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Hidden Bonus with Combination Drugs
For the first time, two familiar prescription eyedrops used to treat Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) have been combined into one formula. Separately, each of these drops have successfully reduced elevated intraocular pressure, so why is this news?
The new product is called Combigan and it is marketed by drug maker Allergan. Combigan is made up of two active compounds: brimonidine and timolol. Brimonidine is an alpha-agonist and timolol is a beta-blocker. That means each anti-glaucoma drug has a separate mechanism of action, they lower the pressure differently.
That's a good thing because over time glaucoma eyedrops tend to lose their effectiveness compared to when the drug is first used. After 6-12 months the pressure may begin to creep upward so the prescribing doctor usually stops one eyedrop and substitutes a different drug. Typically there is a dramatic recovery of good pressure control that lasts another 6-12 months. At that point the doctor may need to prescribe two eyedrops.
Asking a patient to take one eyedrop three times a day and instill a second eyedrop twice a day - all at different hours - is an enormous challenge. There are serious problems with patient compliance because life gets in the way. It's just too hard to accurately administer eyedrops five times every day and keep things straight.
Combigan is prescribed for twice a day use. FDA-reviewed clinical studies reported that the pressure lowering effect of Combigan, as expected, was better than each drug alone and almost as good compared to study volunteers who succeeded in using the two separate drugs. (Study volunteers are often provided assistance, even money, to take all of their medications. Real-world medical care is very different. Nobody will call you every day to remind you to take your eyedrops, right?)
Because these two preparations have been used for many years by millions of patients there is a well-established safety record - another good thing!
The introduction of Combigan is an important advance in the medical treatment of glaucoma because we already know these compounds work, their pressure-lowering effect is enhanced when combined, and difficult problems with patient compliance are significantly reduced. Most folks can handle a twice-a-day eyedrop.
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: glaucoma, vision, combigan, eyedrops, health and wellness
