Pronunciation bri-MOE-ni-deen MedlinePlus a601232 CAS ID 59803-98-4 | Trade names Alphagan, Mirvaso Molar mass 292.135 g/mol | |
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AHFS/Drugs.com Consumer Drug Information Pregnancycategory US: B (No risk in non-human studies) | ||
Glaucoma drugs epinephrine brimonidine a2 alpha agonists
Brimonidine is a drug used as eye drops under the brand names Alphagan and Alphagan-P to treat open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension, and as a gel, Mirvaso, for facial skin redness in rosacea.
Contents
- Glaucoma drugs epinephrine brimonidine a2 alpha agonists
- Medical vocabulary what does brimonidine tartrate timolol maleate drug combination mean
- Clinical uses
- Mechanism of action
- References
It acts via decreasing synthesis of aqueous humor, and increasing the amount that drains from the eye through uveoscleral outflow; brimonidine treats reddened skin (erythema) by causing narrowing of blood vessels (vasoconstriction).
Medical vocabulary what does brimonidine tartrate timolol maleate drug combination mean
Clinical uses
Brimonidine is indicated for the lowering of intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. It is also the active ingredient of Combigan along with timolol maleate.
A Cochrane Systematic Review compared the effect of brimonidine and timolol in slowing the progression of open angle glaucoma in adult participants.
In 2013, the FDA approved topical application of brimonidine 0.33% gel (Mirvaso) for persistent facial redness of rosacea.
Mechanism of action
Brimonidine is an α2 adrenergic agonist.
α2 agonists, through the activation of a G protein-coupled receptor, inhibit the activity of adenylate cyclase. This reduces cAMP and hence aqueous humour production by the ciliary body.
Peripheral α2 agonist activity results in vasoconstriction of blood vessels (as opposed to central α2 agonist activity that decreases sympathetic tone, as can be seen by the medication clonidine). This vasoconstriction may explain the acute reduction in aqueous humor flow. The increased uveoscleral outflow from prolonged use may be explained by increased prostaglandin release due to α adrenergic stimulation. This may lead to relaxed ciliary muscle and increased uveoscleral outflow.