Azopt

Produktübersicht

About Azopt

Azopt is a medicine that contains the active substance brinzolamide. It is available as an eye drop suspension.

What it is used for

Azopt is used to reduce the pressure inside the eye. It is used in patients with ocular hypertension (when the pressure in the eye is higher than normal) or open-angle glaucoma (a disease in which the pressure inside the eye rises because fluid cannot drain out of the eye). Azopt is used as an add-on to beta blockers or prostaglandin analogues (other medicines used for these conditions), or on its own in patients who cannot take or do not respond to beta blockers. The medicine can only be obtained with a prescription.

How it is used

The dose of Azopt is one drop into the affected eye(s) twice a day. Some patients may have a better response with one drop three times a day. The suspension needs to be shaken before use. If more than one type of eye-drop medicine is being used, each one should be given at least five minutes apart.

How it works

Raised pressure inside the eye causes damage to the retina (the light-sensitive surface at the back of the eye) and to the optic nerve (the nerve that sends signals from the eye to the brain). This can result in loss of vision and even blindness. By lowering the pressure, Azopt reduces the risk of damage to these structures. The active substance in Azopt, brinzolamide, is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. It works by blocking an enzyme called carbonic anhydrase, which produces bicarbonate in the body. Bicarbonate is required for the production of the aqueous humour (the watery fluid in the eye). By blocking the production of bicarbonate in the eye, Azopt slows down the production of aqueous humour, reducing the pressure inside the eye.

Active substance: brinzolamide

Source: EMA EPAR