He althy vision is the key to a full and happy life. Therefore, special care must be taken for the eyes. In order for the vision not to deteriorate, you need to eat right, as well as visit the optometrist regularly, because you can maintain good vision only with proper care for it. Partial, and sometimes even complete loss of vision can be associated with increased eye pressure. The symptoms of this disease are almost imperceptible, they can be confused with ordinary fatigue from age or from work and not given due attention to this. Therefore, it is advisable to visit an ophthalmologist at least once a year in order to detect an increase in intraocular pressure in a timely manner.
Mostly people over the age of forty face this problem. High eye pressure is caused by the accumulation of eye fluid, which should ideally circulate inside the eye. The drug "Alfagan" will help to reduce eye pressure. The photo shows what this drug looks like.
Medication description
"Alphagan" refers to alpha-adrenomimetic agents and is an antiglaucoma drug. It has a high selectivityprovides efficiency, while the development of side effects is minimal. The use of this drug makes it possible to reduce eye pressure.
Composition
Brominidine tartrate is the main active ingredient of Alfagan (eye drops). The instructions for use show that it is thanks to this component that the therapeutic efficacy of this drug is determined. Also, the composition of "Alfagan" includes other excipients that contribute to the long-term storage of the drug. These include water, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide, boric acid, sodium carmellose. Unfortunately, it is the aids that lead to the development of side effects.
Issue form
Alfagan (eye drops) has only one form of release. Instructions for use indicate that the drug is available in a plastic bottle, which is already equipped with a dropper. Thanks to this, the use of the drug is much simplified, which allows you to always keep it with you and bury your eyes when necessary. Drops are available in three volumes - 15 ml, 10 ml and 5 ml.
Indications for use
The main indication for the use of this drug is increased pressure of the eye fluid. Open-angle glaucoma is another disease in which the use of the drug "Alfagan" (eye drops) is possible. Instructions for use defines this drug as an ophthalmic agent of a narrow focus, therefore it cannot be used in the usualeye irritation.
Application
This medicine provides topical treatment. Eye drops must be instilled into the conjunctival sac. One drop is considered a single dose of Alfagan. The application should be carried out every 8 hours, that is, three times a day, 1 drop in each eye. When using other eye drops in parallel, you need to wait a five-minute interval. The course of treatment with Alfagan can last from several weeks to several months.
Contraindications
This ophthalmic remedy contains some components that limit the use of Alfagan. Instructions for use warns that patients with hypersensitivity to any components of the drug is contraindicated. Also, these drops are not prescribed in conjunction with prescribed inhibitors and monoamine oxidases, which are used in psychiatric and neurological practice. Also, you can not use the drug during pregnancy and lactation. Patients who have diseases such as renal failure, orthostatic hypotension, or impaired cerebral circulation should take Alphagan (drops) with extreme caution. "Alfagan" is intended for patients who weigh more than 20 kg and have reached the age of 2 years. But for babies, the drug is prescribed in extreme cases and only under the supervision of a doctor.
Side effect
Side effects,both local and systemic, can develop when using the drug "Alfagan" (eye drops). The instructions for use warns that when using this drug, the conjunctiva may turn red or swelling may appear, vision may be slightly blurred and sensitivity to light may increase. Large amounts of tear fluid may also form. Side effects also include drowsiness, weakness, headache and dizziness. Cough, impaired breathing, skin rash, impaired taste perception - all this is also possible when using the Alfagan drug. Patient reviews, in turn, showed that side effects occur very rarely and pass quickly. And in general, the medicine is well tolerated by the body.
Special Instructions
In the process of using Alfagan drops, special instructions should be taken with responsibility. First of all, it should be remembered that Alfagan cannot be used with contact lenses. Instructions for use warns that the constituent component of this product - benzalkonium chloride contributes to clouding of contact lenses. Therefore, they are removed before using the product. You can only put them back on after half an hour.
During instillation, it is not advisable to touch the dropper to the eyes and foreign objects, this can lead to infection of the contents of the vial. You can not use two drugs at the same time, doctors always warn about this,who prescribed the drug "Alfagan". The manual also has specific instructions for this. A minimum of 5 minutes should elapse between applications, but 15-25 minutes is considered ideal.
It should be borne in mind that the therapeutic effect occurs after a day. Therefore, you need to consult a doctor if this does not happen.
Interaction
The drug does not interact with other ophthalmic drugs. The main thing is to maintain a five-minute interval between the use of another drug and Alfagan. The instruction warns that this drug can enhance the effect of various drugs that can suppress the central nervous system. These include barbiturates, alcohol, sedatives, opium derivatives, and general anesthetics. Considering that alpha-agonists tend to reduce heart rate and blood pressure, cardiac glycosides and antihypertensive drugs should be prescribed with extreme caution. You should also be careful when combining Alphagan and tricyclic antidepressants, as they can affect the metabolism of amines.
Storage
The storage temperature of this medicinal product is 18-24 degrees, it does not matter if the Alfagan drops are open or closed. The instruction determines that the drug can be stored in the closed state for 24 months, but if the drug has already been opened, its shelf life is only 1 month.
Price
The price of this drug depends on many factors, for example, on the manufacturer and its delivery to a particular pharmacy. Basically, it ranges from 450 to 550rubles per unit.
Analogues
Quite often in pharmacies they ask what can replace the drug "Alphagan"? Analogues of this drug may be needed in several cases. First of all, substitutes are asked in case of intolerance to this drug. Also, the reason may be the lack of "Alfagan" in the pharmacy or the price of the drug.
"Alphagan" has a unique chemical composition that differs from its counterparts, but they have almost the same mechanism of action. Therefore, patients with hypersensitivity to Alfagan components very often need analogues. The substitutes that pharmacists most often advise are Kosopt, Pilocarpine, Xalatan, Arutimol, Trusopt, Azopt, Okumed, Travatan, Fotil, Betoptik, " Timolol", "Azarga". It should be noted that not all of the listed analogues have a price lower than Alfagan. Some even cost more. Sometimes it depends on the unique composition that eliminates most side effects, and sometimes only on the manufacturer of the product, so you should consult a doctor or pharmacist before buying.
Reviews
People who have experienced high eye pressure generally only positively comment on Alphagan drops. Reviews of many people confirm that this drug well and quickly lowers the pressure of the eye fluid, which greatly alleviates the condition of the eyes. Many have confirmed that thanks to the medicine, sharpness is induced, objects can be seen moreclearly, over time, vision is restored, and eye fatigue is absent. It should not be forgotten that Alphagan is used only for increased eye pressure and glaucoma. You should not use the drug for ptosis, irritation or other diseases, as cosmetologists advise on websites, many patients complained that the drug does not help in such situations, but it should not, because the instructions say nothing about this.
"Alfagan" (eye drops) is a remedy with many side effects, and for many people it is not suitable due to individual sensitivity to individual components, so you should not self-medicate, as this can lead to negative results. This drug is prescribed by an ophthalmologist, and only after establishing the correct diagnosis. Remember, if you feel particularly tired eyes, you need to immediately visit a doctor so as not to start your he alth condition.
