Brimonidine Side Effects

Brand Names: Alphagan P

Please note - some side effects for Brimonidine may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.

Side Effects of Brimonidine - for the Consumer

Brimonidine

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Brimonidine:

Blurred vision; cough; dizziness; drowsiness; dry eyes; dry mouth; increased tear production; mild burning or itching of the eye; runny or stuffy nose.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); depression; difficulty breathing; eye irritation, swelling, pain, or discharge; eyelid pain, redness, scaling, drooping, crusting, or swelling; fainting; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or persistent sore throat; sensitivity to light; severe or persistent feeling that something is in your eye; severe or persistent headache or dizziness; shortness of breath; vision changes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

Side Effects by Body System - for Healthcare Professionals

Applies to: ophthalmic solution

Ocular

Ocular side effects reported in 10% to 30% of patients have included ocular hyperemia, burning and stinging, blurring, foreign body sensation, conjunctival follicles, ocular allergic reactions and pruritus. Those reported in 3% to 9% of patients have included corneal staining/erosion, photophobia, eyelid erythema, ocular ache/pain, ocular dryness, tearing, eyelid edema, blepharitis, ocular irritation, conjunctival blanching, and abnormal vision. Lid crusting, uveitis, conjunctival hemorrhage, and conjunctival discharge have been reported in less than 3%. Brimonidine has been associated with elevated intraocular pressure (32 to 34 mmHg) in conjunction with a local allergic reaction.

Anterior uveitis has been reported in at least 4 patients after 11 to 15 months of brimonidine treatment. Causality was confirmed by rechallenge.

There are no data on cases of uveitis involving brimonidine ophthalmic products with Purite as a preservative. Rather, case reports involve brimonidine products incorporating benzalkonium chloride as a preservative.

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects have most frequently included oral dryness (10% to 30%). Other gastrointestinal side effects are uncommon.

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects including fatigue/drowsiness and headache have occurred in 10% to 30% of patients. Other central nervous system side effects including dizziness have occurred in 3% to 9% of patients. Anxiety and insomnia have occurred in less than 3% of patients. Somnolence has been reported in infants.

Respiratory

A study in young healthy adult males reported no change in pulmonary function after a single ophthalmic dose of 0.2% brimonidine.

Upper respiratory symptoms were reported in 3% to 9% of patients receiving brimonidine ophthalmic. Nasal dryness was reported in less than 3% of patients.

Cardiovascular

One study in young healthy adult men reported small decreases in systolic blood pressure during recovery from exercise and four hours after administration of a single ophthalmic dose of 0.2% brimonidine. The changes did not produce clinically significant effects in the population studied.

Cardiovascular side effects have included asthenia in 3% to 9% of patients. Other cardiovascular side effects such as hypertension, palpitations and syncope have occurred in less than 3% of patients.

Psychiatric

Psychiatric side effects including depression and anxiety have been reported in less than 3% of patients.

Musculoskeletal

Musculoskeletal side effects including muscular pain have been reported in 3% to 9% of patients.

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity reactions including sore red eyes, follicular reaction, conjunctival and episcleral injection, have rarely been reported.

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