Carteolol (Ophthalmic)

Carteolol is used by itself or with other medicines to lower high pressure in the eye caused by open-angle glaucoma or a condition known as intraocular (in the eye) hypertension. This medicine is a beta-blocker.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects.

If you experience itching, redness, swelling, or other signs of eye or eyelid irritation, stop using this medicine and contact your doctor. These signs may mean that you are allergic to this medicine.

Carteolol may cause heart failure in some patients. Contact your doctor immediately if you are experiencing chest pain or discomfort; dilated neck veins; extreme fatigue; irregular breathing; an irregular heartbeat; shortness of breath; swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs; weight gain; or wheezing.

This medicine may cause changes in your blood sugar levels. Additionally, this medicine may mask signs of low blood sugar, such as a rapid pulse rate. Contact your doctor if you have these issues or if you notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine several days before having surgery.

In deciding to use a medicine, you need to consider the risks versus the benefits. This is a choice you will make with your doctor. For this medicine, keep the following in mind:

Allergies

Let your doctor know if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also inform your healthcare professional about any other allergies you may have, including allergies to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For over-the-counter products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

There have not been enough studies to understand how carteolol affects children. Its safety and effectiveness for this age group have not been established.

Geriatric

There is no information on how carteolol affects older adults. However, older patients are more likely to have age-related heart issues, which may require caution when using carteolol.

Breast Feeding

There are not enough studies to determine the risk to infants when this medication is used during breastfeeding. You should weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Some medicines should not be used together at all, while others may be used together but could cause interactions. In such cases, your doctor might adjust the dose or take other precautions. It is crucial that your healthcare professional knows if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions are important and may not cover all possibilities.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be necessary in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed, your doctor may adjust the dose or frequency for one or both.

• Albuterol
• Ceritinib
• Clonidine
• Crizotinib
• Darunavir
• Diltiazem
• Dronedarone
• Epinephrine
• Fenoldopam
• Fingolimod
• Formoterol
• Indacaterol
• Iobenguane I 131
• Iohexol
• Lacosamide
• Levalbuterol
• Olodaterol
• Oxymetazoline
• Ponesimod
• Rivastigmine
• Salmeterol
• Terbutaline
• Verapamil
• Vilanterol

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may increase the risk of certain side effects, but using both may be the best treatment for you. If both are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or frequency for one or both.

• Acarbose
• Aceclofenac
• Acemetacin
• Acetyldigoxin
• Albiglutide
• Alfuzosin
• Alogliptin
• Amtolmetin Guacil
• Aspirin
• Bromfenac
• Bufexamac
• Bunazosin
• Canagliflozin
• Celecoxib
• Chlorpropamide
• Choline Salicylate
• Clonixin
• Dapagliflozin
• Deslanoside
• Dexibuprofen
• Dexketoprofen
• Diclofenac
• Diflunisal
• Digitoxin
• Digoxin
• Dipyrone
• Doxazosin
• Droxicam
• Dulaglutide
• Empagliflozin
• Ertugliflozin
• Etodolac
• Etofenamate
• Etoricoxib
• Exenatide
• Felbinac
• Fenoprofen
• Fepradinol
• Feprazone
• Floctafenine
• Flufenamic Acid
• Flurbiprofen
• Glimepiride
• Glipizide
• Glyburide
• Ibuprofen
• Indomethacin
• Insulin Aspart, Recombinant
• Insulin Degludec
• Insulin Detemir
• Insulin Glargine, Recombinant
• Insulin Glulisine
• Insulin Human Inhaled
• Insulin Human Isophane (NPH)
• Insulin Human Regular
• Insulin Lispro, Recombinant
• Ketoprofen
• Ketorolac
• Linagliptin
• Liraglutide
• Lixisenatide
• Lornoxicam
• Loxoprofen
• Lumiracoxib
• Meclofenamate
• Mefenamic Acid
• Meloxicam
• Metformin
• Metildigoxin
• Miglitol
• Morniflumate
• Moxisylyte
• Nabumetone
• Naproxen
• Nateglinide
• Nepafenac
• Niflumic Acid
• Nimesulide
• Nimesulide Beta Cyclodextrin
• Oxaprozin
• Oxyphenbutazone
• Parecoxib
• Phenoxybenzamine
• Phentolamine
• Phenylbutazone
• Piketoprofen
• Pioglitazone
• Piroxicam
• Pramlintide
• Pranoprofen
• Prazosin
• Proglumetacin
• Propyphenazone
• Proquazone
• Repaglinide
• Rifapentine
• Rofecoxib
• Rosiglitazone
• Salicylic Acid
• Salsalate
• Saxagliptin
• Sitagliptin
• Sodium Salicylate
• St John's Wort
• Sulindac
• Tamsulosin
• Tenoxicam
• Terazosin
• Tiaprofenic Acid
• Tolazamide
• Tolbutamide
• Tolfenamic Acid
• Tolmetin
• Trimazosin
• Urapidil
• Valdecoxib
• Vildagliptin

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Some medicines should not be taken around mealtimes or with certain foods because interactions may happen. Drinking alcohol or using tobacco with some medicines may also lead to interactions. Talk to your healthcare professional about using your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

Other medical issues may affect how this medicine works. Be sure to inform your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Asthma or
• Bradycardia (slow heartbeat) or
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), severe or
• Heart block or
• Heart failure—Should not use in patients with these conditions.

• Diabetes or
• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)—May hide some signs and symptoms of these conditions, such as a fast heartbeat.

• Lung disease—Use with caution. May cause breathing difficulties in patients with this condition.

• Myasthenia gravis—May worsen symptoms of this condition, such as muscle weakness.

Along with its necessary effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Not all of these side effects may occur, but if they do, they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

• Blurred vision
• chest pain or discomfort
• confusion
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position suddenly
• shortness of breath
• slow or irregular heartbeat
• sweating
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Incidence not determined

• Blue lips, fingernails, or skin
• blurred, cloudy, or yellow vision
• change in color vision
• confusion
• cough
• decreased urine output
• decreased vision after sunset and before sunrise
• difficult or labored breathing
• difficulty seeing at night
• dilated neck veins
• discoloration of white part of eye
• disturbed color perception
• drainage from the eye
• drooping upper eyelids
• double vision
• extreme fatigue
• eye redness, irritation, pain, burning, or tearing
• fast heartbeat
• fever
• halos around lights
• hives
• hoarseness
• inability to speak
• increase in blood flow to the whites of the eyes
• increased sensitivity of eyes to sunlight
• irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing
• irritation
• itching
• joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
• loss of vision
• night blindness
• noisy breathing
• overbright appearance of lights
• pain or tenderness around eyes and cheekbones
• pounding or rapid pulse
• rash
• redness of skin
• redness, swelling, and/or itching of eye and eyelid
• seeing double
• seizures
• severe numbness, especially on one side of the face or body
• severe or sudden headache
• slurred speech
• stuffy or runny nose
• swelling of eyelids, face, fingers, lips, hands, feet, or lower legs
• temporary blindness
• tightness in chest
• tiredness
• troubled breathing
• tunnel vision
• unusual feeling in the eyes
• weakness in arm and/or leg on one side of the body, sudden and severe
• weight gain
• wheezing

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Your health care professional may also be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Incidence not determined

• Change in taste or bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste
• discouragement
• feeling sad or empty
• headache
• irritability
• lack of appetite
• lack or loss of strength
• loss of interest or pleasure
• nausea
• sleeplessness
• trouble concentrating
• trouble sleeping
• unable to sleep

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In the U.S.

• Ocupress

Available Dosage Forms:

• Solution

Therapeutic Class: Antiglaucoma

Pharmacologic Class: Beta-Adrenergic Blocker, Nonselective

Shake the medicine well just before each use.

To use the eye drops (solution):

• First, wash your hands. Tilt the head back and, pressing your finger gently on the skin just beneath the lower eyelid, pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to make a space. Drop the medicine into this space. Let go of the eyelid and gently close the eyes. Do not blink. Keep the eyes closed and apply pressure to the inner corner of the eye with your finger for 1 or 2 minutes to allow the medicine to be absorbed by the eye.
• Immediately after using the medicine, wash your hands to remove any medicine that may be on them.
• To keep the medicine as germ-free as possible, do not touch the applicator tip to any surface (including the eye). Also, keep the container tightly closed. Serious damage to the eye and possible loss of vision may result from using contaminated eye medicines.

If your doctor ordered two different eye medicines to be used together, wait several minutes before using the second medicine. This will help prevent the second medicine from “washing out” the first one.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For ophthalmic solution dosage form (eye drops):For glaucoma or hypertension of the eye: Adults—One drop in the affected eye(s) two times a day. Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, apply it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.