Clinical experience with a fixed dose combination therapy of timolol and pilocarpine used twice daily in the management of chronic open angle glaucoma.
Twenty-five eyes of 25 patients with primary chronic open angle glaucoma deemed controlled for 12 months were converted from timolol 0.25% or 0.5% b.d. and pilocarpine 2% q.i.d. to a combination drop (TP2) of combined timolol 0.5% and pilocarpine 2% given b.d. Mean intraocular pressures (IOP) were 18.68 +/- 2.84 mmHg at 1 month, 18.81 +/- 2.56 mmHg at 3 months and 18.56 +/- 2.01 mmHg at 6 months. These values were significantly higher than the initial IOP of 17.48 +/- 2.2 mmHg (p values 0.0006, 0.0001 and 0.0004 respectively). However, 1 month following reconversion to initial therapy the IOP was 17.68 +/- 2.67 mmHg, which was not significantly higher than the initial IOP (p = 0.46). In addition, of 8 eyes uncontrolled during the course of the study, 6 became controlled following reconversion to initial treatment. Combination therapy of TP2 b.d. cannot be recommended to control IOP satisfactorily in patients maintained on timolol 0.25% or 0.5% b.d. and pilocarpine 2% q.i.d.
Moriarty
A P
AP
St Paul's Eye Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
Dowd
T C
TC
Trimble
R B
RB
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013999:Timolol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004338:Drug Combinations; D010862:Pilocarpine; D013999:Timolol