Carteolol

OCUPRESS

Open Carteolol in the interactive console ↗

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

What it isNon-selective beta blocker eye drop with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity; glaucoma.

Why this onePartial agonism gives a slightly better lipid and heart-rate profile than timolol.

What limits itSystemic beta blockade still occurs. Avoid in asthma and heart block.

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

Carteolol prescription history

Animated chart of estimated U.S. prescriptions per year, Glaucoma medicines (1900–2026). Carteolol enters in 1992 (estimated).

FDA-approved for

open-angle glaucoma / ocular hypertension

Principal riskSystemic beta blockade from eye drops

Classes and tags

Clinical profile

Therapeutic safety burden2 / 4

Overdose danger3 / 4

Weight-gain liability1 / 4

Sedation liability1 / 4

QT / Torsades0 / 4

Direct muscarinic antagonism0 / 4

Embryofetal risk2 / 4

Legacy pregnancy categoryC

Defining liabilityBradycardia, hypotension and bronchospasm; overdose may cause conduction block or cardiogenic shock.

FDA label

Read the full label on DailyMed ↗

NO BOXED WARNINGS

FDA dosing	Population	Start	Target	Max
Elevated intraocular pressure / open-angle glaucoma	Adults	1 drop affected eye(s) BID	1 drop BID

Renal Undefined

Hepatic Undefined

Instructions

Instill 1 drop of 1% solution in affected eye(s) twice daily

Available strengths

drops 1 %
sol 10 mg/mL

Contraindications

Bronchial asthma or history of asthma
Severe COPD
Sinus bradycardia
Second- or third-degree AV block
Overt cardiac failure
Cardiogenic shock

Cautions

Systemic beta-blockade from ophthalmic absorption (bradycardia, hypotension)
Bronchospasm in bronchospastic disease
May mask hypoglycemia in insulin-dependent diabetics
Cardiac/respiratory failure

Adverse reactions

Transient ocular irritation/burning/tearing
Conjunctival hyperemia/edema
Systemic: bradycardia, decreased blood pressure

Pregnancy Undefined

Lactation Undefined

Cost

Carteolol (OCUPRESS)

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

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

Generic entry2000

Open Carteolol in the interactive console ↗

Self-check

Why does carteolol have a slightly better heart-rate profile than timolol?
Partial agonism.
Which two conditions should avoid carteolol?
Asthma and heart block.