title: Efficacy of single glaucoma medication in combined latanoprost and timolol XE therapy in patients with open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension: a discontinuation study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of single drug discontinuation in combined timolol XE 0.5% and latanoprost 0.005% treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension who had received both latanoprost and timolol XE for at least 6 months were enrolled in this study. Timolol XE and latanoprost were administered once daily, timolol XE in the morning and latanoprost in the evening. Twenty-five patients discontinued timolol XE and the remaining 25 patients discontinued latanoprost. Either latanoprost or timolol XE was discontinued and 8 weeks later it was resumed. A change in intraocular pressure (IOP) was studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients had complete follow-up visits. A significant increase in mean IOP was found following drug discontinuation in the 2 groups. Mean change in IOP 8 weeks after discontinuation of the drug was +1.6±1.2 mmHg (10.3%±8.0%) in the timolol XE group and +4.3±1.6 mmHg (+27.2%±11.8%) in the latanoprost group. The change in the latanoprost group was significantly greater compared with that in the timolol XE group (P<0.0001). There was no significant difference in mean IOP between before drug discontinuation and at 8 weeks after drug resumption in any group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a significant increase in IOP from discontinuation of timolol XE and latanoprost. The hypotensive effect of latanoprost in the combined drug therapy is significantly greater compared with timolol XE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kanmon Medical Center, 1-1 Chofu-satoura-cho, Shimonoseki, Japan. kobi@earth.ocn.ne.jp
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D000077338:Latanoprost; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018401:Sample Size; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology; D013999:Timolol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; D000077338:Latanoprost; D013999:Timolol