Pronunciation:

lee-voe-be-TAX-oh-lol

Classifications:

Pharmacologic—

Beta-Adrenergic Blocker, Cardioselective

Uses of This Medicine:

Levobetaxolol is used alone or together with other medicines to treat increased pressure in the eye that is caused by open-angle glaucoma or a condition called ocular (eye) hypertension. This medicine is a beta-blocker .

This medicine was available only with your doctor's prescription .

Alcon Laboratories discontinued the distribution of levobetaxolol in 2006.

Before Using This Medicine:

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies—

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Children—

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatrics-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of levobetaxolol in children .

Older adults—

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatrics-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of levobetaxolol in the elderly .

Other medicines—

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Albuterol
• Arformoterol
• Bambuterol
• Clenbuterol
• Colterol
• Dronedarone
• Fenoldopam
• Fenoterol
• Fingolimod
• Formoterol
• Hexoprenaline
• Indacaterol
• Isoetharine
• Levalbuterol
• Metaproterenol
• Pirbuterol
• Procaterol
• Reproterol
• Ritodrine
• Salmeterol
• Terbutaline
• Tretoquinol
• Tulobuterol
• Vilanterol

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Aceclofenac
• Acemetacin
• Amtolmetin Guacil
• Aspirin
• Bromfenac
• Bufexamac
• Celecoxib
• Choline Salicylate
• Clonixin
• Dexibuprofen
• Dexketoprofen
• Diclofenac
• Diflunisal
• Dipyrone
• Etodolac
• Etofenamate
• Etoricoxib
• Felbinac
• Fenoprofen
• Fepradinol
• Feprazone
• Floctafenine
• Flufenamic Acid
• Flurbiprofen
• Ibuprofen
• Ibuprofen Lysine
• Indomethacin
• Ketoprofen
• Ketorolac
• Lornoxicam
• Loxoprofen
• Lumiracoxib
• Meclofenamate
• Mefenamic Acid
• Meloxicam
• Morniflumate
• Nabumetone
• Naproxen
• Nepafenac
• Niflumic Acid
• Nimesulide
• Oxaprozin
• Oxyphenbutazone
• Parecoxib
• Phenylbutazone
• Piketoprofen
• Piroxicam
• Pranoprofen
• Proglumetacin
• Propyphenazone
• Proquazone
• Rofecoxib
• Salicylic Acid
• Salsalate
• Sodium Salicylate
• St John's Wort
• Sulindac
• Tenoxicam
• Tiaprofenic Acid
• Tolfenamic Acid
• Tolmetin
• Valdecoxib

Other interactions—

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other medical problems—

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Bradycardia (slow heartbeat) or
• Heart block or
• Heart failure—Should not use in patients with these conditions .

• Diabetes or
• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)—May cover up some of the signs and symptoms of these diseases, such as a fast heartbeat .

• Lung disease (e.g., asthma)—Use with caution. May cause difficulty with breathing in patients with this condition .

• Myasthenia gravis—May worsen symptoms of this condition, such as muscle weakness .

Proper Use of This Medicine:

Shake the medicine well just before each use .

To use the eye drops (solution):

• First, wash your hands. Tilt the head back and, pressing your finger gently on the skin just beneath the lower eyelid, pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to make a space. Drop the medicine into this space. Let go of the eyelid and gently close the eyes. Do not blink. Keep the eyes closed and apply pressure to the inner corner of the eye with your finger for 1 or 2 minutes to allow the medicine to be absorbed by the eye.
• Immediately after using the medicine, wash your hands to remove any medicine that may be on them.
• To keep the medicine as germ-free as possible, do not touch the applicator tip to any surface (including the eye). Also, keep the container tightly closed. Serious damage to the eye and possible loss of vision may result from using contaminated eye medicines .

If your doctor ordered two different eye medicines to be used together, wait several minutes before using the second medicine. This will help prevent the second medicine from “washing out” the first one .

You should not use this medicine if you have contact lenses in your eyes. Remove your contact lenses before you use this medicine, and wait 15 minutes before putting the lenses back in .

Dosing—

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For ophthalmic solution dosage form (eye drops):
  • For glaucoma or ocular hypertension:
    • Adults and children—One drop in the affected eye(s) two times a day .

Missed dose—

If you miss a dose of this medicine, apply it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.

Storage—

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions While Using This Medicine:

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects .

If itching, redness, swelling, or other signs of eye or eyelid irritation occur, stop using this medicine and check with your doctor. These signs may mean that you are allergic to this medicine .

Levobetaxolol may cause heart failure in some patients. Check with your doctor right away if you are having chest pain or discomfort; dilated neck veins; extreme fatigue; irregular breathing; an irregular heartbeat; shortness of breath; swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs; weight gain; or wheezing .

This medicine may cause changes in your blood sugar levels. Also, this medicine may cover up signs of low blood sugar, such as a rapid pulse rate. Check with your doctor if you have these problems or if you notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests .

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine several days before having surgery .

Side Effects of This Medicine:

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Pain in the eye

Less common

Blurred vision

Rare

Ankle, knee, or great toe joint pain

blindness

bloody or cloudy urine

body aches or pain

breast swelling, redness, or tenderness

change in vision

chest pain or discomfort

confusion

congestion

constipation

continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in ears

cough producing mucus

decreased vision

depressed mood

difficult or labored breathing

difficult, burning, or painful urination

difficulty in moving

dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position suddenly

dry mouth

dry skin and hair

dryness or soreness of throat

ear pain

earache

excessive muscle tone

feeling cold

fever or chills

frequent urge to urinate

hair loss

headache

hearing loss

hoarseness or husky voice

increased hunger

increased thirst

increased urination

joint stiffness or swelling

large amount of cholesterol in the blood

large amount of fat in the blood

lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting

looking through water

loss of consciousness

lower back or side pain

muscle pain, cramps, and stiffness

muscle tension or tightness

nausea

nervousness

pain or redness in joints

pain or tenderness around eyes and cheekbones

pounding in the ears

redness or swelling in the ear

runny nose

seeing floating spots before the eyes

shortness of breath

slow, fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse

sneezing

stomachache

stuffy nose

sweating

tender, swollen glands in neck

tightness in chest

trouble in swallowing

troubled breathing

unexplained weight loss

unusual tiredness or weakness

voice changes

vomiting

weight gain

wheezing

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

Dilated neck veins

extreme fatigue

irregular breathing

swelling of face, fingers, feet, or lower legs

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Rare

Acid or sour stomach

belching

blistering, crusting, irritation, itching, or reddening of skin

change in taste or bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste

cracked, dry, scaly skin

fear, nervousness

feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings

heartburn

indigestion

sensation of spinning

stomach discomfort, upset, or pain

swelling

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.