascular disorders:
Hypotension, Raynaud's phenomenon, cold hands and feet, intermittent claudication.
Respiratory, thoracic, and mediastinal disorders:
Bronchospasm (predominantly in patients with pre-existing bronchospastic disease), dyspnoea, cough, respiratory failure, nasal congestion.
Gastrointestinal disorders:
Dysgeusia, nausea, dyspepsia, diarrhoea, dry mouth, abdominal pain, vomiting.
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders:
Alopecia, psoriasiform rash or exacerbation of psoriasis, skin rash.
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders:
Myalgia.
Reproductive system and breast disorders:
Sexual dysfunction, decreased libido.
General disorders and administration site conditions:
Asthenia/fatigue.
The following adverse events have been reported but a causal relationship to therapy with timolol eye drops has not been established:-
Metabolism & nutrition disorders: anorexia
Psychiatric disorders: behavioural disorders including confusion, hallucination, anxiety, disorientation, nervousness, somnolence, psychic disturbances.
Eye disorders: aphakic cystoids macular oedema
Cardiac disorders: angina pectoris aggravated
Vascular disorders: hypertension, pulmonary oedema
Gastrointestinal disorders: retroperitoneal fibrosis
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: pemphigoid
Reproductive system and breast disorders: impotence
The following additional adverse events have been reported with oral timolol maleate and may be considered as potential effects of ophthalmic timolol maleate:-
Blood & lymphatic system disorders: purpura non-thrombocytopenic
Metabolism & nutrition disorders: weight loss, hyperglycaemia
Nervous system disorders: vertigo
Psychiatric disorders: concentration impaired
Ear disorders: tinnitus
Vascular disorders: arterial insufficiency, vasodilation
Respiratory, thoracic, and mediastinal disorders: rales, bronchial obstruction,
Hepatobiliary disorders: hepatomegaly
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: skin irritation, pigmentation abnormal, sweating
Musculoskeletal & connective tissue disorders: pain in extremity, arthralgia
Renal and urinary disorders: dysuria
General disorders and administration site conditions: exercise tolerance decreased
In addition, the following additional adverse events have been reported with other beta-adrenergic blocking agents and may be considered as potential effects of ophthalmic timolol maleate:-
Immune system disorders: fever combined with general muscle aches, throat sore, laryngospasm and respiratory distress.
Blood & lymphatic system disorders: agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenic purpura
Psychiatric disorders: catatonia, an acute reversible syndrome (disorientation, memory loss, emotional lability, depressed level of consciousness, performance status decreased).
Gastrointestinal disorders: mesenteric artery thrombosis, colitis ischaemic.
Reproductive system and breast disorders: Peyronie's disease
There have been reports of a syndrome comprising psoriasiform skin rash, conjunctivitis, otitis and sclerosing serositis attributed to the beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agent, practolol. This syndrome has also been reported with timolol maleate.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via Yellow card scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard
Acute Toxicity Studies: Data have been reported in a number of animal species. Oral LD50 in the mouse and rat are 1137 mg/kg and 1028 mg/kg respectively. Subcutaneous LD50 in the mouse and rat are 300 mg/kg and 381 mg/kg respectively.
Chronic Toxicity Studies: No adverse ocular effects were observed with ophthalmic topical administration of timolol in rabbits and dogs in studies lasting one and two years respectively. In studies with oral administration in high doses in dogs and rats, bradycardia and weight increase in the heart, kidneys and liver were observed adverse effects.
Carcinogenicity: In a life-time study in mice, timolol increased the incidence of benign and malignant pulmonary tumors, benign uterine polyps and mammary adenocarcinomas in female mice when administered orally at doses of 500mg/kg per day, but not at 5 or 50 mg/kg per day. In a 2 year study in rats, oral timolol increased the incidence of adrenal pheochromocytomas in male rats at 300 mg/kg per day but not at 25 or 100 mg/kg per day.
Mutagenicity: Timolol was not shown to be mutagenic when tested in vivo (mouse) in the micronucleus test and cytogenetic assay (at doses up to 800 mg/kg) and in vitro in a neoplastic cell transformation assay (up to 0.1 mg per ml).
Reproduction and fertility: Reproduction and fertility studies in rats have not shown that timolol causes any adverse effects on male or female fertility when administered orally at doses of up to 125 times the maximum recommended human oral dose of 30mg. Studies in rats have shown that timolol at doses of up to 50mg/kg/day (50 times the maximum recommended human oral dose) caused delayed foetal ossification; however there were no adverse effects on post-natal development of offspring. Teratogenic studies in mice and rabbits have not shown that timolol at doses of up to 50 mg/kg/day causes foetal malformations. In mice, timolol at doses of 1000 mg/kg/day (1000 times the maximum recommended human oral dose) was maternotoxic and resulted in an increased incidence of foetal resorptions.
In rabbits, timolol at 100 mg/kg/day (100 times the maximum recommended human oral dose) increased incidence of foetal resorptions but not maternotoxicity.
Timolol maleate 0.5% eye drops have not been adequately studied in human pregnancy. Although timolol eye drops may be absorbed systemically, daily treatment with Timolol Eye Drops 0.5% (1 drop, twice daily in both eyes) will not exceed 0.4mgs timolol compared with the oral therapeutic dose of 20-60 mgs/day. However as a precautionary measure, it is recommended that timolol should not be used in pregnancy, unless the potential benefit to the pregnant woman exceeds the potential risk to the foetus.
Reduction of elevated intraocular pressure in conditions such as:
- Ocular hypertension;
- Chronic open-angle glaucoma (including aphakic patients);
- Some cases of secondary glaucoma
Timolol is a non-selective β-adrenergic blocker, which does not possess significant intrinsic sympathomimetic or local anaesthetic (membrane-stabilising) activity. When applied topically in the eye, it reduces both elevated and normal intraocular pressure by inhibiting the production of aqueous humour.
Unlike miotics, Timolol reduces intraocular pressure with little or no effect on pupil size or accommodation.
The onset of reduction in intraocular pressure following ocular administration of timolol can be detected within 30 minutes after a single dose The maximum effect usually occurs in one to three hours and significant lowering of intraocular pressure can be maintained for as long as 24 hours following a single dose.
If systemically absorbed, as is possible, Timolol maleate is capable of producing beta-blockade elsewhere in the body with consequent systemic effects (increased airway resistance, bradycardia, hypotension etc.)
Paediatric Population:
There is only very limited data available on the use of Timolol (0.25%, 0.5% twice daily one drop) in the paediatric population for a treatment period up to 12 weeks. One small, double blinded, randomized, published clinical study conducted on 105 children (n=71 on Timolol) aged 12 days - 5 years show to some extent evidence, that Timolol in the indication primary congenital and primary juvenile glaucoma is effective in short term treatment.
Topical instillation of 50μl of a 0.5% solution of timolol to the rabbit eye resulted in rapid appearance of timolol in the aqueous humour and to a much lesser degree in the plasma. The concentration in the aqueous humour (mean of 2.47μg/ml) peaked 30 minutes after instillation. The plasma concentration (0.188 μg/ml) also peaked at this time.
Following topical instillation in humans, the timolol concentration in aqueous humour was 8-100 ng/ml within the first hour while the mean plasma concentration was approximately 1 ng/ml within the first few hours (compared with plasma concentrations of 5-50 ng/ml seen with therapeutic doses of oral timolol).
Paediatric Population:
As already confirmed by adult data, 80% of each eye drop passes through the nasolacrimal system where it may be rapidly absorbed into the systemic circulation via the nasal mucosa, conjunctiva, nasolacrimal duct, oropharynx and gut, or the skin from tear overflow. Due to the fact that the blood volume in children is smaller than that in adults a higher circulation concentration has to be taken into account. In addition, neonates have immature metabolic enzyme pathways and it may result in an increase in elimination half-life and potentiating adverse events. Limited data show that plasma timolol levels in children after 0.25% greatly exceed those in adults after 0.5%, especially in infants and are presumed to increase the risk of side effects such as bronchospasm and bradycardia.
24 December 2015
Timolol Eye Drops 0.25%
FDC International Ltd
Unit 6 Fulcrum 1
Solent Way
Whiteley
Fareham
Hants
PO15 7FE
United Kingdom
Do not store above 25°C
To avoid contamination do not touch dropper tip to any surface.
Pack Type A
Low density polyethylene (LDPE) bottle and white coloured polystyrene spiked screw cap closure.
Pack size: 5 ml
Pack Type B
Low density polyethylene (LDPE) bottle with LDPE dropper nozzle, white coloured HDPE screw cap and tamper-evident LDPE dust cover.
Pack size: 5 ml
15872/0001
Pregnancy
There are no adequate data for the use of timolol in pregnant women. Timolol should not be used during pregnancy unless clearly necessary.
To reduce the systemic absorption, see 4.2.
Epidemiological studies have not revealed malformative effects but show a risk for intra uterine growth retardation when beta-blockers are administered by the oral route. In addition, signs and symptoms of beta-blockade (e.g. bradycardia, hypotension, respiratory distress and hypoglycaemia) have been observed in the neonate when beta-blockers have been administered until delivery. If Timolol Eye Drops is administered until delivery, the neonate should be carefully monitored during the first days of life.Timolol Eye Drops 0.25% has not
Lactation
Beta-blockers are excreted in breast milk. However, at therapeutic doses of timolol in eye drops it is not likely that sufficient amounts would be present in breast milk to produce clinical symptoms of beta-blockade in the infant. To reduce the systemic absorption, see 4.2.Timolol
Active Ingredient
| Timolol (as Timolol maleate | 2.5 mg/ml 3.4 mg/ml) |
Like other topically applied ophthalmic drugs, Timolol Eye Drops is absorbed systemically.). It is important to notify the parents of potential side effects so they can immediately discontinue the drug therapy. Signs to look for are for example coughing and wheezing. Because of the possibility of apnoea and Cheyne-Stokes breathing, the drug should be used with extreme caution in neonates, infants and younger children. A portable apnoea monitor may also be helpful for neonates on Timolol.
There are currently no data available on the effects of Timolol Eye Drops 0.5% on the ability to drive or use machinery. It has to be taken into account that dizziness, fatigue, transient ocular irritation, blurred vision and lacrimation may occur occasionally.
9 August 2000 / 7 September 2005
No specific drug interaction studies have been performed with timolol.
There is a potential for additive effects resulting in hypotension and/or marked bradycardia when ophthalmic beta-blockers solution is administered concomitantly with oral calcium channel blockers, beta-adrenergic blocking agents, antiarrhythmics (including amiodarone), digitalis glycosides, parasympathomimetics, guanethidine.
Potentiated systemic beta-blockade (e.g., decreased heart rate, depression) has been reported during combined treatment with CYP2D6 inhibitors (e.g. quinidine, fluoxetine, paroxetine) and timolol.
Mydriasis resulting from concomitant use of ophthalmic beta-blockers and adrenaline (epinephrine) has been reported occasionally.
Clonidine: increased risk of "rebound hypertension" on discontinuation of clonidine.
Anaesthetic drugs: increased risk of myocardial depression and hypotension due to blockage of cardiac response to reflex sympathetic stimuli.
Cimetidine, hydralazine, phenothiazines and alcohol: may increase plasma level of timolol.
