Pills for Glaucoma
Sometimes, drops are not enough to control IOP. When this is the case, pills may be prescribed in addition to drops. These pills, which have more side effects than drops do, also serve to turn down the eye´s faucet and lessen the production of fluid in the eye. The medication is usually taken from two to four times daily. It is important to share this information with your other doctors. By doing so, they can best prescribe medications for you which will not cause potentially dangerous interactions.
The following are some commonly prescribed carbonic anhydrase inhibitors and their more common side effects.
|
Type of Drug |
Function |
Possible Side Effects |
| CARBONIC ANHYDRASE INHIBITORS Acetazolamide Diamox® Methazolamide Neptazane® | Pills will reduce fluid flow into the eye. These should be taken with meals or milk to reduce side effects. Bananas or apple juice should be added to the diet to minimize potassium loss. | Frequent urination, tingling sensation in the fingers and toes. These symptoms often disappear after a few days. Kidney stones may occur. A rare but serious side effect is aplastic anemia. Rashes are not uncommon. Potassium loss may occur when these drugs are taken with digitalis, steroids, or chlorothiazide diuretics. Depression, fatigue, and lethargy are common. Gastrointestinal upset, metallic taste to carbonated beverages, impotence, and weight loss. |
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