"Ganfort", eye drops: instructions for use, analogues and reviews

What is a medicine like "Ganforth" (eye drops)? Instructions, a description of the drug and reviews about this tool are listed in the materials of this article. Also, it presents indications for the use of the drug, prohibitions on its use and similar medications.

The description of the product, its composition and the issued form

The drug "Ganfort" - eye drops, the instruction of which is presented below, produced in polyethylene bottles-droppers, which are placed in cardboard packages. This medication is a clear and sterile liquid. Its active components are such medicinal substances as bimatoprost and timolol.

Features of the medicine

What is the drug "Ganfort" (eye drops)? The instruction says that this is a combination of active ingredients such as timolol and bimatoprost. These substances contribute to an effective reduction of intraocular pressure. This is due to the interaction of these components.

Properties of ingredients

Why are eye drops "Ganforth" so effective? The instruction indicates that the therapeutic result obtained after the application of this drug is completely due to its composition. Let's consider the features of the active ingredients of this remedy right now.

Bimatoprost is a synthetic proteamide, which in its chemical structure is very similar to prostaglandin F2a. This component does not affect the receptors of prostaglandin.

According to the instruction, the hypotensive properties of the substance in question are manifested due to an increase in the outflow of the intraocular fluid, which occurs through the uveoscleral path of the optic organ and the trabeculae.

What other properties are the eye drops "Ganfort"? The instruction states that timolol is a non-selective beta-blocker. It does not show internal sympathomimetic or membrane-stabilizing activity. A significant decrease in IOP under the influence of this substance occurs due to a decrease in the formation of intraocular fluid. However, it should be noted that the detailed principle of the action of timolol has not been established by specialists. There is an assumption that this process is associated with the process of inhibiting the synthesis of adenosine monophosphate (cyclic), which is due to the stimulation of (endogenous) beta-adrenergic receptors.

Pharmacokinetics of the drug

Is the local drug "Ganfort" (eye drops) absorbed? The instruction says that this medication has minimal systemic absorption. Moreover, it is the same when combined, and when treating each of the ingredients separately.

Indications for use

From what is shown the use of the drug "Ganfort" (eye drops)? The instruction says that this medication is prescribed to reduce pressure (intraocular) in people with glaucoma (open-angle) and intraocular hypertension, including with insufficient effectiveness of local ophthalmic drugs belonging to the group of beta-blockers, as well as substitutes for prostaglandin.

Prohibitions for appointment

In what cases can not use the drug "Ganfort" (eye drops)? The instruction, the description of the preparation speak of such contraindications to the use as:

• A syndrome of increased reactivity of the respiratory tract organs (for example, with bronchial asthma in the acute stage, severe obstructive pulmonary disease of a chronic nature);
• High sensitivity to the ingredients of the product;
• Age to 18 years;
• Period of pregnancy;
• Atrioventricular blockade of the second and third degree;
• Sinus bradycardia;
• The period of breastfeeding;
• Cardiogenic shock;
• Severe heart failure.

Cautious use of medicament

In what cases should you carefully prescribe the drug "Ganfort" (eye drops)? The instruction, the description informs, that with special care this medicine is recommended to those patients in whom the work of kidneys and liver is broken. This is due to the fact that the effect of this medication has not been sufficiently studied in this category of people. The same applies to patients with risk factors for edema of the macula (including pseudophakia, aphakia and lens rupture).

People with diabetes mellitus (including unstable course of the disease) and impaired glucose tolerance, this drug is also prescribed with caution, since the beta-blocker included in it is able to mask obvious symptoms of hypoglycemia.

Consultation of an ophthalmologist before application of "Ganforth" is required for patients with inflammatory changes in the visual organs, as well as with closed-angle, inflammatory and neovascular glaucoma, narrow-angle and congenital glaucoma (since there is no information on the safety and efficacy of the local medicine).

Local medicine "Ganfort" (eye drops): instructions for use

How should the agent be used? Dosage of this medication for adults and elderly patients should be selected only by an experienced ophthalmologist. As a rule, the drug "Ganfort" is prescribed one drop in each conjunctival sac of the affected organ, once a day. Such treatment is best done in the morning.

In the event that the introduction of a local medication is missed once, then it is applied only the next day. It is highly recommended not to exceed the dosage prescribed by the doctor (i.e., 1 administration once a day).

If more than two ophthalmic agents were prescribed for the patient, then a five-minute interval should be maintained between their instillation.

Common side effects

What negative effects can the medicine "Ganfort" (eye drops) cause? Instruction, reviews speak of the following general side reactions:

• Headache, irritation of the visual mucosa, itchy eyelid skin, congestion hyperemia;
• Edema of the conjunctiva, eyelash growth, visual impairment, decreased visual acuity, superficial keratitis, corneal erosion ;
• Discharge from the eyes, a burning sensation, burning pain and itching in the eyes, swelling of the eyelids, sensation of a foreign body;
• Iridocyclitis, dry eye mucosa, epiphary, redness of the eyelids, cystoid macular edema, pain in the eyes;
• Blepharitis, photophobia, tenderness of the eyelids, rhinitis, asthenopia, trichiasis;
• Hirsutism, age skin pigmentation.

Side effects after application of bimatoprost

During the period of using the drug "Ganforth", which includes a component such as bimatoprost, the patient can observe:

• Asthenia and peripheral edema;
• Increased blood pressure;
• Allergic conjunctivitis, blepharospasm, cataract, darkening of eyelashes, retraction of eyelids, increased iris pigmentation, uveitis, hemorrhage in the retina of the optic organ;
• Changes in the activity of liver enzymes.

Side effects after the use of timolol

What other side effects does the drug "Ganfort" (eye drops) cause? The instruction states that timolol, which is part of this medicine, contributes to:

• The development of mental disorders, including insomnia, nightmarish dreams, decreased libido;
• Myasthenia gravis, paresthesia, ischemia of the brain;
• Decrease in the sensitivity of the cornea, retinal detachment (including after surgery), diplopia, ptosis, refractive change, keratitis;
• Noise in the ears, blockade of the heart, cardiac arrest, heart rhythm disturbance;
• Bradycardia, loss of consciousness, heart failure, congestive heart failure, lowering blood pressure, intermittent claudication;
• Pain in the chest, cerebral circulation, Raynaud's syndrome, cold extremities, palpitations;
• Bronchospasm, dyspnea, cough;
• Nausea, dyspepsia, diarrhea, dryness of the oral mucosa;
• Alopecia, psoriasis-like rashes, exacerbation of psoriasis;
• Development of systemic lupus erythematosus;
• Peyronie's disease, the appearance of edema, fatigue.

Cases of overdose

What symptoms of overdose is caused by the medicine "Ganfort" (eye drops)? The instruction (analogues of this tool are indicated below) asserts that until now such cases have not occurred. It should be noted that with an overdose of such a component as timolol, the patient may have the following symptoms: bronchospasm, bradycardia, headache, lowering of blood pressure, shortness of breath, dizziness and cardiac arrest. According to experts, this substance is not excreted in hemodialysis in full. If an overdose of timolol did occur, then symptomatic treatment is required.

Special Recommendations

All signs of heart failure should necessarily be compensated before the beginning of treatment with the drug "Ganfort". It also requires regular monitoring of the condition of people with heart failure of a serious nature.

When using timolol, patients often complained about the development of side effects from the CAS, as well as respiratory organs. Moreover, there were lethal outcomes due to bronchospasm in people with bronchial asthma.

Beta-adrenoblockers are able to mask signs of hyperthyroidism and hypoglycemia, as well as cause a worsening of the course of angina pectoris, severe central and peripheral vascular disorders, arterial hypotension.

Before the start of therapy with the drug, patients should be informed of the possible increase in pigmentation of the iris and eyelid skin, and eyelash growth. It should be noted that some of these changes may be permanent.

This additional substance of the drug, like benzalkonium chloride, can cause irritation of the visual mucosa, as well as a change in the color of the contact lenses (soft). Therefore, the latter should be removed before the direct administration of the drug, and put on only ¼ hours after the instillation of the drug.

One can not help saying that benzalkonium chloride can cause the development of acute keratitis and toxic corneal ulcer. This fact requires special monitoring of the patient's condition.

After opening the vial-dropper, it is impossible to exclude possible microbial contamination of its contents, which in the future can contribute to inflammatory damage to the eye.

Shelf life of the drug under consideration after opening is 28 days. After this period, the bottle must be discarded.

Similar drugs

What can replace such an ophthalmic tool as "Ganforth"? To the analogues of these eye drops, experts include the following medicines: Xalatan, Stilavit, Floxal, Xalatamax, Thealos, Vid-Komod, Travatan, Glauprost, Timolol, Taurine " and so on. The therapeutic features of these drugs should be consulted by your doctor.

Reviews about medication

Now you know what is used for such a drug as "Ganfort" (eye drops). The instructions and substitutes for this medication were also presented above.

What do patients say? Most of them argue that the drug in question is a highly effective antiglaucoma agent. Its main advantages include accessibility in all pharmacies, ease of use and the ability to replace with similar drugs. As for the shortcomings of this medication, there are a lot of them. According to the patients, this remedy has a huge list of various contraindications, which makes its independent application impossible (only for the prescription of the ophthalmologist). Also, many consumers are constantly complaining that the use of eye drops "Ganfort" often causes the development of side effects. In this case, doctors recommend replacing it with a safer but no less effective topical drug.