betaxolol ophthalmic

Action and Spectrum

Actions and Spectrum: 

The action of betaxolol is to block the beta-adrenergic receptors in the heart, which reduces the effects of adrenaline and other stress hormones on the cardiovascular system. By doing so, betaxolol reduces the heart’s workload and helps lower blood pressure. 

The spectrum of betaxolol includes its effectiveness in reducing blood pressure, slowing heart rate, and reducing the risk of angina (chest pain) in patients with heart disease. It is also used to prevent and treat irregular heartbeat (arrhythmias). 

Drug Interaction

Adverse Reaction

Frequency Defined 

>10% 

Eye discomfort 

1-10% 

Foreign sensation in the eye 

<1% 

Stinging 

Tearing 

Burning 

Itching 

Stinging 

Pain 

Dry eyes 

Conjunctival edema 

Keratitis 

Anisocoria 

Blurred vision 

Cataract 

Blepharoconjunctivitis 

Itching 

Frequency not defined 

Ptosis 

Diplopia 

Corneal erosion 

Black Box Warning

Contraindication / Caution

Contraindication/Caution: 

Contraindications: 

• Hypersensitivity or allergy to betaxolol or any other ingredient in the formulation. 
• Patients with sinus bradycardia (slow heart rate), atrioventricular block (heart conduction disorder), cardiogenic shock (poor heart function), or overt heart failure. 

Caution: 

• In patients with obstructive airway disease, like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma, betaxolol can worsen these conditions. 
• In historic allergy patients, betaxolol can mask the symptoms of an allergic reaction and make it harder to diagnose. 
• In patients with diabetes, betaxolol can mask the symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). 
• In patients with historic eye surgery or eye trauma, betaxolol can affect wound healing. 
• Patients with a history of depression, as betaxolol can worsen symptoms of depression. 

Pregnancy / Lactation

Pregnancy consideration:  

Category C 

Breastfeeding warnings:  

No data is available regarding the excretion of the drug in breast milk. 

Pregnancy category: 

• Category A: well-controlled and Satisfactory studies do not have fetal risk in the first/later trimester.        
• <b>Category B: there was no evidence of risk to the fetus in animal studies, and there were not enough studies on pregnant women        
• Category C: there was evidence of risk of adverse effects in animal reproduction studies, and no adequate evidence in human studies must take care of potential risks in pregnant women.       
• Category D: adequate data with sufficient evidence of human fetal risk from various platforms, but despite the potential risk, and used only in emergency cases for potential benefits.        
• Category X: Drugs listed in this category outweigh the risks over benefits. Hence these categories of drugs need to be avoided by pregnant women.        
• Category N: There is no data available for the drug under this category 

Pharmacology

Pharmacology: 

betaxolol ophthalmic works by blocking the beta-1 adrenergic receptors in the eye’s ciliary body, which reduces the production of aqueous humor and decreases intraocular pressure. 

Pharmacodynamics: 

The pharmacodynamics of betaxolol ophthalmic is related to its mechanism of action, which is the selective blocking of beta-1 adrenergic receptors in the eye’s ciliary body. 

betaxolol is a selective beta-blocker, which means it has a higher affinity for beta-1 receptors than beta-2 receptors.  

Pharmacokinetics: 

When administered as eye drops, betaxolol is absorbed into the systemic circulation, but the systemic bioavailability is very low (less than 1%). The drug is eliminated primarily by the kidneys, and its half-life is approximately 20 hours. 

Adminstartion

Administration: 

betaxolol ophthalmic is typically administered as eye drops.  

Here are some general instructions for the administration of betaxolol ophthalmic: 

• Wash your hands thoroughly before handling the eye drops. 
• Tilt your head back and look up; pull the lower eyelid. 
• Hold the dropper close to your eye, but do not touch it. 
• Squeeze the drops into the pocket of your lower eyelid. 
• Shut your eyes and gently press the finger against the corner of your eye (near the nose) for 1-2 minutes. This will help prevent the medication from draining into your tear duct and being absorbed systemically. 
• Replace the cap on the dropper and close it tightly. 
• Rewash your hands to remove any residual medication. 

Patient Information Leaflet

Patient information leaflet 

Generic Name: betaxolol ophthalmic 

Pronounced: bay-TAX-oh-lol-off-THAL-mik  

Why do we use betaxolol ophthalmic? 

betaxolol is primarily used to treat high intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. It helps prevent damage to the optic nerve and vision loss. 

In addition to its ophthalmic use, betaxolol is used to treat hypertension and angina. The drug works by blocking beta-1 adrenergic receptors in the heart, reducing heart rate and myocardial contractility. This reduces the heart’s workload and can help improve symptoms in patients with these conditions.