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Ocular and systemic side effects of brimonidine 0.2% eye drops (Alphagan) in children

R J C Bowman1, J Cope, K K Nischal

  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, Great Ormond Street, London, UK.

Eye (London, England)
|January 7, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Brimonidine 0.2% eye drops caused adverse effects in 27% of pediatric patients, leading six children to stop treatment due to side effects like tiredness and fainting. Further research is needed to understand the full safety profile in children.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Pediatric Pharmacology
  • Clinical Safety

Background:

  • Brimonidine 0.2% (Alphagan) is a topical alpha-2 agonist used for hypertension.
  • Systemic adverse effects, including CNS depression, have been reported in children using brimonidine 0.2%.
  • Limited safety data exists for brimonidine 0.2% in pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety and adverse effects of brimonidine 0.2% in pediatric patients.
  • To determine the incidence of systemic adverse effects requiring discontinuation of brimonidine 0.2% in children.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of computerized pharmacy records and patient notes.
  • Identification of pediatric patients prescribed brimonidine 0.2% between August 1999 and June 2001.
  • Analysis of treatment duration, concomitant medications, and reasons for discontinuation.

Main Results:

  • Twenty-two pediatric patients were analyzed, with a mean age of 8 years.
  • Brimonidine 0.2% was used for a mean of 14 months, often in conjunction with other topical hypotensive agents.
  • Six out of 22 patients (27%) discontinued brimonidine 0.2% due to adverse effects, including local irritation, tiredness, and fainting.

Conclusions:

  • Brimonidine 0.2% use in children resulted in systemic adverse effects necessitating drug cessation in 27% of cases.
  • Potential for unnoticed adverse effects, such as educational impairment, exists in pediatric patients.
  • Larger studies are required to fully investigate the safety of brimonidine 0.2% in children.
Abstract

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