Consumer Information for: ACT DORZOTIMOLOL

Consumer Information

Information about the product including what the product is used for, dosage, warnings, proper use and side effects. This summary will not tell you everything about the product. Contact your healthcare professional if you have any questions about the product.


What the medication is used for

ACT DORZOTIMOLOL is the brand name for the medication dorzolamide hydrochloride and timolol maleate ophthalmic solution available only on prescription through your doctor. ACT DORZOTIMOLOL is a combination of an ophthalmic carbonic anhydrase inhibiting drug and an ophthalmic beta-blocking drug, both of which lower the pressure in the eye in different ways.

Remember - This medicine is prescribed for the particular condition that you have.

Do not give this medicine to other people, nor use it for any other condition.

When it should not be used

Do not use this medicine after the date shown on the container.

Do not use ACT DORZOTIMOLOL if you:

  • are allergic to any of its components. See “What the nonmedicinal ingredients are.”;
  • have now or have had in the past certain serious breathing problems such as asthma;
  • have chronic obstructive lung disease;
  • have certain heart diseases or conditions (such as slow or irregular heartbeats);
  • have severe kidney problems;
  • are taking oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors;
  • are breast feeding or intend to breast feed.
What the medicinal ingredient is

Each mL contains 20 mg dorzolamide (as dorzolamide hydrochloride) and 5 mg of timolol (as timolol maleate).

What the non-medicinal ingredients are

Hydroxyethyl cellulose, mannitol, sodium citrate, sodium hydroxide, and water for injection. Benzalkonium chloride is added as a preservative.

What dosage form it comes in

ACT DORZOTIMOLOL (dorzolamide hydrochloride and timolol maleate) Ophthalmic Solution are sterile eye drops.

Warnings and precautions

This medicine may not be suitable for some patients. So, tell your doctor if you think any of the following applies to you:

  • If you have any medical problems now or have had any in the past, lung or breathing (such as asthma or chronic obstructive lung disease) problems or heart problems (such as coronary heart disease, heart failure or low blood pressure).
  • If you have any allergies to any medications.
  • ACT DORZOTIMOLOL contains the preservative benzalkonium chloride. If you wear contact lenses, you should consult your doctor before using ACT DORZOTIMOLOL. Do not administer while wearing (soft) contact lenses. Remove lenses before application and reinsert no earlier than 15 minutes after use.
  • If you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
  • If you are breast feeding or intend to breast feed.
  • If you have now or have had in the past kidney problems.
  • If you have now or have had in the past liver or thyroid problems.
  • If you have now or have had in the past heart rate disturbances (such as slow or irregular heartbeats).
  • If you have now or have had in the past poor blood circulation problems (such as Raynaud’s syndrome).
  • If you have now or have had in the past diabetes or other blood sugar problems.
  • If you have certain eye problems (i.e. corneal defects) or history of eye surgery.
  • If you are planning major surgery, including eye surgery, as ACT DORZOTIMOLOL may change the effects of some medicines during anesthesia.
  • If you are taking any other medications see INTERACTIONS WITH THIS MEDICATION.

If the following occur during treatment, consult your doctor immediately:

  • allergic reaction such as skin rash or itching;
  • develop any eye infection, swelling of the eyelid, redness or irritation;
  • you have any eye surgery or suffer eye injury;
  • severe skin reactions with symptoms such as blisters, peeling skin, red/purple rash, skin lesions and sores, and associated fever, sore throat.

ACT DORZOTIMOLOL IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN. In studies with dorzotimolol hydrochloride and timolol maleate ophthalmic solution the effect of dorzotimolol hydrochloride and timolol maleate ophthalmic solution was similar in both elderly and younger adult patients.

Interactions with this medication

Your doctor also needs to know about drugs (including eye drops) that you are using or plan to use, including drugs obtained without a prescription. This is particularly important if you are taking medicine to lower blood pressure (i.e. calcium channel blockers, clonidine), or to treat heart disease (i.e. quinidine, beta-blockers), diabetes, or depression (i.e. selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SSRI’s). Also tell your doctor if you are taking large doses of acetylsalicylic acid or sulfa drugs.

Proper use of this medication

Read the following information carefully. If you need any explanations, or further information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

  • Do not start taking any other medicines unless you have discussed the matter with your doctor.
  • If you are using ACT DORZOTIMOLOL with another eye drop, the drops should be instilled at least 10 minutes apart.
  • Do not change the dosage of the drug without consulting your doctor. If you must stop treatment, contact your doctor immediately.
  • Do not allow the tip of the container to touch the eye or areas around the eye. It may become contaminated with bacteria that can cause eye infections leading to serious damage of the eye, even loss of vision. To avoid possible contamination of the container, keep the tip of the container away from contact with any surface.

Usual Adult Dose

The appropriate dosage and duration of treatment will be established by your doctor.

The usual dose is one drop in the affected eye(s) in the morning and in the evening.

Missed Dose

It is important to apply ACT DORZOTIMOLOL as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, apply it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double dose.

Overdose

In case of drug overdose, particularly oral ingestion, contact your health care professional, hospital emergency department or regional poison control centre, even if there are no symptoms.

If you feel you have taken too much ACT DORZOTIMOLOL and symptoms may include shortness of breath, low heartbeat, dizziness, headache, etc., seek medical help.

  1. Before using the medication for the first time, be sure the safety seal on the cap is unbroken.
  2. To open the bottle, tear off the safety seal and unscrew the cap (Figure 1).
  3. Tilt your head back and pull your lower eyelid down slightly to form a pocket between your eyelid and your eye (Figure 2).
  4. Invert the bottle and press lightly with the thumb and index finger until a single drop is dispensed into the eye as directed by your doctor (Figure 3).

    DO NOT TOUCH YOUR EYE OR EYELID WITH THE DROPPER TIP.

    Ophthalmic medications, if handled improperly, can become contaminated by common bacteria known to cause eye infections. Serious damage to the eye and subsequent loss of vision may result from using contaminated ophthalmic medications. If you think your medication may be contaminated, or if you develop an eye infection, contact your doctor immediately concerning continued use of this bottle.
  5. After using ACT DORZOTIMOLOL press a finger into the corner of your eye, by the nose (as shown) for 2 minutes. This helps keep ACT DORZOTIMOLOL in your eye.
  6. Repeat steps 3 & 4 with the other eye if instructed to do so by your doctor.
  7. Replace the cap by turning until it is firmly touching the bottle. Do not over tighten the cap.
  8. The dispenser tip is designed to provide a single drop; therefore, do NOT enlarge the hole of the dispenser tip.
  9. After you have used all doses, there will be some ACT DORZOTIMOLOL left in the bottle. You should not be concerned since an extra amount has been added and you will get the full amount of product that your doctor prescribed. Do not attempt to remove excess medicine from the bottle.
Side effects and what to do about them
  • Any medicine may have unintended or undesirable effects, so- called side effects.

  • You may experience eye symptoms such as burning and stinging, blurred vision, itching, tearing, redness of the eye(s). You may sense a bitter taste after putting in your eye drops. Kidney stones and rarely, rash may also occur.

  • Also, other side effects that have been observed with the separate active ingredients in ACT DORZOTIMOLOL include: muscle pain, abdominal pain, headache, nosebleed, dry mouth, nausea, tiredness, swelling or crusting of the eyelids.

Other side effects may also occur rarely, and some of these may be serious. These may include shortness of breath, severe skin reactions, visual changes, an irregular heartbeat and a slowing of your heart rate. If you develop a severe skin reaction with symptoms such as blisters, peeling skin, red/purple rash, skin lesions and sores, and associated fever, sore throat, stop taking this medication immediately and contact your physician.

  • Your doctor or pharmacist has a complete list of the possible side effects from this medication. Please tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly about any unusual symptom.

  • If you have blurred vision or tiredness, do not drive until the effects pass.

  • If the contents of the container are swallowed, you should contact your doctor immediately.
Serious side effects, how often they happen and what to do about them
Symptom / effect Talk with your doctor or pharmacist Only if severe Talk with your doctor or pharmacist In all cases Stop taking drug and talk with your doctor or pharmacist
Uncommon
Slow heart beat     ✔
Rare
Heart effects such as irregular heartbeat, heart block, low blood pressure     ✔
Allergic reactions with symptoms such as swelling of the mouth and throat, shortness of breath, hives, severe itching and rash     ✔

This is not a complete list of side effects. For any unexpected effects while taking ACT DORZOTIMOLOL, contact your physician or pharmacist.

How to store

Store at 15°-30°C. Protect from light. Store the bottle in outer carton

KEEP ALL MEDICINES SAFELY AWAY FROM CHILDREN.

Reporting side effects

You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:

NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.

More information

This document plus the full product monograph, prepared for health professionals can be found by contacting
Teva Canada Limited by:
Phone: 1-800-268-4127 ext. 3;
Email: druginfo@tevacanada.com; or
Fax: 1-416-335-4472

This leaflet was prepared by:
Teva Canada Limited
30 Novopharm Court
Toronto, Ontario
M1B 2K9

www.tevacanada.com

Last revised: April 18, 2018

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