Brinzolamide

AZOPT

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Pronunciation: brin-ZOE-la-mide

Brinzolamide ballicule: receptor binding, kinetics and half-life diagram — Mechanism of action: Brinzolamide ballicule

Brinzolamide AZOPT mascot mnemonic cartoon — Visual mnemonic: Brinzolamide mascot
**“Brian’s A zoo optometrist”**

What it isTopical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor; open-angle glaucoma.

Why this oneSuspension rather than a solution, so it stings far less than dorzolamide, which improves adherence.

What limits itTransient blurred vision after instillation. It is a sulfonamide; corneal decompensation in a compromised endothelium.

Brinzolamide molecular structure (skeletal formula) — Molecular structure: Brinzolamide

Brinzolamide prescription history

Animated chart of estimated U.S. prescriptions per year, Glaucoma medicines (1900–2026). Brinzolamide enters in 1998 (estimated).

FDA-approved for

open-angle glaucoma / ocular hypertension (1998)

Principal riskTransient blurred vision; sulfonamide cross-reactivity

Sulfonamide

Sulfonamide-derived drug (non-antibacterial) — label warns

No N4 aromatic amine, no N1 heterocycle: cross-reactivity after a sulfonamide-antimicrobial reaction is unlikely — sulfa-allergic patients reacted to sulfonamide non-antibiotics at 9.9% vs 1.6%, less often than to penicillin. The label warns anyway.

Open the sulfonamide hypersensitivity presentation → · sources [n] are on its References slide.

Classes and tags

Clinical profile

Therapeutic safety burden0 / 4

Overdose danger0 / 4

Weight-gain liability0 / 4

Sedation liability0 / 4

QT / Torsades0 / 4

Direct muscarinic antagonism0 / 4

Embryofetal risk0 / 4

Legacy pregnancy categoryUnknown / historical label unavailable

Defining liabilityLocal irritation, sensitization or administration-site injury; negligible systemic toxicity at usual use.

FDA label

Read the full label on DailyMed ↗

NO BOXED WARNINGS

FDA dosing	Population	Start	Target	Max
Elevated IOP in open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension	Adults	1 drop TID	1 drop TID

Renal Not recommended if CrCl <30 mL/min (severe impairment); not studied

Hepatic Undefined

Instructions

Instill in affected eye(s) three times daily
If using more than one topical ophthalmic drug, administer at least 10 minutes apart
Remove contact lenses before instillation; reinsert 15 minutes after
Avoid dropper tip contact to prevent contamination

Available strengths

susp 1 %

Cautions

Sulfonamide hypersensitivity reactions (rare fatalities: SJS, TEN, hepatic necrosis, blood dyscrasias)
Corneal edema risk in patients with low endothelial cell counts
Not studied in acute angle-closure glaucoma
Benzalkonium chloride may be absorbed by soft contact lenses

Adverse reactions

Blurred vision
Bitter, sour, or unusual taste
Blepharitis, dermatitis, dry eye
Foreign body sensation, ocular hyperemia, headache

Pregnancy No adequate human data; fetal toxicity in rats at high oral (systemic) doses

Lactation No human data; detected in milk of lactating rats

Cost

Brinzolamide (AZOPT)

Strength		#/mo	generic $/unit	CostPlus
1 %	susp	per unit		not offered

NADAC is a voluntary CMS survey of what retail community pharmacies pay for the drugs they stock. Brinzolamide is dispensed outside retail pharmacies, so it rarely appears on surveyed invoices.

Generic entry2020

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Self-check

Why does brinzolamide sting less than dorzolamide?
Suspension rather than solution.
What transient visual effect follows brinzolamide instillation?
Blurred vision.