Levobunolol
About
Levobunolol belongs to a class of ophthalmic preparations called anti-glaucoma agents primarily used to treat increased pressure in the eyes. Glaucoma is an eye condition that causes damage to the optic nerve (essential for good vision) due to abnormally increased pressure in the eye. Ocular hypertension is increased pressure in the eye due to poor drainage of aqueous humour (fluid in the eye that maintains normal pressure by its continuous flow).
Levobunolol contains Levobunolol, which is a beta-blocker. It works by blocking beta-receptors located in the eyes and decreasing the secretion of aqueous humour (fluid of eyeball that maintains eye pressure), thereby lowering the raised eye pressure. Thus, it prevents eyes from getting blind due to glaucoma and raised eye pressure.
Use Levobunolol as prescribed. Levobunolol is only for use in eyes. You are advised to use Levobunolol for as long as your doctor has prescribed it based on your medical condition. In some cases, you may experience redness, itching, irritation or pain in the eyes, swelling of eyelids, blurred vision and dry eyes. Most of these side effects of Levobunolol do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects worsen or persist, please consult your doctor.
If you are allergic to Levobunolol or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Levobunolol is not recommended for children below 18 years of age. You are not advised to use Levobunolol if you are pregnant or breastfeeding unless prescribed by a doctor. You are advised to remove soft contact lenses before using Levobunolol as it may cause discolouration of the soft contact lens. If you get any new eye problem, an eye infection or notice any allergic reactions such as itching or redness of the eye and skin rash, please consult your doctor immediately. You are advised to maintain a 10 minutes time gap between using Levobunolol and other eye drops. Please do not touch the container tip to the eye, eyelids or surrounding areas as it may contaminate Levobunolol and cause eye infections. If you have asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Raynaud’s disease or Raynaud’s syndrome (poor blood circulation), diabetes, hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland), irregular heartbeat, heart failure or any other heart problems, inform your doctor before taking Levobunolol.
Uses of Levobunolol
Medicinal Benefits
Levobunolol contains Levobunolol used to treat increased pressure in the eye in conditions such as glaucoma (damage of optic nerve) and ocular hypertension (high fluid pressure inside the eye). Levobunolol blocks beta-receptors on the ciliary body (part of the eye that produces aqueous humour). It decreases the secretion of aqueous humour (a liquid that maintains normal pressure in the eyeball) by the ciliary body into the eyeball. Thereby lowers the pressure in the eye by reducing aqueous humour entry into the eyeball.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Levobunolol
- Redness, itching, irritation or pain in the eyes
- Swelling of eyelids
- Blurred vision
- Dry eyes
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
If you are allergic to Levobunolol or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Levobunolol is not recommended for children below 18 years of age. You are not advised to use Levobunolol if you are pregnant or breastfeeding unless prescribed by a doctor. You are advised to remove soft contact lenses before using Levobunolol as it may cause discolouration of the soft contact lens. If you get any new eye problem, an eye infection or notice any allergic reactions such as itching or redness of the eye and skin rash, please consult your doctor immediately. You are advised to maintain a 10 minutes time gap between using Levobunolol and other eye drops. Please do not touch the container tip to the eye, eyelids or surrounding areas as it may contaminate Levobunolol and cause eye infections. In very rare cases, you may notice cloudy patches on the cornea (transparent layer at the front of the eye) due to the accumulation of calcium as Levobunolol contains phosphates responsible for causing such severe damage to the cornea. If you have asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Raynaud’s disease or Raynaud’s syndrome (poor blood circulation), diabetes, hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland), irregular heartbeat, heart failure or any other heart problems, inform your doctor before taking Levobunolol.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Levobunolol may have interaction with high blood pressure-lowering medicines (amlodipine), medicines used to treat irregular heartbeat (digoxin, amiodarone), antidiabetic drugs and medicines to dilate the pupil (adrenaline).
Drug- Food Interaction: No interactions found.
Drug-Disease Interaction: If you have asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Raynaud’s disease or Raynaud’s syndrome (poor blood circulation), diabetes, hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland), irregular heartbeat, heart failure or any other heart problems, inform your doctor before taking Levobunolol.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionThe interaction of alcohol with Levobunolol is unknown. Please consult a doctor before consuming alcohol with Levobunolol.
Pregnancy
unsafeLevobunolol is a Category C pregnancy drug and is not recommended for use during pregnancy unless your doctor considers it essential.
Breast Feeding
unsafeAvoid breastfeeding while taking Levobunolol. Please consult a doctor before using Levobunolol in breastfeeding mothers.
Driving
cautionLevobunolol may cause blurred vision, dizziness or tiredness in some people. Therefore, drive only when your vision is clear and are alert after taking Levobunolol.
Liver
cautionIf you have any concerns regarding the use of Levobunolol in patients with liver problems, please consult a doctor.
Kidney
cautionIf you have any concerns regarding the use of Levobunolol in patients with kidney problems, please consult a doctor.
Children
unsafeLevobunolol is not recommended for children below 18 years of age, as the safety and effectiveness were not established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Avoid baked foods such as cakes, cookies, donuts or fried items such as French fries and stick margarine as these foods may worsen glaucoma and damaged the optic nerve.
- Please cut down your coffee intake as it may increase pressure in the eye and replace coffee with green tea.
- Avoid exercises such as any position where the head is lower than the body like inverted yoga pose as it may increase pressure in the eye. Doing selective exercises is advised for glaucoma patients.
Special Advise
- You are advised to inform your doctor before any operation that you are using Levobunolol as it may alter the effects of some medicines used during anesthesia.
- Your doctor may monitor eye pressure after 4 weeks of starting treatment with Levobunolol.
- Levobunolol may make it harder to tell if you have signs of an overactive thyroid like a fast heartbeat. So, if you have an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) and have stopped taking Levobunolol all of a sudden, it may be life-threatening.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Glaucoma: It is an eye condition that causes damage to the optic nerve (essential for good vision) due to abnormally increased pressure in the eye. If it is not treated in time, it may cause blindness. Usually, there are no symptoms of glaucoma initially except the slow loss of vision gradually. However, some symptoms include visible rainbow-colored circles around bright lights or blurred vision. Rarely, glaucoma can develop suddenly with intense pain in the eye, visual disturbance, or nausea.
Ocular hypertension: It is a condition caused due to poor drainage of aqueous humor (fluid in the eye that maintains normal pressure by its continuous flow). This leads to the building up of excess fluid in the eye, resulting in increased pressure inside the eye without any damage to the optic nerve. If ocular hypertension is not controlled, it may lead to glaucoma.
FAQs
Levobunolol contains Levobunolol that works by blocking beta-receptors on the ciliary body (part of the eye that produces aqueous humour) and decreases the secretion of aqueous humour (a liquid that maintains normal pressure in the eyeball) by the ciliary body into the eyeball. Thereby lowers the pressure in the eye by reducing aqueous humour entry into the eyeball.
No, you are not recommended to wear contact lenses while using Levobunolol as it contains benzalkonium chloride, a preservative that changes the colour of the contact lens as it may be absorbed by a soft contact lens. Benzalkonium chloride also causes irritation in the eye especially if you have disorders of the cornea (transparent layer at the front of the eye) or dry eyes. Therefore, you are advised to remove contact lenses before applying Levobunolol and reinsert after 15 minutes of using Levobunolol.
You are recommended to maintain a minimum of 10 minutes time gap between using Levobunolol and other eye drops and administer eye ointments in the last.
Yes, Levobunolol may cause temporary blurred vision. Therefore, you are recommended to wait until your vision is clear before driving or operating heavy machinery.
You may need to stop using Levobunolol before surgery as it may alter the effects of certain medicines used during anaesthesia. Therefore, you are recommended to inform your doctor or dentist that you are using Levobunolol before any surgery or dental procedure.
Levobunolol is not recommended for asthma patients as it may cause bronchoconstriction (narrowing of airways). However, it is advised to inform your doctor if you have asthma before taking Levobunolol.
