Levobetaxolol (Ophthalmic)

Brand Names : L-betaxolol, Betaxon

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For levobetaxolol, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to levobetaxolol or any other beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agent. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Levobetaxolol has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in animals have shown that levobetaxolol causes birth defects and fertility problems. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether levobetaxolol passes into human breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be safely used while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking this medicine and wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients. There is no specific information comparing use of levobetaxolol in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults - This medicine has been tested and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking levobetaxolol, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agents, systemic (acebutolol [e.g., Sectral], atenolol [e.g.,Tenormin], Betaxolol [e.g., Kerlone], Bisoprolol [e.g., Zebeta], Carteolol [e.g., Cartrol], Labetalol [e.g., Trandate], metoprolol [e.g., Lopressor], nadolol [e.g., Corgard], oxprenolol [e.g., Transicor], penbutolol [e.g., Levatol], pindolol [e.g.,Visken], propranolol [e.g., Inderal], sotalol [e.g., Betapace], or timolol [e.g., Blocadren]) or
• Reserpine (e.g., Serpalan) - Use of these medicines with levobetaxolol may increase the chance of side effects

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of levobetaxolol. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Allergic reactions, severe (history of) - Levobetaxolol may reduce the effectiveness of the medicine (epinephrine) used to treat severe allergic reactions

• Asthma or other lung disease - Severe breathing problems may occur

• Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) or
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) - Levobetaxolol may cover up some of the signs and symptoms of low blood sugar

• Glaucoma, angle-closure - In patients with this type of glaucoma, levobetaxolol must be used with another type of medicine because it does not work well alone

• Heart block (history of) or
• Heart failure (history of) - Levobetaxolol may have a negative effect on heart rate and blood pressure

• Heart disease, severe - Levobetaxolol should not be used in patients with this condition

• Myasthenic conditions - Levobetaxolol may make muscle weakness worse

• Surgery, major - Levobetaxolol may lessen the heart's ability to tolerate the effects of the anesthetic (medicine to cause loss of feeling before and during surgery)

• Thyrotoxicosis (overactive thyroid) - Levobetaxolol may cover up some of the signs and symptoms of an overactive thyroid