Cosopt PF Side Effects
Generic name: dorzolamide / timolol ophthalmic
Note: This document contains side effect information about dorzolamide / timolol ophthalmic. Some of the dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Cosopt PF.
Some side effects of Cosopt PF may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.
For the Consumer
Applies to dorzolamide / timolol ophthalmic: ophthalmic solution
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction while taking dorzolamide / timolol ophthalmic: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Although the risk of serious side effects is low when dorzolamide and timolol is used in the eyes, you should be aware of side effects that can occur if the medication is absorbed into your bloodstream.
Stop using dorzolamide ophthalmic and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
-
swelling or redness of your eyelids;
-
eye redness, pain, discomfort, or sensitivity to light;
-
drainage, crusting, or oozing of your eyes or eyelids;
-
wheezing, gasping, or other breathing problems;
-
swelling, rapid weight gain;
-
feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion; or
-
severe skin reaction: fever, sore throat, cough, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.
Less serious side effects of dorzolamide / timolol ophthalmic may include:
-
blurred vision, cloudy vision, double vision, drooping eyelid;
-
dry or watery eyes;
-
bitter or unusual taste in your mouth;
-
burning, stinging, or itching in your eyes;
-
cough, flu symptoms;
-
dry eyes;
-
nausea, upset stomach;
-
sore throat, stuffy nose;
-
dizziness, headache; or
-
stomach or back pain.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
For Healthcare Professionals
Applies to dorzolamide / timolol ophthalmic: ophthalmic solution
General
The most common side effects have included taste perversion and ocular burning and stinging (up to 30%). Topically applied timolol ophthalmic drops may be absorbed systemically and side effects similar to systemically administered timolol or other beta-blockers such as severe respiratory or cardiac reactions may be experienced.
Ocular
Ocular side effects have included burning and stinging upon instillation in up to 30% of patients. Conjunctival hyperemia, superficial punctate keratitis, blurred vision, and eye itching have been reported in 5% to 5% of patients. Blepharitis, cloudy vision, conjunctival discharge, conjunctival edema, conjunctival follicles, conjunctival injection, conjunctivitis, corneal erosion, corneal staining, cortical lens opacity, eye dryness, eye debris, eye discharge, eye pain, eye tearing, eyelid edema, eyelid erythema, eyelid tearing, eyelid exudate/scales, eyelid pain or discomfort, foreign body sensation, glaucomatous cupping, lens nucleus coloration, lens opacity, nuclear lens opacity, post-subcapsular cataract, visual field defect, and vitreous detachment have been reported in 1% to 5% of patients. Iridocyclitis and photophobia have been reported in less than 1% of patients.
Ocular side effects associated with dorzolamide have included eyelid crusting, transient myopia, and ocular allergic reactions.
Ocular side effects associated with timolol ocular have included ptosis, decreased corneal sensitivity, cystoid macular edema, refractive changes, diplopia, pseudopemphigoid, and choroidal detachment following filtration surgery.
Foreign body sensation has been reported due to formation of precipitate on the tip of the dropper bottle, which entered the eye during instillation of the eye drops.
Respiratory
Respiratory side effects have included bronchitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis, cough, and upper respiratory tract infection in 1% to 5% of patients. Dyspnea, nasal congestion, and respiratory failure have been reported in less than 1% of patients.
Respiratory side effects associated with timolol ocular have included pulmonary edema, respiratory failure, dyspnea, nasal congestion, cough, and upper respiratory infections.
Respiratory side effects associated with timolol, as with other beta-antagonists, have included bronchial constriction in susceptible patients. Alternative therapy should be considered in patients with reactive airways disease. Cases of fatal respiratory arrest have been reported in patients with asthma, even after topically-administered timolol.
Respiratory side effects associated with oral timolol or other oral beta-blockers have included laryngospasm with respiratory distress, rales and bronchial obstruction.
Cardiovascular
Cardiovascular side effects have included hypertension in 1% to 5% of patients. Bradycardia, cardiac failure, cerebral vascular accident, chest pain, heart block, and myocardial infarction have been reported in less than 1% of patients.
Cardiovascular side effects associated with timolol ocular have included bradycardia, arrhythmia, hypotension, hypertension, syncope, heart block, cerebral vascular accident, cerebral ischemia, exacerbation of angina, palpitation, cardiac arrest, pulmonary edema, edema, claudication, Raynaud's phenomenon, and cold hands and feet.
Cardiovascular side effects associated with oral timolol or other oral beta-blockers have included worsening of arterial insufficiency and vasodilatation.
Nervous system
Nervous system side effects have included headache in 1% to 5% of patients. Depression and paresthesia have been reported in less than 1% of patients.
Nervous system side effects have included dizziness, headache, paresthesia, anxiety, somnolence, insomnia, nightmares, nervousness, memory loss, and disorientation. Timolol may worsen myasthenia gravis.
Nervous system side effects associated with oral timolol or other oral beta-blockers have included vertigo, local weakness, diminished concentration, an acute reversible syndrome characterized by disorientation for time and place, and slightly clouded sensorium.
A case of amaurosis fugax has been associated with timolol. However, the patient involved had underlying cerebrovascular disease, autonomic dysfunction, and an arrhythmia.
Hypersensitivity
Hypersensitivity reactions associated with dorzolamide or timolol ocular have included angioedema, bronchospasm, pruritus, urticaria, local ocular reaction, contact dermatitis, anaphylaxis, local and generalized skin rash, and allergic conjunctivitis.
Hypersensitivity side effects associated with oral timolol and other oral beta-blockers have included erythematous rash, fever combined with aching and sore throat, and laryngospasm with respiratory distress.
Dermatologic
Dermatologic side effects have included skin rashes (less than 1%).
Dermatologic side effects associated with dorzolamide have included contact dermatitis, throat irritation, alopecia, pruritus, and urticaria. Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis have been reported rarely.
Dermatologic side effects associated with timolol ocular have included contact dermatitis, psoriasiform rash, exacerbation of psoriasis, urticaria and alopecia. Rare cases of psoriasis, prurigo and hyperpigmented nail beds have been reported.
Dermatologic side effects associated with oral timolol or other oral beta-blockers have included pruritus and increased pigmentation. Oral timolol has been associated with hyperpigmented nail beds and skin irritation and these may potentially occur with ocular administration, also.
Endocrine
Alternative therapy should be considered in patients with diabetes mellitus who are prone to hypoglycemia.
Endocrine side effects of timolol ocular have included masking the signs and symptoms of and blunting the normal physiologic response to hypoglycemia in patients with diabetes, and increases in serum triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and VLDL cholesterol, and decreases in HDL cholesterol.
Endocrine side effects associated with oral timolol have included hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, and increased sweating. These effects may potentially occur with ocular administration, also.
Psychiatric
Psychiatric side effects have included rare cases of depression in less than 1% of patients.
Psychiatric side effects associated with timolol ocular have rarely included depression, confusion, hallucinations, and psychosis. These effects may occur suddenly and are typically reversible upon discontinuation.
Psychiatric side effects associated with oral timolol or other oral beta-blockers have included reversible mental depression progressing to catatonia, emotional lability, and decreased performance on neuropsychometrics.
Gastrointestinal
Gastrointestinal side effects have most commonly included taste perversion in 30% of patients (bitter, sour or unusual taste). Nausea and abdominal pain has been reported in 1% to 5% of patients. Diarrhea, dyspepsia, dry mouth, and vomiting have been reported in less than 1% of patients.
Dorzolamide has been associated with throat irritation.
Timolol ocular has been associated with anorexia.
Gastrointestinal side effects associated with oral timolol or other oral beta-blockers have included gastrointestinal pain, hepatomegaly, vomiting, mesenteric arterial thrombosis, and ischemic colitis.
Genitourinary
Genitourinary side effects have included urinary tract infection (1% to 5%) and urolithiasis (less than 1%).
Genitourinary side effects associated with timolol ocular have included retroperitoneal fibrosis, decreased libido, impotence, and Peyronie's disease.
Genitourinary side effects associated with oral timolol or other oral beta-blockers have included urination difficulties. This may potentially occur with ocular administration, also.
Sexual dysfunction from timolol is reported from questionnaires, although the questions may have biased the data since the responses were not spontaneous.
Immunologic
An 86-year-old male with a 10 year history of chronic open angle glaucoma developed fever, malaise, pleurisy and recurrent sterile pleural effusions while taking only topical ophthalmic timolol. Antinuclear antibodies were present and the patient was felt to have timolol induced systemic lupus erythematosus. The patient improved upon the discontinuation of timolol and was not rechallenged.
Immunologic side effects associated with timolol ocular have included rare cases of systemic lupus erythematosus.
Hematologic
Hematologic side effects associated with dorzolamide have included epistaxis.
Hematologic side effects associated with oral timolol or other oral beta-blockers have included nonthrombocytopenic purpura, thrombocytopenic purpura, and agranulocytosis.
Other
Other side effects have included back pain (1 to 5%).
Other side effects associated with timolol ocular have included asthenia/fatigue, chest pain, and tinnitus.
Other side effects associated with oral timolol or other oral beta-blockers have included extremity pain, decreased exercise tolerance, sweating, and weight loss.
Hepatic
Hepatic side effects have included hepatomegaly associated with oral timolol. This may potentially occur with ocular administration also.
Metabolic
Metabolic side effects associated with oral timolol have included weight loss, and this may potentially occur with ocular administration, also.
Musculoskeletal
Musculoskeletal side effects associated with oral timolol have included extremity pain and this may potentially occur with ocular administration, also.
More Cosopt PF resources
- Cosopt PF Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Cosopt PF Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Cosopt PF drops MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
- Cosopt drops MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
- Cosopt Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Cosopt Consumer Overview
Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. In addition, the drug information contained herein may be time sensitive and should not be utilized as a reference resource beyond the date hereof. This information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients, or recommend therapy. This drug information is a reference resource designed as supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill , knowledge, and judgement of healthcare practitioners in patient care. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug of drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Drugs.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.


