timolol
Timolol is a beta-blocker used to treat high blood pressure and prevent complications after a heart attack. It's also used to prevent migraines. The medication comes as tablets that you typically take by mouth twice daily. Timolol can interact with other medications and make side effects worse, so make sure your prescriber knows everything that you're taking. Although the brand Blocadren is discontinued, the generic versions are still available. Common side effects include slow heart rate, tiredness, and dizziness.
What is Timolol?
What is Timolol used for?
- High blood pressure
- Prevent complications after a heart attack
- Migraine prevention
How Timolol works
Timolol is a beta blocker. It slows your heart rate and relaxes blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure and makes it easier for the heart to pump blood throughout the body. It's not entirely clear how the medication prevents migraines, but it's thought to work in the brain by affecting nerve cell communication.
Drug facts
Side effects of 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
- Low heart rate (5-9%)
- Heart failure (8%)
- Cold hands or feet (8%)
- Nausea or other stomach-related problems (up to 8%)
- Dizziness (2-6%)
- Tiredness (3-5%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Headache
- Chest pain
- Fainting
- Itchy skin
- Low blood pressure
- Blood clot in the lungs
- Leg pain
- Shortness of breath
- Eye irritation
- Ringing in the ears
Timolol serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Heart failure: shortness of breath, swelling, tiredness, sudden weight gain, chest pain or discomfort
More on Timolol side effects
The following 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
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:
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
inability to have or keep an erection
indigestion
lack or loss of strength
loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
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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Pros and cons of Timolol
Pros
- Lowers the risk of death in people who recently had a heart attack
- Can take with other medications that lower blood pressure
- Taken twice a day, and some people might be able to take it once a day
- First-choice treatment option to prevent migraines
Cons
- Can worsen breathing problems in people with asthma or COPD
- Won't stop a migraine if it has already started
- Not known if it's safe for children
- Not a first-choice treatment option for high blood pressure
Pharmacist tips for Timolol
- Take timolol by mouth at the same time every day without skipping doses. Don't suddenly stop taking this medication because doing so can cause or worsen heart problems like chest pain and heart attack. Speak to your prescriber if you have questions about stopping this medication.
- Timolol can hide symptoms of low blood sugar, which can be dangerous for people with diabetes. But a symptom of low blood pressure it doesn't affect is sweating. So if you notice you're sweating, it's a good idea to check your blood sugar and treat it if it's low.
- Timolol can lead to or worsen heart failure. Contact your prescriber right away if you notice new or worsening symptoms, such as swelling in your legs, shortness of breath, or sudden weight gain.
- If you're taking timolol for migraine prevention and it's been over 6 to 8 weeks with no improvement, follow up with your prescriber. You might need to take a different medication.
- Timolol can interact with many medications. Let your prescriber know about everything that you're taking before starting this medication.
More on Timolol tips
Common questions about Timolol
Yes, timolol is a beta blocker, more specifically it's a non-selective beta blockers. This means that it affects many areas of the body, including the heart.
It depends. Most data on this comes from studies on timolol eye drops, which don’t absorb into your body as much as oral tablets. In those studies, participants' heart rates dropped by about 10 beats per minute on average. But this will vary since timolol is taken by mouth and likely will affect the body more. Speak with your prescriber if you're concerned about your heart rate dropping too low with this medication.
Timolol doesn't normally cause kidney problems. But since this medication is mainly removed from your body by the kidneys, you might need a lower dose if you have a history of kidney problems. This helps prevent your blood pressure from dropping too low. Talk to your prescriber if you have concerns about timolol and your kidney health.
Avoid alcohol while taking timolol because it can worsen side effects like dizziness and lightheadedness. Alcohol can also raise your blood pressure and heart rate, which is the opposite of what this medication is meant to do. If you have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you might want to avoid timolol because it can affect how well your rescue inhalers work to open your airways. Also, certain over-the-counter (OTC) decongestants like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) can reduce the effects of timolol. Talk with your prescriber or pharmacist before starting any medications.
If you stop taking timolol suddenly, it might lead to an irregular or fast heartbeat, high blood pressure, poor blood flow to your heart, or can raise your risk of chest pain or heart attack. Don't suddenly stop taking this medication without speaking with your prescriber. You might need to work with them to slowly lower your dose over time.
Timolol doesn't typically cause weight gain, unlike some other beta blockers. But it's possible to have heart failure symptoms that lead to more water weight. Call your prescriber if you notice any sudden swelling or if you feel like your body is holding onto more water.
No. Timolol is a beta-blocker, not a blood thinner. Beta-blockers and blood thinners work very differently but are both used to treat or prevent heart problems. That's why many people who take beta-blockers like timolol for heart problems might also be taking a blood thinner.
It depends on what you're taking timolol for, though it can take some time. If you take the medication for high blood pressure, it can take a few days to a week to see the full effect, so your prescriber likely won't adjust dose the before then. If you take it to prevent migraines, you might notice fewer migraines after a few weeks, but it can take longer to find the right dose. And if you haven't seen any improvement in your migraines after 6 to 8 weeks, your prescriber might suggest stopping the medication.
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Risks and warnings for Timolol
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.
Serious heart problems if suddenly stopped
- Risk factors: Suddenly stopping timolol | Coronary artery disease
Don't stop taking timolol suddenly, as it can cause an irregular or fast heartbeat, high blood pressure, poor blood flow to your heart, or raise your risk of chest pain or a heart attack. If you need to stop taking this medication, work with your prescriber to lower your dose slowly over a period of one to two weeks.
Heart failure
- Risk factors: History of heart failure
Though timolol is commonly used to treat heart failure, it can sometimes worsen symptoms. In rare cases, this medication can even cause heart failure in people without a history of it. Talk to your healthcare team if you think your heart failure is getting worse or if you notice symptoms like shortness of breath, sudden weight gain, or swelling in the legs after taking timolol.
Trouble breathing
- Risk factors: Breathing conditions like asthma, COPD, or emphysema
If you have certain breathing conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or emphysema, taking timolol can make your breathing worse. Timolol can narrow your airways and cause wheezing or difficulty breathing. That's why it's usually not recommended for people with these conditions. Let your prescriber know about any breathing conditions before starting this medication. If you notice trouble breathing, chest tightness, or wheezing while taking it, contact them right away.
Hides symptoms of low blood sugar
- Risk factors: Diabetes
If you have diabetes, timolol can make it harder to notice some signs of low blood sugar, like a fast heartbeat. But you might be able to still experience symptoms like sweating, which can help alert you to low blood sugar. Know how to check your blood sugar levels while taking this medication and when to treat it.
Hides symptoms of overactive thyroid
- Risk factors: Hyperthyroidism
Because timolol lowers your heart rate, it might be harder to notice heart-related symptoms that are caused by an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). If you have this condition, don't suddenly stop taking timolol since this can worsen thyroid problems.
Timolol dosage
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20mg | 60 tablets | $50.02 | $0.83 |
| 10mg | 60 tablets | $30.77 | $0.51 |
| 5mg | 180 tablets | $71.40 | $0.40 |
Typical dosage for Timolol
- High blood pressure: The typical starting dose is 10 mg by mouth twice a day. Your prescriber will adjust your dose based on your heart rate and blood pressure. Most people take 20 to 40 mg total a day. The maximum dose is 60 mg total a day.
- Heart attack: The typical dose is 10 mg by mouth twice a day.
- Migraine prevention: The typical starting dose is 10 mg by mouth twice a day. Once you get used to the medication, you can take 20 mg once a day. Your prescriber will adjust your dose based on how you respond. The maximum dose is 30 mg total per day.
Interactions between Timolol and other drugs
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 Timolol cost?
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 Timolol will not be safe for you to take.
- People certain breathing conditions like asthma, severe COPD, or emphysema
- Slow heartbeat
- Heart block
- Heart failure
- Cardiogenic shock
What are alternatives to Timolol?
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