A trial of dorzolamide for glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the effectiveness of dorzolamide changes when the drug is used under routine clinical conditions versus the more ideal conditions of a clinical trial.


METHODS
A total of 118 eyes of 65 patients were assessed. Nine patients (15 eyes) received dorzolamide only, 41 patients (74 eyes) received dorzolamide as an "add-on" medication, and 15 patients (29 eyes) received dorzolamide as a substitute for an oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitor.


RESULTS
At 1 month the intraocular pressure (IOP) had decreased from 23.5 to 19.9 mm Hg in the patients receiving dorzolamide only, from 18.6 to 16.4 mm Hg in the patients receiving dorzolamide as an add-on medication, and from 17.7 to 16.0 mm Hg in the patients receiving dorzolamide as a substitute for an oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. Similar decreases in IOP were present at 3 and 6 months. Local drug reactions occurred in 3 patients. Five patients stopped treatment because of severe symptoms of nausea and prostration.


CONCLUSIONS
Under routine clinical conditions, dorzolamide was effective as a sole medication and as an add-on medication. It was at least as effective as oral acetazolamide. Local drug reactions sometimes occurred, as did systemic reactions.
Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
W E
WE
Gillies
A M
AM
Brooks
D000293:Adolescent; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008916:Miotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors; D008916:Miotics; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013876:Thiophenes; C062765:dorzolamide