Three-month evaluation of dorzolamide hydrochloride/timolol maleate fixed-combination eye drops versus the separate use of both drugs

• Published in: Japanese journal of ophthalmology 2012-11, Vol.56 (6), p.559-563
• Main Authors: Inoue, Kenji, Shiokawa, Minako, Sugahara, Michitaka, Wakakura, Masato, Soeda, Shoichi, Tomita, Goji
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antihypertensive Agents - adverse effects; Antihypertensive Agents - therapeutic use; Clinical Investigation; Drug Combinations; Drug Evaluation; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Glaucoma, Open-Angle - drug therapy; Glaucoma, Open-Angle - physiopathology; Humans; Intraocular Pressure - drug effects; Intraocular Pressure - physiology; Male; Medication Adherence; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Ocular Hypertension - drug therapy; Ocular Hypertension - physiopathology; Ophthalmic Solutions; Ophthalmology; Sulfonamides - adverse effects; Sulfonamides - therapeutic use; Surveys and Questionnaires; Thiophenes - adverse effects; Thiophenes - therapeutic use; Timolol - adverse effects; Timolol - therapeutic use; Tonometry, Ocular
• ISSN: 0021-5155; 1613-2246
• DOI: 10.1007/s10384-012-0186-8

Purpose To investigate the ocular hypotensive effect and safety of dorzolamide hydrochloride 1 %/timolol maleate 0.5 % fixed-combination eye drops. Methods The study cohort comprised 34 patients with either primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension who were being concomitantly treated with dorzolamide hydrochloride 1 % eye drops and timolol maleate 0.5 % eye drops. The dorzolamide hydrochloride 1 % and timolol maleate 0.5 % eye drops were replaced with dorzolamide hydrochloride 1 %/timolol maleate 0.5 % fixed-combination eye drops without any washout period. The intraocular pressure (IOP) was evaluated both before and 1 and 3 months after the treatment change. The patients were asked to complete a questionnaire on adherence to the treatment protocol 1 month after the change in treatment. Results The IOP was 15.5 ± 2.7 mmHg at the time of treatment change, 15.2 ± 2.7 mmHg at 1 month post-change, and 15.5 ± 2.9 mmHg at 3 months post-change, which is consistent with that before the treatment change ( p  = 0.286). Based on the completed questionnaire, following the treatment change, 50 % of patients felt a stinging sensation following administration of the eye drops and 11.8 % experienced blurred vision. In no case were the eye drops discontinued due to adverse reactions or insufficient IOP decrease. Conclusion The replacement of concomitant treatment with dorzolamide hydrochloride 1 % and timolol maleate 0.5 % eye drops with dorzolamide hydrochloride 1 %/timolol maleate 0.5 % fixed-combination eye drops improved protocol adherence and preserved the IOP.