dorzolamide
Dorzolamide is an eye drop medication used to treat high pressure in the eye in people with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The dosage is 1 drop applied directly into the affected eye(s) three times per day. It's available as a generic only as the brand-name medication Trusopt has been discontinued. Dorzolamide is a sulfa medication, so it might not be the best choice if you have a serious sulfa allergy. Side effects include burning or stinging in the eye and a bitter taste in the mouth.
What is Dorzolamide?
What is Dorzolamide used for?
Treatment of high pressure in the eye in people with:
How Dorzolamide works
Dorzolamide is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. It lowers eye pressure by lowering the amount of fluid in the eye.
Drug Facts
Get your GoodRx coupon
What are the side effects of Dorzolamide?
Common Side Effects
- Burning or stinging in the eye (33%)
- Bitter taste (25%)
- Bacterial eye infection (10-15%)
- Allergic reaction in the eye (10%)
Other Side Effects
- Pink eye
- Eyelid irritation
- Blurry vision
- Eye redness
- Tearing
- Dry eye
- Light sensitivity
Serious Side Effects
- Allergic reaction: pink eye, eye redness, swollen eyes, eyelid irritation, trouble breathing, itchiness, hives, swollen lips, rash
Source: DailyMed
The following 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
Burning, stinging, or discomfort when medicine is applied
itching, redness, swelling, or other sign of the eye or eyelid irritation
Less common
Burning, dry, or itching eyes
discharge from the eye
excessive tearing
redness, pain, or swelling of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of the eyelid
Rare
Blood in the urine
blurred vision
nausea or vomiting
pain in the side, back, or abdomen
skin rash
tearing
Incidence not known
Blistering, burning, crusting, dryness, or flaking of the skin
change in vision
chills
difficult or labored breathing
flashes of light
floaters in vision
hives or welts
itching skin
joint or muscle pain
large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
noisy breathing
redness of the skin
sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
tightness in the chest
unusual tiredness or weakness
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:
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:
More common
Bitter taste
feeling of something in the eye
Less common
Changes in color vision
difficulty seeing at night
dryness of the eyes
eyelid reactions
headache
increased sensitivity of the eyes to sunlight
Incidence not known
Bloody nose
burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
change in distance vision
difficulty in focusing the eyes
dizziness
eyelid crusting
lack or loss of strength
scaling of the skin
severe redness, soreness, or swelling of the skin
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.
Pros and cons of Dorzolamide
Pros
Doesn't typically cause side effects throughout the rest of your body
Can be combined with other medications
Safe to use in children
Cons
Needs to be used 3 times a day
Can cause eye irritation right after applying a drop
Not the best option if you're allergic to sulfa medications
Pharmacist tips for Dorzolamide
Mark your appointments to see your optometrist or ophthalmologist. You'll need regular eye exams so that your eye specialist can check how well dorzolamide is working for you.
You might need many different eye drop medications to help lower your eye pressure. If you're using other eye drop medications in the evening at the same time as dorzolamide, wait 5 minutes between each medication to give your eye(s) time to absorb each one.
Take out any soft contact lenses from your eye(s) before each dose of dorzolamide. The medication contains a preservative called benzalkonium chloride that can damage your contacts. You can put your contacts back in 15 minutes after you use the eye drops.
Keep the bottle of dorzolamide, especially the tip, clean and free of germs. Always keep it tightly capped when not in use, and avoid touching the dropper tip with your hands or letting it touch your eye or any surface. Contamination can lead to germs entering the medication, which could raise your risk of an eye infection that could lead to vision loss.
Each bottle of dorzolamide contains 10 mL of medication. This should last about 2 months when the eye drops are taken as prescribed (1 drop three times per day). Ask your pharmacist for a refill if you're about to run out.
How to use dorzolamide:
Make sure you know how to use the dorzolamide eye drops to avoid accidentally hurting yourself or wasting any of the medication. Review the Instructions for Use and ask your eye specialist or pharmacist if you have any questions about using the medication.
After washing your hands well with soap and water, tilt your head back so you're looking up. Use your index (pointer) finger to pull your inner corner of your eye down to form a pocket. Gently squeeze 1 drop of medication into the pocket. Then, close your eye and lightly press on the inside corner of your eye for at least a minute.
Frequently asked questions about Dorzolamide
How to save using GoodRx
What are the risks and warnings for Dorzolamide?
Dorzolamide 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.
Severe allergic reactions
Risk factors: Sulfa allergy
Although dorzolamide is mainly absorbed into the eye, it's possible for a little bit to get absorbed into your body. Let your care team know if you're allergic to sulfa medications, as dorzolamide is a type of sulfa medication, and you might have a serious reaction when using it. Get medical help right away if you have any signs of an allergic reaction, such as trouble breathing, skin rash or redness, itching, or swelling. Contact your prescriber if you have any symptoms in or around your eyes, such as eye irritation, pain, or itching.
Risk for eye infection (from contamination)
Risk factors: Corneal disease | Injury or damage to the surface of the eye
Wash your hands before each time you use dorzolamide. Also be careful not to let the tip of the bottle touch your eye or any other surface. Don't touch the dropper tip with your hands. It's important to follow these steps to prevent contaminating the medication with germs. Otherwise, you could get eye infections, like bacterial keratitis (a bacterial infection of the cornea).
Risk for swelling of the cornea
Risk factors: Low number of cells on the cornea
Dorzolamide can raise the risk of swelling of the cornea (or corneal edema) in certain people. The cornea is the outermost layer of the eye that protects the front of the eye. Talk to your eye specialist before you start dorzolamide if you've ever been told that your cornea is thin or that you have a low number of cells on the cornea.
Dorzolamide dosage forms
| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10ml of 2% | 1 eye dropper | $17.59 | $17.59 |
Typical dosing for Dorzolamide
The typical dose is to place 1 drop in the affected eye(s) three times per day.
Interactions between Dorzolamide and other drugs
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.
How much does Dorzolamide cost?
What are alternatives to Dorzolamide?
Treatment of high pressure in the eye in people with:
High pressure in the eye caused by ocular hypertension (high pressure inside the eye) or open-angle glaucoma (the most common type of glaucoma)
Dorzolamide images
Get savings updates for Dorzolamide
Receive price alerts, news, and other messages from GoodRx about Dorzolamide and other healthcare topics and relevant savings offers.By signing up, I agree to GoodRx's Terms and Privacy Policy, and to receive marketing messages from GoodRx.
References
Best studies we foundAlembic Pharmaceuticals Inc. (2024). Dorzolamide hydrochloride solution/ drops [package insert]. DailyMed.
American Academy of Ophthalmology. (2016). Cornea.
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. (2022). Dorzolamide ophthalmic solution.
Boyd, K. (2024). What is ocular hypertension? American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2015). Pharmacy auditing and dispensing job aid: Billing other dosage forms.
Chapman, J. M., et al. (1990). Interactions of benzalkonium chloride with soft and hard contact lenses. Archives of Ophthalmology.
Chaudhary, O. R. (2024). What is the treatment for corneal edema? American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Martens-Lobenhoffer, J., et al. (2002). Clinical pharmacokinetics of dorzolamide. Clinical Pharmacokinetics.
National Eye Institute. (2024). How to put in eye drops.
Browse medications
View AllResearch prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.