Effect of brimonidine on patients undergoing uncontrolled IOP with beta-blockers.

The authors evaluated the effect of the replacement of beta-blockers with brimonidine drops in patients taking beta-blockers only or with dorzolamide, having IOP > 20 mmHg. The study was divided into two sections: one group treated with brimonidine b.i.d. (23 patients) and the other group treated with brimonidine + dorzolamide b.i.d. (17 patients). The effect of the substitution showed after 90 days of treatment with a reduction of 8.59 +/- 1.2 mmHg (P < 0.001) in the first group and 6.1 +/- 1.7 mmHg (P < 0.001) in the second group. Three patients in the first group and four patients in the second group presented minor adverse effects which did not justify discontinuation of treatment. Brimonidine was effective treatment as a substitute for beta-blockers only when associated with dorzolamide.