Timolol (Timoptol) 0.5% eye drops 5 ml, 10 bottles: profile, composition and research
Reference page for Timolol (Timoptol) 0.5% eye drops 5 ml, 10 bottles. Active substance: Тимолол / Timolol.
- What it is: timolol, a beta-blocker in eye-drop form that lowers intraocular pressure.
- Presentation: 0.5% solution, 5 ml per bottle, 10 bottles per pack.
- Status: prescription-only medicine.
- Research: studies in glaucoma and intraocular pressure, links below.
- Where to buy: APV Pharmacy (price and availability there).
Key facts
| Active substance | Timolol (timolol maleate) |
|---|---|
| Form | Eye drops (solution for topical use) |
| Strength | 0.5% solution, 5 ml per bottle |
| Pack size | 10 bottles |
| Category | Prescription medicine |
| Article (SKU) |
What timolol is
Timolol is a substance from the beta-blocker group, used in the form of eye drops. In ophthalmology it serves to lower intraocular pressure in glaucoma and in raised pressure without signs of damage to the optic nerve.
This listing is a 0.5% solution: 5 ml to a bottle, 10 bottles to a pack. The active substance is present as timolol maleate.
The medicine is a prescription product. Intraocular pressure cannot be judged on one's own, so treatment is always accompanied by measurements taken by an ophthalmologist.
How timolol works
Less fluid is produced
A watery fluid is continually formed inside the eye and drains away through its outflow system. Timolol blocks beta receptors in the ciliary body, the structure that produces this fluid, and thereby reduces how much of it is made.
Why the pressure falls
When the inflow of fluid drops while the outflow stays the same, the pressure inside the eye gradually falls. This does not restore an optic nerve that is already damaged, but the risk of further damage becomes lower.
Some of the medicine is absorbed
Part of the drops reaches the nasolacrimal duct and from there the bloodstream. Timolol can therefore produce effects typical of beta-blockers, which is taken into account in heart and lung disease.
Approved uses
The prescribing information names glaucoma and raised intraocular pressure. The medicine is usually considered a mainstay of therapy that lowers the pressure appreciably from its starting level.
The treatment plan is chosen by an ophthalmologist: whether one medicine is enough or a combination is needed, and how often pressure and visual fields should be checked. A reference page does not prescribe treatment.
Timolol is a prescription medicine. In bronchial asthma, marked disorders of cardiac conduction and some other conditions it is used with caution or not at all; the decision belongs to a physician.
What the research shows
Timolol is among the most extensively studied agents for lowering intraocular pressure: a review of its therapeutic efficacy in the topical treatment of glaucoma was published as early as 1979.
A network meta-analysis of first-line medicines in open-angle glaucoma, published in 2016, compared prostaglandin analogues and beta-blockers, timolol among them, for their ability to lower pressure.
Individual studies compared timolol with other drops, for example betaxolol and pilocarpine, in terms of visual function and duration of action. The conclusions remain a matter of discussion, and the choice of medicine is individual.
Published research
Primary sources, verified against PubMed:
- Timolol: a review of its therapeutic efficacy in the topical treatment of glaucoma., PubMed 369807 (Drugs, 1979).
- Comparative Effectiveness of First-Line Medications for Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis., PubMed 26526633 (Ophthalmology, 2016).
- A comparison of the effects of betaxolol, timolol, and pilocarpine on visual function in patients with open-angle glaucoma., PubMed 9713782 (Journal of glaucoma, 1998).
- Long-term intraocular pressure-lowering efficacy and safety of timolol maleate gel-forming solution 0.5% compared with Timoptic XE 0.5% in a 12-month study., PubMed 11004287 (American journal of ophthalmology, 2000).
Listed for reference. Publication of a study is not a claim about this particular product.
Precautions
- This is a prescription medicine. Prescribing, dosing and follow-up belong to an ophthalmologist.
- In bronchial asthma, bronchospasm and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease the medicine is used with caution or not at all.
- Disorders of cardiac conduction, marked bradycardia and heart failure call for a physician's assessment first.
- The drops are partly absorbed into the bloodstream and can affect the heart and lungs. Any unusual sensation should be reported to a doctor.
- Soft contact lenses are removed before instilling the drops and are not put back immediately afterwards.
- Use during pregnancy or breastfeeding is discussed with a doctor; tell them about every medicine you take.
Frequently asked
Is timolol a prescription medicine?
Yes. It is a prescription medicine and is not intended for self-medication.
Why does this page not give a dosing schedule?
The instillation routine and the length of treatment are set by an ophthalmologist from the intraocular pressure readings. A reference page does not prescribe treatment.
Can timolol affect the whole body?
Yes. Part of the drops is absorbed into the bloodstream, so the medicine has effects typical of beta-blockers. This is taken into account in heart and lung disease.
Where does the order ship from?
Shipping and customs handling are described on the APV Pharmacy delivery page.