Timolol tablet adverse reactions

Timolol
TIMOLOL MALEATE® FDA Package Insert
Indications and Usage
Dosage and Administration
Contraindications
Warnings and Precautions
Adverse Reactions
Drug Interactions
Use in Specific Populations
Overdosage
Description
Clinical Pharmacology
How Supplied/Storage and Handling
Labels and Packages
Clinical Trials on Timolol
ClinicalTrials.gov

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Adverse Reactions

Timolol maleate tablets are usually well tolerated in properly selected patients. Most adverse effects have been mild and transient.

In a multi-center (12 week) clinical trial comparing timolol maleate and placebo in hypertensive patients, the following adverse reactions were reported spontaneously and considered to be causally related to timolol maleate:

These data are representative of the incidence of adverse effects that may be observed in properly selected patients treated with timolol maleate, i.e., excluding patients with bronchospastic disease, congestive heart failure or other contraindications to beta-blocker therapy.

In patients with migraine the incidence of bradycardia was 5 percent.

In a coronary artery disease population studied in the Norwegian multi-center trial (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY), the frequency of the principal adverse reactions and the frequency with which these resulted in discontinuation of therapy in the timolol and placebo groups were:

The following additional adverse effects have been reported in clinical experience with the drug:

Body as a Whole: anaphylaxis, extremity pain, decreased exercise tolerance, weight loss, fever;

Cardiovascular: cardiac arrest, cardiac failure, cerebral vascular accident, worsening of angina pectoris, worsening of arterial insufficiency, Raynaud's phenomenon, palpitations, vasodilatation;

Digestive: gastrointestinal pain, hepatomegaly, vomiting, diarrhea, dyspepsia;

Hematologic: nonthrombocytopenic purpura; Endocrine: hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia; Skin: rash, skin irritation, increased pigmentation, sweating, alopecia;

Musculoskeletal: arthralgia;

Nervous System: local weakness, increase in signs and symptoms of myasthenia gravis;

Psychiatric: depression, nightmares, somnolence, insomnia, nervousness, diminished concentration, hallucinations;

Respiratory: cough;

Special Senses: visual disturbances, diplopia, ptosis, dry eyes;

Urogenital: impotence, urination difficulties.

There have been reports of retroperitoneal fibrosis in patients receiving timolol maleate and in patients receiving other beta-adrenergic blocking agents. A causal relationship between this condition and therapy with beta-adrenergic blocking agents has not been established.

Potential Adverse Effects

In addition, a variety of adverse effects not observed in clinical trials with timolol maleate, but reported with other beta-adrenergic blocking agents, should be considered potential adverse effects of timolol. Nervous System: Reversible mental depression progressing to catatonia; an acute reversible syndrome characterized by disorientation for time and place, short-term memory loss, emotional lability, slightly clouded sensorium, and decreased performance on neuropsychometrics; Cardiovascular: Intensification of AV block (see CONTRAINDICATIONS); Digestive: Mesenteric arterial thrombosis, ischemic colitis; Hematologic: Agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenic purpura; Allergic: Erythematous rash, fever combined with aching and sore throat, laryngospasm with respiratory distress; Miscellaneous: Peyronie's disease.

There have been reports of a syndrome comprising psoriasiform skin rash, conjunctivitis sicca, otitis, and sclerosing serositis attributed to the beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agent, practolol. This syndrome has not been reported with timolol.

Clinical Laboratory Test Findings

Clinically important changes in standard laboratory parameters were rarely associated with the administration of timolol. Slight increases in blood urea nitrogen, serum potassium, uric acid, and triglycerides, and slight decreases in hemoglobin, hematocrit and HDL cholesterol occurred, but were not progressive or associated with clinical manifestations. Increases in liver function tests have been reported.

References

Adapted from the FDA Package Insert.