Alfagan (eye drops): instructions for use and reviews

Healthy vision is the key to a full and happy life. Therefore, there must be special care behind the eyes. In order not to spoil the vision, you need to eat right, and also regularly visit the oculist, because you can keep good eyesight only with the right care. Partial, and sometimes even complete loss of vision can be associated with increased eye pressure. Symptoms of this disease are almost invisible, they can be confused with usual fatigue from age or from work and do not give it due attention. Therefore, it is advisable to visit the oculist at least once a year, so that the increase in intraocular pressure can be detected in a timely manner.

In general, people over forty are facing this problem. To increased eye pressure leads to the accumulation of eye fluid, which ideally should circulate inside the eye. Reduce the eye pressure will help the drug "Alphagan". The photo shows what the product looks like.

Description of the preparation

"Alphagan" refers to alpha-adrenomimetic drugs and is an antiglaucomatous drug. It has a high selectivity, which ensures efficacy, 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 substance of the drug "Alphagan" (eye drops). The instructions for use show that it is this component that determines the therapeutic efficacy of this drug. Also, the composition of "Alphagan" includes other auxiliary substances that contribute to the long-term storage of the drug. These include water, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide, boric acid, carmellose sodium. Unfortunately, it is the aids that lead to the development of side effects.

Form of issue

Only one form of release has the drug "Alphagan" (eye drops). Instructions for use indicate that the drug is released in a plastic bottle, which is already equipped with a dropper. Thanks to this, the use of the drug is much simpler, which allows you to always keep it with you and bury your eyes when you need it. 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 determine this drug as an ophthalmic tool with a narrow focus, so it can not be used with normal eye irritation.

Application

This drug provides local treatment. Eye drops should be instilled in the conjunctival sac. One drop is considered a single dose of the drug "Alfagan". The application should be carried out every 8 hours, that is, three times a day, one drop in each eye. When used in parallel with other eye drops, you need to wait for a five-minute interval. The course of treatment with "Alfagan" can last from several weeks to several months.

Contraindications

This ophthalmic tool has in its composition some components that limit the use of the drug "Alphagan". Instructions for use warns that patients with hypersensitivity to any components of the drug is contraindicated. Also, these drops are not prescribed together with prescribed inhibitors and monoamine oxidases, which are used in psychiatric and neurological practice. Also, the drug should not be used during pregnancy and lactation. Patients who have such diseases as renal failure, orthostatic hypotension or impaired cerebral circulation, should take Alfagan (drops) with extreme caution. "Alphagan" is intended for patients who weigh more than 20 kg and have reached the age of 2 years. But children are prescribed medicine in extreme cases and only under medical supervision.

By-effect

Side effects, both local and systemic, can develop with the use of the drug "Alfagan" (eye drops). Instructions for use warns that when using this medication the conjunctiva may become red or puffiness may appear, the vision may be slightly clouded and sensitivity to light may increase. A large amount of tear fluid can also form. Side effects also include drowsiness, weakness, headache and dizziness. Cough, impaired breathing, skin rash, impaired taste perception - all this is also possible with the use of the drug "Alfagan". The patient's feedback, in turn, showed that side effects occur very rarely and quickly go away. And basically the medicine is well tolerated by the body.

Special instructions

In the process of using drops, "Alfagan" should take responsibility for special instructions. First of all, you should remember that together with contact lenses you can not use the "Alfagan". Instructions for use warns that the constituent of this product - benzalkonium chloride promotes opacification of contact lenses. Therefore, they are removed before use. You can not put them back until after half an hour.

During instillation, it is not advisable to touch the eye and foreign objects with a dropper, this can lead to infection of the contents of the vial. Do not use two drugs at the same time, doctors always warn about it, who have prescribed the Alfagan remedy. The instruction also has special instructions to this effect. Between the application should pass a minimum of 5 minutes, but the ideal interval is 15-25 minutes.

It should be borne in mind that the therapeutic effect comes after a day. Therefore, you need to consult a doctor if this does not happen.

Interaction

With other ophthalmic drugs, the drug does not interact. The main thing is to maintain a five-minute interval between the use of another drug and the "Alfagan" remedy. The instruction warns that this drug can enhance the action of various drugs that can suppress the CNS. These include barbiturates, alcohol, sedatives, opium derivatives and general anesthetics. Given that alpha-adrenomimetics have the property of lowering heart rate and blood pressure, caution should be used to assign cardiac glycosides and antihypertensive drugs. Also, care should be taken to combine Alfagan and tricyclic antidepressants, since they can affect the metabolism of amines.

Storage

The temperature of storage of this drug is 18-24 degrees, while it does not matter whether the "Alphagan" drops are opened or closed. The instruction specifies that in the closed state the drug can be stored for 24 months, if the drug is already opened, its shelf life is only 1 month.

Price

The price of this drug depends on many factors, for example, from the manufacturer and delivering it to a particular pharmacy. In general, it ranges from 450 to 550 rubles per unit.

Analogues

Quite often in pharmacies 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 of this drug. Also, the reason may be the lack of "Alphagan" in the pharmacy or the price of the drug.

"Alphagan" has a unique chemical composition, which differs from its analogues, but they have practically the same mechanism of action. Therefore, patients with increased sensitivity to the components of Alfagan are very often in need of analogues. Substitutes that pharmacists recommend most often are Kosopt, Pilocarpine, Xalatan, Arutimol, Trusopt, Asopt, 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 a unique composition that excludes most side effects, and sometimes only from the manufacturer of the product, so you should consult a doctor or pharmacist before buying.

Reviews

People who have encountered high eye pressure, basically only positively comment on the drops of "Alphagan". The testimonials of many people confirm that this drug quickly and easily lowers the pressure of the eye fluid, which greatly facilitates the state of the eyes. Many have confirmed that thanks to the medicine, sharpness is induced, the objects are more clearly visible, with time, vision is restored, and eye fatigue is absent. It should be remembered that "Alfagan" is used only with increased eye pressure and glaucoma. Do not use the drug for ptosis, irritation or other diseases, as advised on the websites of cosmetologists, many patients complained that in such situations the drug does not help, but it should not, because the instructions do not say anything about it.

"Alfagan" (eye drops) is a remedy with many side effects, it also does not suit many people due to individual sensitivity to individual components, so do not self-medicate, as this can lead to negative results. This medicine prescribes the oculist, and only after the establishment of the correct diagnosis. Remember, if you feel very tired eye, you need to visit a doctor immediately so that you do not run out of your health.