Intraoperative bradycardia and hypotension associated with timolol and pilocarpine eye drops.
A 69-yr-old man, who was concurrently being treated with pilocarpine nitrate and timolol maleate eye drops, developed a bradycardia and became hypotensive during halothane anaesthesia. Both timolol and pilocarpine were subsequently identified in a 24-h collection of urine. Timolol (but not pilocarpine) was detected in a sample of plasma removed during surgery; the plasma concentration of timolol (2.6 ng ml-1) was consistent with partial beta-adrenoceptor blockade. It is postulated that this action may have been enhanced during halothane anaesthesia with resultant bradycardia and hypotension. Pilocarpine may have had a contributory effect.
D000368:Aged; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006221:Halothane; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013999:Timolol / Q000009:adverse effects*
D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010862:Pilocarpine; D013999:Timolol; D006221:Halothane