Timolol (ophthalmic)

FDA label, Bausch & Lomb Americas Inc., ophthalmic, effective 2024-11-04. Full label on DailyMed

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Quoted from the FDA label. Product labels differ by manufacturer and change over time; confirm against the label for the product you are using.

Dosing in kidney impairment

This label has no separate kidney-impairment dosing section. Check warnings and clinical pharmacology in the full label.

Preparation and administration

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION One drop of Timolol Maleate Ophthalmic Solution should be administered in the affected eye(s) once a day in the morning (AM). If more than one topical ophthalmic drug is being used, the drugs should be administered at least five minutes apart. One drop in the affected eye(s) once a day in the morning.

Drug interactions

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Label text (13 paragraphs)

Concomitant use with systemic beta-blockers may potentiate systemic beta-blockade. ( 7.1 ) Oral or intravenous calcium antagonists may cause atrioventricular conduction disturbances, left ventricular failure, and hypotension. ( 7.2 ) Catecholamine-depleting drugs may have additive effects and produce hypotension and/or marked bradycardia. ( 7.3 ) Digitalis and calcium antagonists may have additive effects in prolonging atrioventricular conduction time. ( 7.4 ) Potentiated systemic beta-blockade (e.g., decreased heart rate) has been reported during combined treatment with quinidine and timolol. ( 7.5 )

7.1 Beta-Adrenergic Blocking Agents Patients who are receiving a beta-adrenergic blocking agent orally and Timolol Maleate Ophthalmic Solution should be observed for potential additive effects of beta-blockade, both systemic and on intraocular pressure. The concomitant use of two topical beta-adrenergic blocking agents is not recommended.

7.2 Calcium Antagonists Caution should be used in the co-administration of beta-adrenergic blocking agents, such as Timolol Maleate Ophthalmic Solution, and oral or intravenous calcium antagonists because of possible atrioventricular conduction disturbances, left ventricular failure, and hypotension. In patients with impaired cardiac function, co-administration should be avoided.

7.3 Catecholamine-Depleting Drugs Close observation of the patient is recommended when a beta-blocker is administered to patients receiving catecholamine-depleting drugs such as reserpine, because of possible additive effects and the production of hypotension and/or marked bradycardia, which may result in vertigo, syncope, or postural hypotension.

7.4 Digitalis and Calcium Antagonists The concomitant use of beta-adrenergic blocking agents with digitalis and calcium antagonists may have additive effects in prolonging atrioventricular conduction time.

7.5 CYP2D6 Inhibitors Potentiated systemic beta-blockade (e.g., decreased heart rate) has been reported during combined treatment with CYP2D6 inhibitors (e.g., quinidine) and timolol.

7.6 Clonidine Oral beta-adrenergic blocking agents may exacerbate the rebound hypertension which can follow the withdrawal of clonidine. There have been no reports of exacerbation of rebound hypertension with ophthalmic timolol maleate.

7.1 Beta-Adrenergic Blocking Agents Patients who are receiving a beta-adrenergic blocking agent orally and Timolol Maleate Ophthalmic Solution should be observed for potential additive effects of beta-blockade, both systemic and on intraocular pressure. The concomitant use of two topical beta-adrenergic blocking agents is not recommended.

7.2 Calcium Antagonists Caution should be used in the co-administration of beta-adrenergic blocking agents, such as Timolol Maleate Ophthalmic Solution, and oral or intravenous calcium antagonists because of possible atrioventricular conduction disturbances, left ventricular failure, and hypotension. In patients with impaired cardiac function, co-administration should be avoided.

7.3 Catecholamine-Depleting Drugs Close observation of the patient is recommended when a beta-blocker is administered to patients receiving catecholamine-depleting drugs such as reserpine, because of possible additive effects and the production of hypotension and/or marked bradycardia, which may result in vertigo, syncope, or postural hypotension.

7.4 Digitalis and Calcium Antagonists The concomitant use of beta-adrenergic blocking agents with digitalis and calcium antagonists may have additive effects in prolonging atrioventricular conduction time.

7.5 CYP2D6 Inhibitors Potentiated systemic beta-blockade (e.g., decreased heart rate) has been reported during combined treatment with CYP2D6 inhibitors (e.g., quinidine) and timolol.

7.6 Clonidine Oral beta-adrenergic blocking agents may exacerbate the rebound hypertension which can follow the withdrawal of clonidine. There have been no reports of exacerbation of rebound hypertension with ophthalmic timolol maleate.

Contraindications

Bronchial asthma, a history of bronchial asthma, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( 4.1 , 5.1 , 5.3 ) Sinus bradycardia, second or third degree atrioventricular block, overt cardiac failure, cardiogenic shock ( 4.2 , 5.2 ) Hypersensitivity to any component of this product ( 4.3 )

4.1 Asthma, COPD Timolol Maleate Ophthalmic Solution is contraindicated in patients with bronchial asthma; a history of bronchial asthma; severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 , 5.3 )] .

4.2 Sinus Bradycardia, AV Block, Cardiac Failure, Cardiogenic Shock Timolol Maleate Ophthalmic Solution is contraindicated in patients with sinus bradycardia; second or third degree atrioventricular block; overt cardiac failure; cardiogenic shock [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] .

4.3 Hypersensitivity Reactions Timolol Maleate Ophthalmic Solution is contraindicated in patients who have exhibited a hypersensitivity reaction to any component of this product in the past.

4.1 Asthma, COPD Timolol Maleate Ophthalmic Solution is contraindicated in patients with bronchial asthma; a history of bronchial asthma; severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 , 5.3 )] .

4.2 Sinus Bradycardia, AV Block, Cardiac Failure, Cardiogenic Shock Timolol Maleate Ophthalmic Solution is contraindicated in patients with sinus bradycardia; second or third degree atrioventricular block; overt cardiac failure; cardiogenic shock [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] .

4.3 Hypersensitivity Reactions Timolol Maleate Ophthalmic Solution is contraindicated in patients who have exhibited a hypersensitivity reaction to any component of this product in the past.

Safety data

Reported adverse events (FAERS)

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Source: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System via openFDA

Liver injury (LiverTox)

E

Likelihood score E: Unlikely cause of clinically apparent acute liver injury.

Timolol is a nonselective beta-adrenergic receptor blocker that is widely used for the therapy of hypertension, angina pectoris and prevention of vascular headaches. Timolol has yet to be convincingly associated with clinically apparent liver injury and is often used in patients with liver disease and cirrhosis.

ABCDEA: well known cause; E: unlikely cause. [HD]: high doses only.

Source: LiverTox: Timolol (NIDDK, public domain)Chapter updated Jan 15, 2017

Pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women with timolol maleate to inform a drug-associated risk. Administration of oral timolol maleate to pregnant mice, rats and rabbits did not produce teratogenicity at clinically relevant systemic exposures (see Data). Because animal reproductive studies are not always predictive of human response, Timolol Maleate Ophthalmic Solution should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. In the U.S.

general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2-4% and 15-20%, respectively. Data Animal Data Teratogenicity studies with timolol in pregnant mice, rats, and rabbits at oral doses up to 50 mg/kg/day (7,000 times the systemic exposure following the maximum recommended human ophthalmic dose) demonstrated no evidence of fetal malformations. Although delayed fetal ossification was observed at this dose in rats, there were no adverse effects on postnatal development of offspring.

Doses of 1,000 mg/kg/day (142,000 times the systemic exposure following the maximum recommended human ophthalmic dose) were maternally toxic in mice and resulted in an increased number of fetal resorptions. Increased fetal resorptions were also seen in rabbits at doses of 14,000 times the systemic exposure following the maximum recommended human ophthalmic dose without apparent maternal toxicity.

Breastfeeding (LactMed)

Because of the variability in excretion of timolol into breastmilk and minimal reported experience during breastfeeding, other agents may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant. Ophthalmic use of timolol by the mother should pose little risk to the breastfed infant, although some guidelines state that gel formulations are preferred over solutions. To substantially diminish the amount of drug that reaches the breastmilk after using eye drops, place pressure over the tear duct by the corner of the eye for 1 minute or more, then remove the excess solution with an absorbent tissue. The manufacturer of Combigan states that it is not recommended for use during lactation, but there is no evidence for this statement.

Source: LactMed: Timolol (NICHD, public domain)Revised Apr 15, 2026

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