[Four new drugs for glaucoma: apraclonidine, brimonidine, dorzolamide and latanoprost].
Glaucoma is in most of cases initially treated with drugs, viz. beta-blocking agents, miotics, sympathicomimetics and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. The therapy of first choice is a beta-blocking agent, but in approximately 50% of the patients treated the effect becomes inadequate with time and combination therapy is necessary. Recently, four new antiglaucomatous agents have become available: apraclonidine, brimonidine, dorzolamide and latanoprost. Apraclonidine, an alpha 2-adrenergic agonist, is indicated for brief episodes of postlaser rise of the intraocular pressure. Longer treatment may lead to tolerance. Brimonidine, another alpha 2-adrenergic agonist, is indicated for long-term treatment of glaucoma; tolerance does not often occur. Dorzolamide is a local carbonic anhydrase inhibitor which lacks the systemic side effects seen after oral administration of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Latanoprost, a prostaglandin F2 alpha-derivative induces an effective decrease of the intraocular pressure if administered as monotherapy and has a good efficacy when combined with other drugs lowering the intraocular pressure. The new antiglaucomatous agents are a welcome addition to the pharmacotherapy, since in many cases they make it possible to postpone or avoid surgery.
Hoyng
P F
PF
Interuniversitair Oogheelkundig Instituut, Amsterdam.
Rasker
M T
MT
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate; D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003000:Clonidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077338:Latanoprost; D008297:Male; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; D011810:Quinoxalines; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013876:Thiophenes; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate; D000077338:Latanoprost; C016986:apraclonidine; C062765:dorzolamide; D003000:Clonidine
Vier nieuwe geneesmiddelen bij glaucoom: apraclonidine, brimonidine, dorzolamide en latanoprost.