Pricing
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Betafree is indicated for:
Pharmacology
Brinzolamide is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor and Brimonidine Tartrate is an alpha 2 adrenergic receptor agonist. Both of these components lower raised intraocular pressure. Raised intraocular pressure is a major risk factor in the development of optic nerve damage and glaucomatous visual field loss.
Brinzolamide works on carbonic anhydrase in the ciliary processes of the eye and reduces the secretion of aqueous humor. It probably does this by slowing the formation of bicarbonate ions, which then reduces sodium and fluid transport. Its peak ocular hypotensive effect comes 2 to 3 hours after the dose.
Fluorophotometric studies in animals and humans suggest that Brimonidine Tartrate acts in two ways, by reducing aqueous humor production and by increasing uveoscleral outflow. Its peak ocular hypotensive effect comes two hours after the dose. The result is a reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP).
Dosage Reference
Reference Information Only
Dosages shown are general references from official sources. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized dosing.
Adults:
Shake the bottle well before you use Brinzolamide + Brimonidine Tartrate. Put one drop in the affected eye or eyes three times a day. If you are using more than one eye drop medicine, leave at least five (5) minutes between them.
Side Effects
In patients treated with Brinzolamide + Brimonidine Tartrate, the side effects reported most often were blurred vision, eye irritation, dysgeusia (bad taste), dry mouth and eye allergy. These occurred in approximately 3 to 5% of patients. Clinical trials have also reported other side effects with the individual components, and they are listed below. Brinzolamide 1%: The most frequently reported side effects were blurred vision and a bitter, sour or unusual taste, seen in 5 to 10% of patients. Side effects seen in 1 to 5% of patients were blepharitis, dermatitis, dry eye, foreign body sensation, headache, hyperemia, ocular discharge, ocular discomfort, ocular keratitis, ocular pain, ocular pruritus and rhinitis. Brimonidine Tartrate 0.2%: Side effects occurred in approximately 10 to 30% of the subjects. In descending order of how often they occurred, they were oral dryness, ocular hyperemia, burning and stinging, headache, blurring, foreign body sensation, fatigue/drowsiness, conjunctival follicles, ocular allergic reactions and ocular pruritus.
Cautions & Contraindications
Warnings & Precautions
Brinzolamide + Brimonidine Tartrate contains brinzolamide, which is a sulfonamide. It's put in the eye, but some of it still gets absorbed into the body. So the same kinds of side effects seen with sulfonamides can happen with this eye medicine too. Deaths have been reported from severe sulfonamide reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, fulminant hepatic necrosis, agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia, and other blood dyscrasias. Brimonidine Tartrate may also make syndromes linked to vascular insufficiency worse. Use Brinzolamide + Brimonidine Tartrate with caution in patients with depression, cerebral or coronary insufficiency, Raynaud's phenomenon, orthostatic hypotension, or thromboangitis obliterans. Anemia and other blood dyscrasias also call for caution. Brinzolamide and its metabolite leave the body mainly through the kidney, so the medicine is not recommended in patients with renal impairment. The preservative in it, benzalkonium chloride, may be absorbed by soft contact lenses. Take contact lenses out before putting in the drops. They may be put back 15 minutes later.
Contraindications
Brinzolamide + Brimonidine Tartrate should not be given to anyone who is hypersensitive to Brinzolamide, Brimonidine Tartrate or any other ingredient in the formulation. It is also contraindicated in neonates and infants under the age of 2 years.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Brinzolamide + Brimonidine Tartrate is Pregnancy Category C. Use it during pregnancy only if the likely benefit justifies the possible risk to the fetus.
No one knows whether Brinzolamide + Brimonidine Tartrate passes into human milk after it is put in the eye. Many drugs do pass into breast milk, and this one could cause serious adverse reactions in a nursing infant. So a decision has to be made, either to stop nursing or to stop the medicine, taking into account how important the medicine is to the mother.
⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Use in Special Populations
Use in Pediatrics: Brinzolamide, one of the two components, has been studied in children with glaucoma aged 4 weeks to 5 years. Brimonidine Tartrate, the other component, has been studied in children aged 2 to 7 years. In children aged 2 to 6 years, somnolence (50-83%) and decreased alertness were seen. Brinzolamide + Brimonidine Tartrate is contraindicated in children under 2 years of age.
Use in Geriatrics: No overall differences in safety or effectiveness have been observed between elderly and adult patients.
Overdose
No human data are available, but an oral overdose of Brinzolamide may cause an electrolyte imbalance, an acidotic state and possible effects on the nervous system. Serum electrolyte levels (potassium in particular) and blood pH should be monitored.
There is very little information on accidental ingestion of Brimonidine Tartrate in adults, and the only adverse event reported so far is hypotension. Symptoms of Brimonidine Tartrate overdose have also been reported in neonates, infants and children, either when they were given it as part of treatment for congenital glaucoma or when they swallowed it by accident.
Treatment of an oral overdose is supportive and symptomatic, and a patent airway should be maintained.
⚠️ In an emergency call 999 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
Storage
Keep the Brinzolamide + Brimonidine Tartrate bottle at room temperature and away from light. Shake it well before each use, and don't let it freeze. Don't touch the dropper tip to any surface. It is best not to use the contents more than one month after you first open the bottle.
Common questions about Betafree 1%+0.2%
What is Betafree 1%+0.2% Ophthalmic Suspension?
Betafree 1%+0.2% Ophthalmic Suspension is a medicine that contains Brinzolamide + Brimonidine Tartrate. It is made by Popular Pharmaceuticals PLC. It belongs to the Drugs for miotics and glaucoma group of medicines.
What is Betafree used for?
Betafree is used for: Hypertension, Glaucoma.
What are the side effects of Betafree?
In patients treated with Brinzolamide + Brimonidine Tartrate, the side effects reported most often were blurred vision, eye irritation, dysgeusia (bad taste), dry mouth and eye allergy. These occurred in approximately 3 to 5% of patients.
Can I take Betafree during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
Brinzolamide + Brimonidine Tartrate is Pregnancy Category C. Use it during pregnancy only if the likely benefit justifies the possible risk to the fetus. Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
What happens if I take too much Betafree?
No human data are available, but an oral overdose of Brinzolamide may cause an electrolyte imbalance, an acidotic state and possible effects on the nervous system. Serum electrolyte levels (potassium in particular) and blood pH should be monitored. In an emergency call 999 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
How should I store Betafree?
Keep the Brinzolamide + Brimonidine Tartrate bottle at room temperature and away from light. Shake it well before each use, and don't let it freeze.
Do I need a prescription for Betafree?
Betafree is a prescription (Rx) medicine. Take it as your doctor advises.