Is Betimol the same as timolol?

Timolol is the active ingredient in Betimol. Betimol is an eye drop medication that's used to control pressure in the eye. Note that timolol is also available as [tablets](https://www.goodrx.com/blocadren/what-is) that are taken by mouth, but the tablets are used for treating high blood pressure and heart attack and for preventing migraines.

Can Betimol (timolol) cause asthma?

Beta blocker medications like Betimol (timolol) can [narrow the airways](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-79837-3) and make it harder to breathe. This might cause any lung conditions to worsen, so Betimol (timolol) isn't usually recommended for people with [asthma](https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/asthma) or [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)](https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/copd). Although Betimol (timolol) is used on the eyes and mainly works in the eyes, some medication might be absorbed into your bloodstream and affect your lungs. For this reason, make sure your primary care provider or pulmonologist knows that you're using Betimol (timolol) so they can monitor you more closely.

Can Betimol (timolol) cause hair loss?

Although it isn't a common side effect, some people reported hair loss while they were using Betimol (timolol). Tell your primary care provider about any new or worsening hair loss after you start using Betimol (timolol). They might want to examine you to see whether there are other possible [causes for your hair loss](https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/hair-loss/most-common-causes-of-hair-loss) before recommending a [treatment option](https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/hair-loss/hair-loss-treatment) or before switching you to a [different eye pressure-lowering medication](https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/glaucoma/glaucoma-eye-drops).

Can you buy Betimol (timolol) over the counter?

No, you won't be able to find Betimol (timolol) over the counter. You'll need a prescription from your [optometrist or ophthalmologist](https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/eye/difference-between-an-ophthalmologist-and-an-optometrist) for [glaucoma eye drops](https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/glaucoma/glaucoma-eye-drops) like Betimol (timolol).

timolol

Generic Betimol

Used for Eye Pressure, Glaucoma

Betimol (timolol) is a brand-name eye drop medication that's used to lower pressure within the eye and treat glaucoma in adults. This medication is a beta blocker. It can be used by itself or together with other eye drops that aren't beta blockers. Betimol works just as well as generic timolol eye drops, but it might cause side effects like burning and stinging in the eye.

Reviewed by:

Allison Gourley, PharmD

Kristianne Hannemann, PharmD

Last reviewed on February 5, 2024

What is Betimol (timolol)?

What is Betimol (timolol) used for?

High pressure in the eye caused by ocular hypertension (high pressure inside the eye) or open-angle glaucoma (the most common type of glaucoma)

How Betimol (timolol) works

Betimol (timolol) is a beta blocker that lowers the amount of fluid in the eye. When there's less fluid inside the eye, the eye pressure goes down.

Are you looking for information on timolol tablets, timolol eye drops (formerly Timoptic), or timolol eye drops (Timoptic-XE) instead?

Drug facts

Common BrandsBetimol

Drug ClassBeta blocker

Controlled Substance ClassificationNot a controlled medication

Generic StatusLower-cost generic available

AvailabilityPrescription only

Side effects of Betimol (timolol)

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

Temporary burning or stinging in the eye after using

Less Common Side Effects

Dry eyes
Itchy eyes
Feeling like there's something in your eye
Eye discomfort
Eye pain
Red eyes
Eyelid redness
Headache
Dizziness
Common cold symptoms

Betimol (timolol) serious side effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.

Trouble breathing: shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness
Heart failure: shortness of breath; fatigue; swelling in the legs, ankles and feet
Allergic reactions: rash around your eyes or face, closing of the throat, hives, swelling

Source: DailyMed

More on Betimol (timolol) side effects

In the center of a light orange background with a texture and warning sign pattern is an orange-and-white eye dropper bottle cut into thirds.
GoodRx Health

Timolol Side Effects: 5 Things to Watch for With This Beta Blocker Eye Drop

Written by Alex Brewer, PharmD, MBA

The following Betimol (timolol) side effects have also been reported

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

Chest pain or discomfort

lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting

shortness of breath

slow or irregular heartbeat

unusual tiredness

Less common

Difficult or labored breathing

fast heartbeat

tightness in chest

wheezing

Rare

Noisy breathing

small clicking, bubbling, or rattling sounds in the lung when listening with a stethoscope

swelling of hands, ankles, feet, or lower legs

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

Symptoms of overdose

Blurred vision

continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in ears

headache

hearing loss

nervousness

pounding in the ears

sweating

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:

Less common

Itching skin

red, sore eyes

Rare

Acid or sour stomach

belching

burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings

decreased interest in sexual intercourse

feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings

heartburn

inability to have or keep an erection

indigestion

lack or loss of strength

loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance

nausea

sensation of spinning

stomach discomfort, upset, or pain

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.

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Avg retail price

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Pros and cons of Betimol (timolol)

Pros

Works well to treat high eye pressure
Might cause less burning, stinging, and tearing than some other timolol eye drops
Usually only taken once or twice daily

Cons

Contains a preservative that might absorb into contact lenses if they're not taken out when using the eye drops
Shouldn't use if you have asthma or other lung problems
Risk of similar side effects as timolol tablets since some medication can absorb into your bloodstream

Pharmacist tips for Betimol (timolol)

Wash your hands before putting Betimol (timolol) drops in your eye(s). Make sure the dropper tip doesn't touch your eye or any other surface and that you don't touch the tip with your hands. This helps prevent the eye drops from getting contaminated with germs so that you're less likely to get an eye infection.
If you wear contact lenses, remove them before you place Betimol (timolol) into your eye(s). Then, wait 5 minutes after you use the medication to put your contacts back in your eye(s).
After placing a drop of Betimol (timolol) in the eye, close your eye and lightly press one finger to the inner corner of your eye by the nose for 1 minute. This helps your eye absorb the drop of medication.
If you need to use Betimol (timolol) in addition to other eye drops or ointments, wait 5 minutes between each product to give your eyes time to absorb each medication.
It's not easy to tell whether your eye pressure is improving at home. Make sure to use Betimol (timolol) as prescribed, even if you don't notice any differences in your symptoms or vision straight away.

Common questions about Betimol

Timolol is the active ingredient in Betimol. Betimol is an eye drop medication that's used to control pressure in the eye. Note that timolol is also available as tablets that are taken by mouth, but the tablets are used for treating high blood pressure and heart attack and for preventing migraines.

You don't need to refrigerate Betimol. Keep the eye drops at room temperature away from light. Never freeze Betimol because this could damage the medication.

Betimol can cause dry eyes as a side effect. Your optometrist or ophthalmologist might recommend an over-the-counter product like artificial tears to help with this symptom if dry eye gets bothersome.

Beta blocker medications like Betimol can narrow the airways and make it harder to breathe. This might cause any lung conditions to worsen, so Betimol isn't usually recommended for people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although Betimol is used on the eyes and mainly works in the eyes, some medication might be absorbed into your bloodstream and affect your lungs. For this reason, make sure your primary care provider or pulmonologist knows that you're using Betimol so they can monitor you more closely.

Although it isn't a common side effect, some people reported hair loss while they were using Betimol. Tell your primary care provider about any new or worsening hair loss after you start using Betimol. They might want to examine you to see whether there are other possible causes for your hair loss before recommending a treatment option or before switching you to a different eye pressure-lowering medication.

No, you won't be able to find Betimol over the counter. You'll need a prescription from your optometrist or ophthalmologist for glaucoma eye drops like Betimol.

There are a few different eye products that contain timolol as the only active ingredient and they can all lower pressure in the eyes. The main difference is the chemical form of timolol they contain. Betimol contains timolol hemihydrate, which is slightly different from timolol maleate (the active ingredient in other timolol eye drop medications). Betimol works just as well as the other timolol eye drops. But one study found that Betimol might cause less burning, stinging, and watery eyes than certain other timolol products. Another difference is that Betimol is used once or twice daily, but some other timolol eye drops like the gel-forming solution are used once daily. Talk to your optometrist or ophthalmologist if you're unsure which timolol eye drop medication you have and whether it best fits your needs.

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Risks and warnings for Betimol (timolol)

Betimol (timolol) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.

Higher risk for heart failure

Risk factors: Congestive heart failure | Second- or third-degree heart block

In rare cases, some people developed heart failure while they used beta blocker medications like Betimol (timolol). People who already have heart failure might be at risk for worsening heart problems with this medication. Tell your healthcare team about your medical history. And talk to your primary care provider if you notice swelling in your feet or ankles, a fast or irregular pulse, or shortness of breath when you lie down or exercise. These might be signs of heart problems.

Not recommended for people with breathing peoples

Risk factors: History of asthma | History of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) | History of other lung problems

Beta blocker medications like Betimol (timolol) usually aren't recommended for people with lung problems, like asthma and COPD. This is because beta blockers can cause the airways to become narrower, which can make it harder to breathe. But the risk for breathing problems specifically with Betimol (timolol) isn't well known. So make sure your care team knows if you have or have ever had any lung problems or conditions before you start using this medication to check whether it's safe for you.

Hidden symptoms of low blood sugar

Risk factors: Diabetes

Beta blockers can cause people with diabetes to not notice symptoms of low blood sugar, except for sweating and dizziness. It's possible for some Betimol (timolol) to be absorbed into your bloodstream and cause this effect. So though rare, it's important to be aware of this risk. Talk to your primary care provider to see whether you should check your blood sugar more often if you're using Betimol (timolol).

Hidden symptoms of overactive thyroid

Beta blockers can cause people with an overactive thyroid to not recognize the signs of hyperthyroidism, such as a fast heart rate. It's possible for some Betimol (timolol) to be absorbed into your bloodstream and cause this effect. Although rare, it's good to be aware of this risk. Make sure your primary care provider knows that you're using Betimol (timolol) so they can monitor your thyroid problem more closely.

Worsening of myasthenia gravis

In some rare cases, Betimol (timolol) can worsen symptoms like muscle weakness in people who have myasthenia gravis. Watch out for worsening symptoms if you have myasthenia gravis and let your care team know if this happens to you.

Betimol (timolol) dosage

The average cost for 1 eye dropper of 5ml of 0.5% of Betimol (timolol) is $9.50 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 73.74% off the average retail price of $36.18.

Eye dropper

Dosage	Quantity	Price as low as	Price per unit
15ml of 0.5%	1 eye dropper	$9.96	$9.96
5ml of 0.5%	1 eye dropper	$9.50	$9.50
10ml of 0.5%	1 eye dropper	$7.65	$7.65

Typical dosage for Betimol (timolol)

The typical starting dose is 1 drop in the affected eye(s) twice daily.

If your eye pressure comes down and stays down, your dose might be lowered to 1 drop in the affected eye(s) once daily.

Interactions between Betimol (timolol) and other drugs

Betimol (timolol) may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Betimol (timolol). Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.

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
Ceritinib
Crizotinib
Dronedarone
Fenoldopam
Fingolimod
Formoterol
Indacaterol
Iobenguane I 131
Iohexol
Lacosamide
Levalbuterol
Olodaterol
Oxymetazoline
Paroxetine
Ponesimod
Rivastigmine
Salmeterol
Terbutaline
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
Droxicam
Etodolac
Etofenamate
Etoricoxib
Felbinac
Fenoprofen
Fepradinol
Feprazone
Floctafenine
Flufenamic Acid
Flurbiprofen
Ibuprofen
Indomethacin
Ketoprofen
Ketorolac
Lornoxicam
Loxoprofen
Lumiracoxib
Meclofenamate
Mefenamic Acid
Meloxicam
Morniflumate
Nabumetone
Naproxen
Nepafenac
Niflumic Acid
Nimesulide
Nimesulide Beta Cyclodextrin
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

How much does Betimol (timolol) cost?

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Betimol (brand)

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$7.65

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Betimol (timolol) contraindications

Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Betimol (timolol) will not be safe for you to take.

Asthma
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Sinus bradycardia (slow heart rate)
Second- or third-degree heart block
Heart failure
Cardiogenic shock

What are alternatives to Betimol (timolol)?

There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Betimol (timolol). Compare a few possible alternatives below.

Betimol (timolol)

Used for:

High pressure in the eye caused by ocular hypertension (high pressure inside the eye) or open-angle glaucoma (the most common type of glaucoma)

$7.65Lowest GoodRx priceView prices

Timoptic in Ocudose (timolol)

Used for:

High pressure in the eye caused by ocular hypertension (high pressure inside the eye) or open-angle glaucoma (the most common type of glaucoma)

$77.47Lowest GoodRx priceView prices

Betaxolol (Betoptic-S)

Used for:

High pressure in the eye caused by ocular hypertension (high blood pressure inside the eye) or open-angle glaucoma (the most common type of glaucoma)

$21.26Lowest GoodRx priceView prices

Betimol (timolol) images

This medicine is Yellow Eye Dropper.yellow - Timolol Maleate 0.5% Ophthalmic Solution

This medicine is Colorless Eye Dropper.

This medicine is Colorless Eye Dropper.colorless - Timolol Maleate 0.5% Ophthalmic Solution

This medicine is Colorless Eye Dropper.colorless - Timolol Hemihydrate 0.5% Ophthalmic Solution

This medicine is Colorless Eye Dropper.colorless - Timolol Maleate 0.5% Ophthalmic Solution

This medicine is Yellow Eye Dropper.yellow - Timolol Maleate 0.5% Ophthalmic Solution (Once-Daily)

This medicine is Yellow Eye Dropper.yellow - Timolol Maleate 0.5% Ophthalmic Solution

References

Best studies we found

American Optometric Association. (n.d.). Ocular hypertension.

Hafeez, Y., et al. (2023). Sinus bradycardia. StatPearls.

Huang, K. Y., et al. (2021). Do beta-adrenergic blocking agents increase asthma exacerbation? A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Scientific Reports.

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

Compare other Glaucoma, Eye Pressure drugs

Betimol vs Timolol Istalol vs Timolol Neptazene vs Timolol Simbrinza vs Timolol Timolol vs Betoptic Timolol vs Combigan Timolol vs Keppra Timolol vs Lasix Travatan vs Timolol Trusopt vs Timolol Xalatan vs Timolol Zioptan vs Timolol

timolol