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Drug Details

Alphagan P

Last Reviewed: Nov 21, 2024

Drug Details

Generic Name:

Brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution

Common Brands:

Alphagan P

Availability:

Prescription only

Therapeutic Class:

Alpha-adrenergic receptor agonists

Forms:

Ophthalmic solution (eye drop)

Administration:

Ocular (by direct application to the eye)

Therapeutic Uses:

Open-angle glaucoma
Ocular hypertension

Controlled Status:

Not a controlled substance

Alphagan P Drug Class

Alphagan P (alfa-gaan pee) is an alpha adrenergic receptor agonist.

Alphagan P Age Range

Alphagan P ophthalmic solution is approved for use in adults and children 2 years of age and older.

Uses

Alphagan P Uses

Alphagan P is used to treat open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Glaucoma is a condition in which there is elevated intraocular pressure (high pressure in the eye). This can cause damage to the optic nerve and lead to a gradual but permanent loss of vision. Ocular hypertension is a condition in which the intraocular pressure (eye pressure) is high.

There may be other uses of Alphagan P—your doctor or pharmacist can give you further drug information.

Alphagan P Mechanism of Action

Alphagan P decreases intraocular pressure (pressure inside the eye) by reducing the formation of a natural fluid called aqueous humor in the eye. It also increases the outflow of this fluid from the eye.

Alphagan P Doses

The dose of brimonidine tartrate (Alphagan P) 0.1% or 0.15% ophthalmic solution is one drop in the affected eye three times a day with the doses about 8 hours apart.

Directions

How To Use Alphagan P

Put one drop of brimonidine tartrate (Alphagan P) 0.1% or 0.15% eye drops in the affected eye three times a day at 8-hour intervals. If you are also using other eye drops, including eye drops to lower intraocular pressure, apply them at least 5 minutes away from Alphagan P.

Read the prescription label carefully and use Alphagan P exactly as instructed by your doctor. Do not change the dose or dosing frequency without your doctor’s approval.

If you wear contact lenses, remove them before applying Alphagan P, and wait at least 15 minutes before reinserting them. A preservative in this eye drop called benzalkonium chloride can damage soft contact lenses.

Here is a step-by-step guide for applying Alphagan P:

Wash your hands properly with soap and water.
Remove your contact lenses (if you wear them).
Do not touch the tip of the dropper to your eye, finger, face, or any other surface.
Tilt your head slightly back and pull your lower eyelid down to form a small pocket.
Squeeze one drop of Alphagan P into this pocket and gently close the eye.
Use your finger to apply gentle pressure on the inner corner of the eye.
Tilt your head down for 1-2 minutes.
Replace the dropper in the bottle immediately. Do not rinse or wipe the dropper.
Dab any excess medicine with a clean tissue.
Wash your hands once more to remove any medicine.
Wait at least 5 minutes before using other eye medicines.
Wait at least 15 minutes before putting your contact lenses back in.

Alphagan P should only be applied to the eye surface. Do not put this medicine in your mouth or nose or swallow it.

Alphagan P can help to control open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension, but it does not cure these conditions. Continue using the medicine even if you feel well and are symptom-free. Do not stop treatment with Alphagan P without consulting your healthcare provider.

Missed dose: If you forget a dose of Alphagan P, use it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and use the next dose according to your regular dosing schedule. Do not use a double dose or extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

Storage: Store Alphagan P at room temperature (between 15-30° C or 59-86° F) away from moisture, heat, and direct light in a tightly closed container. Do not store medications in the bathroom, where they can be exposed to moisture and heat. Keep all medications safely out of reach of children and pets.

Unused medicine: Unused or expired Alphagan P should be disposed of in a way that children, other people, and pets cannot get to them. Do not throw Alphagan P in the trash or flush it down the toilet. The best way to dispose of expired or unneeded Alphagan P is through your local waste disposal company or a drug take-back program. Learn more about proper medication disposal.

NOTE: This medication guide is a summary and may not contain all possible drug information on Alphagan P. The information contained here may not be up-to-date. This sheet is for information purposes only. If you have questions about Alphagan P, talk to your healthcare professionals for medical advice.

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Side Effects

Alphagan P Side Effects

Common side effects of Alphagan P are listed below. Tell your doctor if these side effects are severe or continue after a few days.

Minor eye irritations (eye redness, itching, burning, or stinging)
Blurry vision
Eye dryness
Excessive watering of the eye
Eyelid swelling or redness
Light sensitivity in the eye
Drowsiness
Sleeping trouble
Headache
Heartburn
Dry mouth
Flu-like illness or cold symptoms (sore throat, cough, runny nose, facial pressure or pain)

Sometimes, Alphagan P can cause more serious side effects. Seek immediate medical attention if you develop:

Signs of allergic reactions (rash, hives, itching)
Difficulty swallowing
Troubled breathing
Unable to see a part of the visual field (blind spot)
Vision change, such as seeing specks or flashes of light
Nausea
Sluggishness (unusual weak feeling)
Lightheadedness
Fainting

The above list may not include all the potential adverse effects of Alphagan P. Contact your healthcare professional if the side effects are unusual or severe or if they do not get better over time. You can also report unusual side effects to the Food and Drug Administration at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Alphagan P Overdose: In case you accidentally swallow Alphagan P eye drops, contact a healthcare provider immediately. You can also call the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222. Call 911 if a person has trouble breathing, cannot be awakened, has collapsed, or has had a seizure.

Source: FDA

Warnings

Alphagan P Risks, Warnings, and Complications

Alphagan P (brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution) can cause or worsen medical problems in some people. Talk to your doctor about other treatment options for open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension if you are at increased risk of health complications from this medication. Some of the risks of using Alphagan P include:

VASCULAR INSUFFICIENCY: Alphagan P can cause constriction (narrowing) of the blood vessels and increase the risk of vascular insufficiency (decreased blood flow). This medication may not be safe for people with certain medical conditions. Tell your doctor if you have a history of depression, orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure when standing up from a lying or sitting position), cerebral or coronary insufficiency (blockage or narrowing of the blood vessels that supply the brain and heart), Raynaud’s phenomenon (decreased blood flow to the fingers, toes, and lips in response to cold), or thromboangiitis obliterans (a rare condition in which blood clots and inflammation develop in the blood vessels of the hands and feet).
SEVERE CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE: Although the effects of Alphagan P on blood pressure are minimal, this eye drop should be used with caution in people with severe cardiovascular disease (heart disease and circulation problems).
RISK OF CONTAMINATION: Eye drops in multiple-dose containers such as Alphagan P can become contaminated. This can put you at risk of serious eye infections such as bacterial keratitis. People who have corneal disease or disruption of the ocular epithelium are at a higher risk of eye infections. Use Alphagan P eye drops with careful hygiene precautions to lower your risk of infections due to contamination.

Precautions Before Starting Alphagan P

Tell your doctor if you have had an allergic reaction to brimonidine tartrate (the active ingredient in Alphagan P), any of the inactive ingredients in Alphagan P eye drops, or any other drugs. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients.

Give your doctor and pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products. This can help avoid possible drug interactions between Alphagan P and your other medicines.

Tell your doctor if you have a history of medical conditions such as orthostatic hypotension (lightheadedness and low blood pressure when going from a lying or sitting position to standing), circulation or blood vessel problems, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, or kidney disease.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, are planning a pregnancy, or are nursing an infant with breast milk.

Precautions During Use of Alphagan P

Keep all your medical and laboratory appointments while using Alphagan P (brimonidine ophthalmic) for open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Your doctor will monitor you for serious side effects.

If you are using other eye drops, including medications for elevated intraocular pressure, apply them at least 5 minutes before or after using Alphagan P.

If you wear soft contact lenses, remove them before instilling the eye drop and wait at least 15 minutes before putting them back in.

Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment with this medicine. Do not breastfeed while using Alphagan P.

Be sure to inform your healthcare providers that you are on Alphagan P (brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic) before any surgical procedures, including dental treatments.

In case of an eye infection, eye injury, or eye surgery, check with your eye doctor if you can continue using the same bottle of Alphagan P eye drops.

Alphagan P can cause blurry vision and drowsiness. Do not drive a motor vehicle, operate heavy machinery, or do other hazardous activities that require clear vision and mental alertness until you know how the medicine affects you.

Avoid drinking alcohol while on Alphagan P. Alcohol can cause worsening drowsiness and put you at risk of injuries and accidents.

Alphagan P Drug Interactions

Use of Alphagan P (brimonidine tartrate) eye drops with certain other medicines can affect how the medicines work. Possible interactions between Alphagan P and other drugs can increase the risk of serious adverse effects. Your doctor may change the dose of your medications, switch you to a different drug, and/or monitor you carefully for side effects if there are known interactions between Alphagan P and your other medicines. Some of the medications with which Alphagan P can interact include:

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors
Antihypertensives
Cardiac glycosides
Tricyclic antidepressants
CNS depressants

The above list does not contain all the drug interactions of Alphagan P. Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, non-prescription medicines, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies. Also, tell your healthcare provider if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use recreational drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

Pros & Cons

Alphagan P Pros and Cons

pros header.svg

Alphagan P (brimonidine ophthalmic) can effectively lower eye pressure in people with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
This eye drop works quickly, with a peak effect in 2 hours.
You can store Alphagan P eye drops at room temperature.
There is a lower-cost generic available.

cons header.svg

Alphagan P can cause minor eye irritations, including sensitivity to lights, redness, stinging, burning, and blurred vision.
You need to use Alphagan P 3 times daily with the doses about 8 hours apart.
Before using Alphagan P, you need to remove contact lenses and wait 15 minutes before reinserting them.

Pharmacist Tips

Alphagan P Tips from Pharmacists

To prevent contamination and eye infections, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before using Alphagan P.
Do not touch the dropper tip to your eye, finger, face, or any other surface. Replace the dropper in the bottle immediately after use. Do not wipe or rinse it.
Wait at least 5 minutes between the use of Alphagan P and other eye medications.
Remove contact lenses before instilling Alphagan P and wait 15 minutes before putting them back in. This eye drop contains a preservative that can cause discoloration of soft contact lenses.
Alphagan P can make you drowsy and cause blurry vision. Do not drive or perform other potentially dangerous activities until you can see clearly and are fully alert.
Continue treatment with Alphagan P even if you feel well and don’t have any eye symptoms. You cannot tell that the pressure in the eye is high based on symptoms alone. Your doctor will monitor intraocular pressure (IOP) with eye tests.

Rx Savings Tips

Alphagan P Rx Savings Tips

Alphagan P is a brand-name product that is also available in generic form at significantly lower prices. The brand name Alphagan P and generic brimonidine tartrate contain the same medicine and are equally effective and safe. Like with most medications, the generic drug offers better value. A BuzzRx Alphagan P coupon can result in big savings on the brand name and generic forms of the drug. With a BuzzRx discount card, savings card, or discount coupons, the medication could cost you a fraction of retail prices. Alphagan P may be under $10.50 for one eye dropper bottle of the 5 ml of 0.2% dose at Walmart, Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS Pharmacy, and other participating pharmacies with a BuzzRx discount card or free coupon. For the biggest discounts on Alphagan P, give the checkout clerk your BuzzRx Alphagan P discount coupon when you drop off your prescriptions at the pharmacy counter.

Lowest Price for Alphagan P

Brand
$194.96

Generic
$10.30

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Pricing based on most commonly-filled versions. Select the strength and quantity of your medication for the most accurate pricing.

Common Questions

Common Questions about Alphagan P

How many drops of Alphagan P should I use?

The usual dose of Alphagan P is one drop in the affected eye three times a day. Read the prescribing information carefully and use the eye drop exactly as advised by your eye doctor.

Should Alphagan P eye drops be stored in the refrigerator?

No, you don’t need to store Alphagan P eye drops in the refrigerator. Store the medicine at room temperature, away from excessive heat and moisture. Discard any unused medicine after the expiration date mentioned on the bottle.

What happens if I miss a day of my glaucoma drops?

Skipping doses of your glaucoma drops, including Alphagan P, can lead to worsening of the condition. Glaucoma can cause permanent loss of vision. Follow your doctor’s treatment plan and take your eye medications regularly.

Can I check my eye pressure at home?

Your doctor will check your eye pressure in the ophthalmology office (eye clinic) every few months. However, there is a device available for use at home called the iCare rebound tonometer. Your eye doctor may recommend using this device to measure eye pressure at home and follow-up in the clinic if the readings are high.

What is the price of Alphagan P without insurance?

Without insurance, Alphagan P can be as high as $44.12, but with a free BuzzRx prescription discount coupon, you could pay as low as $10.30 for the most common version of this medication. Use the BuzzRx drug price look-up tool to find the lowest discounted price, and be sure to enter the correct dosage, form, and quantity for the most accurate pricing. While generics tend to have the best savings, you can also use your BuzzRx card and coupons to purchase brand-name versions. It never hurts to ask your pharmacist to try BuzzRx when filling or refilling any of your prescription drugs—whether you have insurance or not.

What is the price of Alphagan P with insurance?

Ask your pharmacist or insurance provider for your copay price on Alphagan P—Copay amounts vary depending on the type of insurance plan you have and if there is a deductible to reach before prescription drug coverage begins.

You could save up to 80% on your prescription medication with a free BuzzRx discount coupon for Alphagan P. When using the BuzzRx lookup tool to find the price of your medicine, be sure to enter the correct dosage, form, and quantity to receive the most accurate discounted pricing. It never hurts to ask your pharmacist to try BuzzRx when filling or refilling any of your prescriptions—whether you have insurance or not.