Timoptic

Timoptic is a prescription beta blocker medication approved to reduce eye pressure in people with high eye pressure or open angle glaucoma. It comes in the form of an eye drop that is applied to the affected eye once or twice a day (depending on the particular product). Potential side effects include burning, stinging, and temporary blurred vision.

What Is Timoptic?

Timoptic® (timolol maleate) products are prescription eye medications approved to lower eye pressure in people with chronic open angle glaucoma or high eye pressure (ocular hypertension). It comes in the following different forms:
 
  • Timoptic drops (in multi-dose bottles)
  • Timoptic drops in Ocudose® (in single-use, preservative-free containers)
  • Timoptic-XE gel-forming solution (which starts off as a drop but turns into a gel on the surface of the eye).
     
(Click Timoptic Uses for more information, including possible off-label uses.)
 

Who Makes This Medication?

Brand-name Timoptic is manufactured by Laboratories Merck Sharp & Dohme-Chibret for ATON PHARMA. Generic versions are made by various manufacturers.
 

How Does Timoptic Work?

Timoptic belongs to a group of drugs called beta-adrenergic blocking agents, more often known as beta blockers. As the name implies, these medications block beta receptors in the body. Beta receptors are located in a number of places within the body, including the eyes. Beta blockers lower the pressure in the eye by decreasing the amount of fluid produced by the eye (known as aqueous humor).
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
 
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