heartburn on Timolol drops?

[Dressage74]

I have narrow angles, pressure 15 and had Iridotomy a few weeks ago, I was given steroid drops after and on my follow up I now have high pressure 30 which I didn't have before so consultant thinks its the steroid drops. I've finished them now and she has prescribed Timolol drops for a short time to reduce pressures but I've had terrible heartburn since taking them, anyone else experience this?

[Eyeworrier]

YES!!! I have been taking the drops (one in each eye once a day) for a few years now and over that time I have suffered increasingly from acid reflux, to the point where I have had two endoscopies and a gastroscopy, the latter only a few weeks ago. It has been bad enough to disrupt my life since last September and is only just improving, but I have to take 40 mg of omeprazole every day. I'm not happy about this because long-term use can weaken bones and I have osteopenia. I've raised the issue twice with my glaucoma consultant but the first time it was dismissed and when I spoke to his secretary recently about it I got no reply. Given what you say I must try again. I have never used anything other than tiopex and always perform nasal punctation.

[Dressage74 in reply to Eyeworrier]

I hope you can get the option to try a different drop as its miserable to live with and I agree long term Omeprazole isn't ideal. I'm hoping I can manage with Gaviscon as I'm due to see consultant in 10 days and if pressure is back to normal then I can stop them, but if I have to be on them long term I would definitely want to try a different type as it was an instant side effect for me and I can't put it down to anything else. Good luck

[Eyeworrier in reply to Dressage74]

I'd be grateful if you would keep me updated on whether the symptoms disappear if you are able to stop them or if you change to another drug. I have been wondering for some time if the Tiopex is to blame, so I am very grateful to you for posting.

[Dressage74 in reply to Eyeworrier]

I will do

[Dressage74 in reply to Eyeworrier]

Just an update.. I stopped the Timolol a week ago and after a few days the heartburn reduced and has now gone. Hope that helps ...

[KieranGlaucomaUK Administrator]

Hi Dressage74. If you're experiencing heartburn with your eye drops then we recommend to let your eye specialist know via the eye secretary, as they might want to try and change your drops to something else.

[AlfredV]

Not heartburn as such but when I was first put on timolol, within a day I started vomiting violently. This was happening maybe 30 times per day for a few days. I was told I had probably picked up a norovirus and that it wasn't the drops, but then I stopped the drops and the vomiting stopped within a day. I started the drops back up and the vomiting returned. I never got along with any glaucoma drops but my reaction to timolol was by far the worst.

[Dressage74 in reply to AlfredV]

Interesting... that's definitely a reaction which means they can affect the whole body.

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner]

To help with side effects you can try Punctal Occlusion, which is basically closing your eye and pressing on the tear-duct for up to 2 minutes. By doing this, it can help stop the drops from travelling through the tear-duct to the back of the throat and into the bloodstream encouraging side effects. |This is something that has been shown to help with side effects. You may already do this, but thought it would be good to mention it just in case. This is recommended for all prescribed drops.

But as Kieran has mentioned, mention it to your eye specialist.

[Dressage74 in reply to Trish_GlaucomaUK]

Thanks Trish, I do already do this but maybe my 2mins isn't long enough, I might try setting a timer and see if it helps, as I'm seeing my consultant in 10 days and she hopes it was the steroids drops causing the pressure then I'm hoping I won't need to stay on them for long but if I do I will definitely discuss trying a different type.

[Eyeworrier]

Dear Dressage74

Thanks for the update. After reading your post I got in touch with my consultant who said I should stop using the drops for a week. The symptoms lessened within three days and have now disappeared completely. I have not needed to take any indigestion meds for the last fortnight and I notice that I have more strength and energy, presumably because I am not affected by the fact that Tiopex is a beta blocker. It has not been easy to get a response from my consultant since I reported the improvement and I have been concerned because I have now been without any glaucoma treatment for a fortnight but I had a message today to the effect that he wants to see me in clinic (though I haven't yet been given an appointment) and that it is okay to go without drops meanwhile.

I am so grateful to you for posting as you did. Indigestion/acid reflux doesn't sound like much of a problem but I have had severe life-disrupting symptoms for 18 months, two endoscopies and a gastroscopy, and the worry that I might have stomach cancer, as well as some actual damage to my oesophagus, and all of it appears to have been caused by the Tiopex. I had begun to be suspicious of the drops but without your account of your problem I think I would probably have continued taking it.

I just hope that whatever drops are prescribed to replace the Tiopex prove to be problem -free.

I know treatment is vital to protect sight, but as a result of this experience I would urge anybody who develops unexplained symptoms while on glaucoma meds to factor them in while searching for an explanation.

[Eyeworrier]

I am also grateful to AlfredV for his account of severe digestive issues while taking Tiopex/Timolol.