General Notes

Preservative free / single dose unit preparations are restricted to use only in patients with a proven sensitivity to preservatives e.g. benzalkonium chloride.

Beta-Adrenoceptor Blockers

Specialist initiation (S1)

TIMOLOL 0.25% or 0.5% eye drops

Prostaglandin Analogues

Specialist initiation (S1)

LATANOPROST eye drops

  • Xalatan® brand increased reporting of eye irritation since reformulation.  For further details see MHRA Drug Safety Update Volume 8 issue 12 July 2015: 2.
  • SMC advice: Monopost® is accepted for restricted use within NHS Scotland for the reduction of elevated intra-ocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension who have proven sensitivity to benzalkonium chloride.

TRAVOPROST eye drops

BIMATOPROST eye drops

  • Zimed® (Bimatoprost) Preservative Free 0.3 mg/mL eye drops should be used only in patients who have proven sensitivity to benzalkonium chloride

 

Combination Products – Prostaglandin Analogues With Timolol

Specialist initiation (S1)

LATANOPROST WITH TIMOLOL eye drops

  • Latanoprost 50micrograms/ml with timolol 5mg/ml

TRAVOPROST WITH TIMOLOL eye drops

  • Travoprost 40micrograms/ml with timolol 5mg/ml

BIMATOPROST WITH TIMOLOL  eye drops

  • Bimatoprost 300micrograms/ml with timolol 5mg/ml

Sympathomimetics

Specialist initiation (S1)

BRIMONIDINE 0.2% eye drops

Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors and Systemic Drugs

Specialist initiation (S1)

DORZOLAMIDE 20mg/ml eye drops 

BRINZOLAMIDE 10mg/ml eye drops

ACETAZOLAMIDE 250mg standard release tablets or modified release capsules

Combination Products – Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors and Systemic Drugs

Specialist initiation (S1)

DORZOLAMIDE WITH TIMOLOL  eye drops

  • Dorzolamide 20mg/ml with timolol 5mg/ml

BRINZOLAMIDE WITH TIMOLOL eye drops

  • Brinzolamide 20mg/ml with timolol 5mg/ml

BRINZOLAMIDE WITH BRIMONIDINE  eye drops (Simbrinza®)

  • Brinzolamide 20mg/ml with brimonidine 2mg/ml

Miotics

Specialist initiation (S1)

PILOCARPINE 1%, 2% or 4% eye drops

NHSL Joint Adult Formulary Key

To indicate the category of a formulary medicine, updated sections adopt the following key:

Preferred list (P): First-line formulary choices.

Total list (T): Alternative choices when preferred list options not effective/not tolerated, or not indicated.

Specialist initiation (S1): Specialist initiation, or on the advice of a Consultant or Specialist Practitioner in this therapeutic area. Continuation in primary care is acceptable.

Specialist use only (S2): Supply via hospital, Homecare Service or a hospital based prescription (HBP) for dispensing by community pharmacy. Not prescribed in primary care setting.

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 31/01/2022

Next review date: 31/01/2025

Author(s): NHSL.

Version: Please refer to the introduction section for an explanation of the review dates above.

Approved By: ADTC

Reviewer name(s): ADTC.