[Acute systemic side-effects of topical timolol for glaucoma]

Topically-administered ophthalmic medication may reach clinically significant serum concentrations, as evidenced by the variety of systemic side effects reported. These drugs may interact with other drugs administered orally and intravenously, increasing the frequency and severity of their side-effects. We report 4 patients examined in the emergency room because of various systemic manifestations, in whom the symptoms could be attributed either to antiglaucomatous eye drops, or to interaction between these eye drops and systemic medication. Considering the high incidence of glaucoma (0.5-2%), physicians should be aware of the systemic side-effects of antiglaucomatous eye drops and of possible interaction between such treatment and systemic medications.