Product Details

What you need to know before you use Timolol eye drops 0.5%
Do not use Timolol if:
 you are allergic (hypersensitive) to timolol ,beta-blockers or any other ingredient of this medicine
(see section 6: Content of the pack and other information).
 you have now or have had in past respiratory problems such as asthma, severe chronic obstructive
bronchitis (severe lung disease which may cause wheeziness, difficulty in breathing and/or longstanding cough).
 you have a slow heart beat, heart problems, heart failure or disorders of heart rhythm (irregular
heart beats).“Cardiogenic shock” – a serious heart condition caused by very low blood
pressure, which may result in the following symptoms: dizziness and lightheadedness, fast
pulse rate, white skin, sweating, restlessness, loss of consciousness.
If you are not sure whether you should use Timolol talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor if you have now or have had in the past:
 coronary heart disease (symptoms can include chest pain or tightness, breathlessness or choking),
heart failure
 low blood pressure
 disturbances of heart rate such as slow heart beat
 breathing problems, asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
 poor blood circulation disease (such as Raynaud’s disease or Raynaud’s syndrome)
 diabetes as timolol may mask signs and symptoms of low blood sugar
 overactivity of the thyroid gland as timolol may mask signs and symptoms
 you wear soft contact lenses (see section Timolol contains benzalkonium chloride and
phosphates).
Tell your doctor before you have an operation that you are using timolol as it may change effects of some
medicines used during anaesthesia.
If your eye becomes irritated or any new eye problems come on, talk to your doctor straight away. Eye
problems could include redness of the eye or swelling of the eyelids (see Section 4: Possible side effects).
If you suspect that Timolol is causing an allergic reaction or hypersensitivity (for example, skin rash, or
redness and itching of the eye), stop using Timolol and contact your doctor immediately.
Tell your doctor if:
 you get an eye infection
 you injure your eye or have an operation on it
 your eye problems get worse or you get any new symptoms.
Children and adolescents There is only limited data available on the use of timolol in infants and
children. For example, in one small clinical study, timolol, the active ingredient in Timolol eye drops, has
been studied in infants and children aged 12 days to 5 years, who have elevated pressure in the eye(s) or
have been diagnosed with glaucoma. For more information, talk to your doctor.
Timolol should generally be used with caution in young patients. In newborns, infants and younger
children Timolol should be used with extreme caution. If coughing, wheezing, abnormal breathing or
abnormal pauses in breathing (apnoea) occur, the use of the medication should be stopped immediately.
Contact your doctor as soon as possible. A portable apnoea monitor may also be helpful.
Other medicines and Timolol
Timolol can affect or be affected by other medicines you are using, including other eye drops for the
treatment of glaucoma. Tell your doctor if you are using or intend to use medicines to lower blood
pressure, heart medicine or medicines to treat diabetes. Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are
taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including other eye drops or medicines obtained
without a prescription.
It is important to tell your doctor before using Timolol if you are taking one or more of the following
medicines:
 a calcium antagonist (e.g. nifedipine, verapamil or diltiazem) often used to treat high blood
pressure, angina, an abnormal heartbeat or Raynaud’s syndrome
 digoxin, a medicine used to treat heart failure or an abnormal heartbeat
 medicines known as a catecholamine-depleting agents (e.g. rauwolfia alkaloids/reserpine) used to
treat high blood pressure
 medicines called pressor amines (e.g. adrenaline) used to treat severe allergic reaction
 clonidine to treat high blood pressure
 quinidine, a medicine used to treat heart conditions and some types of malaria.
 other beta-blockers taken by mouth or used as eye drops, because they belong to the same group
of medicines as Timolol and could have an additive effect
 antidepressants known as fluoxetine and paroxetine.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Ask your doctor for advice before taking any medicine.
Use in pregnancy
Do not use Timolol if you are pregnant unless your doctor considers it necessary.
Use in breast-feeding
Do not use Timolol if you are breast-feeding. Timolol may get into your milk. Ask your doctor for advice
before taking any medicine during breast-feeding.
Driving and using machines
There are possible side effects associated with Timolol, such as dizziness, tiredness and changes in your
eyesight, such as blurred vision, drooping of the upper eyelid (making the eye stay half closed), double
vision which may affect your ability to drive and/or operate machinery. Do not drive and/or operate
machinery until you feel well and your vision is clear.
Timolol contains benzalkonium chloride and phosphates
This medicine contains 0.10 mg/ml benzalkonium chloride as a preservative. Benzalkonium chloride may
be absorbed by soft contact lenses and may change the colour of the contact lenses. You should remove
contact lenses before using this medicine and put them back 15 minutes afterwards.
Benzalkonium chloride may also cause eye irritation, especially if you have dry eyes or disorders of the
cornea (the clear layer at the front of the eye). If you feel abnormal eye sensation, stinging or pain in the
eye after using this medicine, talk to your doctor.
This medicine contains the following phosphates
 disodium phosphate dodecahydrate (16.72 mg/ml for Timolol 0.25% and Timolol 0.5%)
 sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate (3.12 mg/ml for Timolol 0.25% and Timolol 0.5%)
If you suffer from severe damage to the clear layer at the front of the eye (the cornea), phosphates may cause in very rare cases cloudy patches on the cornea due to calcium build-up during treatment.

How to store Timolol
Keep this medicine out of sight and reach of children.
 Do not store at a temperature above 250C.
 Store the bottle in the outer carton in order to protect it from light.
 Discard the bottle 28 days after opening, even if there is solution remaining.
Do not use Timolol after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and the bottle after EXP.
The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. Make sure the container is properly closed.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to
throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help to protect the environment.