Timolol (Oral)

Timolol is used on its own or with other medicines (like hydrochlorothiazide) to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure increases the workload on the heart and arteries. If it lasts for a long time, the heart and arteries may not work properly. This can harm the blood vessels in the brain, heart, and kidneys, leading to a stroke, heart failure, or kidney failure. High blood pressure can also raise the risk of heart attacks. Controlling blood pressure may reduce the chances of these problems.

Timolol is also used after a heart attack to lessen its severity and prevent another heart attack. It may also be used to help stop migraine headaches.

This medicine is a beta-blocker. It works by changing how nerve impulses affect certain areas of the body, including the heart. This causes the heart to beat slower and lowers blood pressure. When blood pressure is reduced, more blood and oxygen reach the heart.

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

It is very important that your doctor checks your progress at regular visits to ensure this medicine is working properly and to monitor for any unwanted effects.

Timolol may cause heart failure in some patients. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience 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 affect your blood sugar levels. Additionally, this medicine may hide signs of low blood sugar, like a rapid pulse rate. Talk to your doctor if you have these issues or if you notice changes in your blood or urine sugar test results.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you is aware 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 of taking it against the benefits it may provide. This is a choice you will make with your doctor. For this medicine, please consider the following:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also, inform your health care professional about any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, carefully read the label or package ingredients.

Pediatric

Studies have not been done on how timolol affects children. Safety and effectiveness have not been established.

Geriatric

Studies conducted so far have not shown any specific problems in older adults that would limit the usefulness of timolol. However, older patients are more likely to have age-related liver, kidney, or heart problems, which may require a change in dosage for those taking timolol.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women to determine the risk to infants when using this medicine during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medicine while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Some medicines should not be used together at all, while in other cases, two different medicines may be used together even if there is a chance of interaction. In these situations, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be needed. It is especially important for your healthcare professional to know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below when you are using this medicine. The following interactions have been chosen based on their potential importance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

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 together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Abiraterone Acetate
• Albuterol
• Bupropion
• Ceritinib
• Cobicistat
• Crizotinib
• Darunavir
• Desvenlafaxine
• Diltiazem
• Dronedarone
• Duloxetine
• Escitalopram
• Fedratinib
• Fenoldopam
• Fingolimod
• Fluoxetine
• Formoterol
• Indacaterol
• Iobenguane I 131
• Iohexol
• Lacosamide
• Levalbuterol
• Olodaterol
• Oxymetazoline
• Paroxetine
• Ponesimod
• Rivastigmine
• Salmeterol
• Sertraline
• Terbutaline
• Venlafaxine
• Verapamil
• Vilanterol

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

• Aceclofenac
• Acemetacin
• Acetyldigoxin
• Amtolmetin Guacil
• Aspirin
• Bromfenac
• Bufexamac
• Celecoxib
• Choline Salicylate
• Clonixin
• Deslanoside
• Dexibuprofen
• Dexketoprofen
• Diclofenac
• Diflunisal
• Digitoxin
• Digoxin
• Dipyrone
• Droxicam
• Etodolac
• Etofenamate
• Etoricoxib
• Felbinac
• Fenoprofen
• Fepradinol
• Feprazone
• Floctafenine
• Flufenamic Acid
• Flurbiprofen
• Ibuprofen
• Indomethacin
• Ketoprofen
• Ketorolac
• Lornoxicam
• Loxoprofen
• Lumiracoxib
• Meclofenamate
• Mefenamic Acid
• Meloxicam
• Metildigoxin
• Morniflumate
• Nabumetone
• Naproxen
• Nepafenac
• Niflumic Acid
• Nimesulide
• Nimesulide Beta Cyclodextrin
• Oxaprozin
• Oxyphenbutazone
• Parecoxib
• Phenylbutazone
• Piketoprofen
• Piroxicam
• Pranoprofen
• Proglumetacin
• Propyphenazone
• Proquazone
• Rofecoxib
• Salicylic Acid
• Salsalate
• Sodium Salicylate
• St John's Wort
• Sulindac
• Tenoxicam
• Tiaprofenic Acid
• Tolfenamic Acid
• Tolmetin
• Valdecoxib

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Some medicines should not be taken at or around the time of eating food or certain types of food because interactions may happen. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions. Talk to your healthcare professional about using your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

Having other medical issues may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure to inform your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Angina (severe chest pain)—Stopping this medicine too quickly may cause chest pain.

• Asthma or
• Bradycardia (slow heartbeat) or
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), severe or
• Heart block or
• Heart failure—This medicine should not be used in patients with these conditions.

• Blood vessel disease (especially in the brain) or
• History of stroke—Use with caution. This medicine may make these conditions worse.

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

• Severe kidney disease or
• Liver disease—Use with caution. Effects may be stronger because of slower removal from the body.

• Lung disease (e.g. bronchitis, emphysema)—This medicine may cause breathing difficulties in patients with this condition.

• Myasthenia gravis—This medicine may worsen symptoms of this condition, such as muscle weakness.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

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

More common

• Chest pain or discomfort
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
• Shortness of breath
• Slow or irregular heartbeat
• Unusual tiredness

Less common

• Difficult or labored breathing
• Fast heartbeat
• Tightness in chest
• Wheezing

Rare

• Noisy breathing
• Small clicking, bubbling, or rattling sounds in the lung when listening with a stethoscope
• Swelling of hands, ankles, feet, or lower legs

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

• Blurred vision
• Continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in ears
• Headache
• Hearing loss
• Nervousness
• Pounding in the ears
• Sweating

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. Also, your health care professional may 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:

Less common

• Itching skin
• Red, sore eyes

Rare

• Acid or sour stomach
• Belching
• Burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
• Decreased interest in sexual intercourse
• Feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
• Heartburn
• Inability to have or keep an erection
• Indigestion
• Lack or loss of strength
• Loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
• Nausea
• Sensation of spinning
• Stomach discomfort, upset, or pain

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.

• Blocadren

Available Dosage Forms:

• Tablet

Therapeutic Class: Cardiovascular Agent

Pharmacologic Class: Beta-Adrenergic Blocker, Nonselective

In addition to the use of this medicine, treatment for your high blood pressure may include weight control and changes in the types of foods you eat, especially foods high in sodium. Your doctor will tell you which of these are most important for you. You should check with your doctor before changing your diet.

Many patients who have high blood pressure will not notice any signs of the problem. In fact, many may feel normal. It is very important that you take your medicine exactly as directed and that you keep your appointments with your doctor even if you feel well.

Remember that this medicine will not cure your high blood pressure, but it does help control it. You must continue to take it as directed if you expect to lower your blood pressure and keep it down. You may have to take high blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life. If high blood pressure is not treated, it can cause serious problems such as heart failure, blood vessel disease, stroke, or kidney disease.

Do not interrupt or stop taking this medicine without first checking with your doctor. Your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the amount you are taking before stopping it completely. Some conditions may become worse when the medicine is stopped suddenly, which can be dangerous.

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 oral dosage form (tablets): For heart attack: Adults—10 milligrams (mg) two times a day. Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor. For high blood pressure: Adults—At first, 10 milligrams (mg) two times a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor. For migraine headache: Adults—At first, 10 milligrams (mg) two times a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take 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. Do not double doses.

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.