Apraclonidine: Side Effects, Uses & Monitoring

Labeled uses

Apraclonidine ophthalmic solution 0.5% is indicated for short-term adjunctive therapy, in patients on maximally tolerated medical therapy, who require additional IOP reduction. Patients on maximally tolerated medical therapy, who are treated with apraclonidine ophthalmic solution 0.5% to delay surgery, should have frequent follow-up examinations and treatment should be discontinued if the IOP rises significantly. The addition of apraclonidine ophthalmic solution 0.5% to patients already using two aqueous suppressing drugs (i.e., beta-blocker plus carbonic anhydrase inhibitor) as part of their maximally tolerated medical therapy may not provide additional benefit. This is because apraclonidine ophthalmic solution 0.5% is an aqueous suppressing drug and the addition of a third aqueous suppressant may not significantly reduce IOP. The IOP lowering efficacy of apraclonidine ophthalmic solution 0.5% diminishes over time in some patients. This loss of effect, or tachyphylaxis, appears to be an individual occurrence with a variable time of onset and should be closely monitored. The benefit for most patients is less than one month.