Vizidor eye drops solution is indicated:

• as adjunctive therapy to beta-blockers, as monotherapy in patients unresponsive to beta-blockers or in whom beta- blockers are contraindicated, in the treatment of elevated intra-ocular pressure in:

• ocular hypertension,

• open-angle glaucoma,

• pseudoexfoliative glaucoma.

Posology

When used as monotherapy, the dose is one drop of dorzolamide in the conjunctival sac of the affected eye(s), three times daily.

When used as adjunctive therapy with an ophthalmic beta-blocker, the dose is one drop of dorzolamide in the conjunctival sac of the affected eye(s) two times daily.

When substituting dorzolamide for another ophthalmic anti-glaucoma agent, discontinue the other agent after proper dosing on one day, and start dorzolamide on the next day.

If more than one topical ophthalmic drug is being used, the drugs should be administered at least ten minutes apart.

Patients should be instructed to wash their hands before use and avoid allowing the tip of the container to come into contact with the eye or surrounding structures.

Patients should also be instructed that ocular solutions, if handled improperly, can become contaminated by common bacteria known to cause ocular infections. Serious damage to the eye and subsequent loss of vision may result from using contaminated solutions.

When using nasolacrimal occlusion or closing the eyelids for 2 minutes, the systemic absorption is reduced. This may result in a decrease in systemic side effects and an increase in local activity.

Vizidor eye drops solution is a sterile solution that does not contain a preservative. The solution from the multi-dose container can be used for up to 28 days after first opening for administration to the affected eye(s).

Pediatric population

Limited clinical data in pediatric patients with administration of dorzolamide (preserved formulation) three times a day are available. (For information regarding pediatric dosing see section 5.1).

Method of administration

Before instillation of the eye drops:

- Users should be instructed to wash their hands before opening the bottle.

- Users should also be instructed to not use this medicine if they notice that the tamper-proof seal on the bottle neck is broken before they first use it.

- When used for the first time, before delivering a drop to the eye, the patient should practise using the dropper bottle by squeezing it slowly to deliver one drop into the air, away from the eye.

- When the patient is confident they can deliver one drop at a time, the patient should adopt a position that is the most comfortable for the instillation of the drops (the patient can sit down, lie on their back, or stand in front of a mirror).

Instillation:

1. The bottle should be held directly below the cap and the cap should be turned to open the bottle. To avoid contamination of the solution, the tip of the bottle must not touch anything.

2. The patient should tilt their head back and hold the bottle above their eye.

3. The patient should pull the lower eyelid down slightly to form a pocket between the eyelid and eye and look up. The bottle should be squeezed gently in the middle and a drop should be allowed to fall into the patient's eye. Please note that there might be a few seconds delay between squeezing and the drop coming out. The bottle must not be squeezed too hard.

4. The patient should instill one drop in the affected eye(s) as directed by the physician. The patient should blink a few times so that the drop spreads over their eye should be instructed to seek advice from their doctor, pharmacist or nurse if they are not sure how to administer their medicine.

5. The patient should close the eye and press the inner corner of the eye with a finger for about two minutes. This helps to stop the medicine from getting into the rest of the body.

6. Instructions 2. – 4. should be repeated for delivery into the other eye, if required. The patient should be clearly instructed if one eye only requires treatment, and if so, which eye is affected.

7. After use and prior to recapping, the bottle should be shaken once in a downwards direction, without touching the dropper tip, in order to remove any residual liquid on the tip. This is necessary in order to ensure delivery of subsequent drops.

8. After all doses have been used there will be some Vizidor left in the bottle. The patient should not be concerned since an extra amount of Vizidor has been added and the patient will get the full amount of Vizidor that their doctor has prescribed. Using the excess medicine remaining in the bottle after the patient has completed the course of treatment should not be attempted.

Patients must not use the eye drops for longer than 28 days after first opening the bottle.

Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.

Dorzolamide has not been studied in patients with severe renal impairment (CrCl < 30 ml/min) or with hyperchloraemic acidosis. Because dorzolamide and its metabolites are excreted predominantly by the kidney, dorzolamide is therefore contraindicated in such patients.

Dorzolamide has not been studied in patients with hepatic impairment and should therefore be used with caution in such patients.

The management of patients with acute angle-closure glaucoma requires therapeutic interventions in addition to ocular hypotensive agents. Dorzolamide has not been studied in patients with acute angle-closure glaucoma.

Dorzolamide contains a sulphonamido group, which also occurs in sulphonamides and although administered topically, is absorbed systemically. Therefore the same types of adverse reactions that are attributable to sulphonamides may occur with topical administration, including severe reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. If signs of serious reactions or hypersensitivity occur, discontinue the use of this preparation.

Therapy with oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors has been associated with urolithiasis as a result of acid-base disturbances, especially in patients with a prior history of renal calculi. Although no acid-base disturbances have been observed with dorzolamide, urolithiasis has been reported infrequently. Because dorzolamide is a topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor that is absorbed systemically, patients with a prior history of renal calculi may be at increased risk of urolithiasis while using dorzolamide.

If allergic reactions (e.g. conjunctivitis and eyelid reactions) are observed, treatment discontinuation should be considered.

There is a potential for an additive effect on the known systemic effects of carbonic anhydrase inhibition in patients receiving an oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitor and dorzolamide. The concomitant administration of dorzolamide and oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors is not recommended.

Corneal oedemas and irreversible corneal decompensations have been reported in patients with pre-existing chronic corneal defects and/or a history of intra-ocular surgery while using dorzolamide multidose (preserved formulation). Topical dorzolamide should be used with caution in such patients.

Choroidal detachment concomitant with ocular hypotony have been reported after filtration procedures with administration of aqueous suppressant therapies.

Patients with a history of contact hypersensitivity to silver should not use this product as dispensed drops may contain traces of silver.

Vizidor has not been studied in patients wearing contact lenses.

Pediatric population

Dorzolamide has not been studied in patients less than 36 weeks gestational age and less than 1 week of age. Patients with significant renal tubular immaturity should only receive dorzolamide after careful consideration of the risk benefit balance because of the possible risk of metabolic acidosis.

Specific drug interaction studies have not been performed with dorzolamide.

In clinical studies, dorzolamide was used concomitantly with the following medications without evidence of adverse interactions: timolol ophthalmic solution, betaxolol ophthalmic solution and systemic medications including ACE-inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs including aspirin, and hormones (e.g. oestrogen, insulin, thyroxine).

Association between dorzolamide and miotics and adrenergic agonists has not been fully evaluated during glaucoma therapy.

Pregnancy

Dorzolamide should not be used during pregnancy. There are no or limited amount of data from the use of dorzolamide in pregnant women. In rabbits, dorzolamide produced teratogenic effects at maternotoxic doses (see section 5.3).

Breast-feeding

It is unknown whether dorzolamide metabolites are excreted in human milk Available pharmacodynamic/toxicological data in animals have shown excretion of dorzolamide/metabolites in milk. A decision must be made whether to discontinue breast-feeding or to discontinue/abstain from Vizidor therapy taking into account the benefit of breast feeding for the child and the benefit of therapy for the woman. A risk to the newborns/infants cannot be excluded.

Fertility

Animal data do not suggest an effect of treatment with dorzolamide on male and female fertility. Human data are lacking.

No studies on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed. Possible side effects such as dizziness and visual disturbances may affect the ability to drive and use machines.

In a multiple-dose, double-masked, active-treatment (multidose dorzolamide) controlled, two period crossover multiclinic study, the safety profile of dorzolamide preservative-free was similar to that of dorzolamide multidose.

Multidose dorzolamide (preserved formulation) was evaluated in more than 1400 individuals in controlled and uncontrolled clinical studies. In long term studies of 1108 patients treated with multidose dorzolamide as monotherapy or as adjunctive therapy with an ophthalmic beta-blocker, the most frequent cause of discontinuations from treatment were drug-related ocular adverse effects in approximately 3% of patients primarily conjunctivitis and eyelid reactions.

The following adverse effects have been reported either during clinical trials or during post-marketing experience with dorzolamide:

[Very Common: (≥ 1/10), Common: (≥ 1/100 to <1/10), Uncommon: (≥ 1/1,000 to <1/100), Rare: (≥ 1/10,000 to <1/1,000), Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)]

Investigations: dorzolamide was not associated with clinically meaningful electrolyte disturbances.

Paediatric population:

See section 5.1

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

Only limited information is available with regard to human overdose by accidental or deliberate ingestion of dorzolamide hydrochloride.

Symptoms

The following have been reported with oral ingestion: somnolence; topical application: nausea, dizziness, headache, fatigue, abnormal dreams, and dysphagia.

Treatment

Treatment should be symptomatic and supportive. Electrolyte imbalance, development of an acidotic state, and possible central nervous system effects may occur. Serum electrolyte levels (particularly potassium) and blood pH levels should be monitored.

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antiglaucoma preparations and miotics, Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors, dorzolamide, ATC code: S01EC03

Mechanism of action

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is an enzyme found in many tissues of the body including the eye. In humans, carbonic anhydrase exists as a number of isoenzymes, the most active being carbonic anhydrase II (CA-II) found primarily in red blood cells (RBCs) but also in other tissues. Inhibition of carbonic anhydrase in the ciliary processes of the eye decreases aqueous humour secretion. The result is a reduction in intra-ocular pressure (IOP).

Vizidor contains dorzolamide hydrochloride, a potent inhibitor of human carbonic anhydrase II. Following topical ocular administration, dorzolamide reduces elevated intra-ocular pressure, whether or not associated with glaucoma. Elevated intra-ocular pressure is a major risk factor in the pathogenesis of optic nerve damage and visual field loss. Dorzolamide does not cause pupillary constriction and reduces intra-ocular pressure without side effects such as night blindness or accommodative spasm. Dorzolamide has minimal or no effect on pulse rate or blood pressure.

Topically applied beta-adrenergic blocking agents also reduce IOP by decreasing aqueous humour secretion but by a different mechanism of action. Studies have shown that when dorzolamide is added to a topical beta-blocker, additional reduction in IOP is observed; this finding is consistent with the reported additive effects of beta-blockers and oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.

Clinical efficacy and safety

Adult patients

In patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension, the efficacy of dorzolamide given t.i.d. as monotherapy (baseline IOP ≥ 23 mmHg) or given b.i.d. as adjunctive therapy while receiving ophthalmic beta-blockers (baseline IOP ≥ 22 mmHg) was demonstrated in large-scale clinical studies of up to one-year duration. The IOP-lowering effect of dorzolamide as monotherapy and as adjunctive therapy was demonstrated throughout the day and this effect was maintained during long-term administration. Efficacy during long-term monotherapy was similar to betaxolol and slightly less than timolol. When used as adjunctive therapy to ophthalmic beta-blockers, dorzolamide demonstrated additional IOP lowering similar to pilocarpine 2% q.i.d.

In a multiple-dose, double-masked, active treatment (dorzolamide multidose) controlled, two period crossover multiclinic study, in 152 patients with elevated baseline intraocular pressure (baseline IOP ≥ 22 mmHg) in one or both eyes, dorzolamide preservative-free had an IOP-lowering effect equivalent to that of dorzolamide multidose. The safety profile of dorzolamide preservative-free was similar to dorzolamide multidose.

Paediatric population

A 3-month, double-masked, active-treatment controlled, multicenter study was undertaken in 184 (122 for dorzolamide) paediatric patients from 1week of age to <6 years of age with glaucoma or elevated intraocular pressure (baseline IOP ≥ 22 mmHg) to assess the safety of dorzolamide (preserved-formulation) when administered topically t.i.d. (three times a day). Approximately half the patients in both treatment groups were diagnosed with congenital glaucoma; other common etiologies were Sturge Weber syndrome, iridocorneal mesenchymal dysgenesis, aphakic patients. The distribution by age and treatments in the monotherapy phase was as follows:

Across both age cohorts approximately 70 patients received treatment for at least 61 days and approximately 50 patients received 81-100 days of treatment.

If IOP was inadequately controlled on dorzolamide or timolol gel-forming solution monotherapy, a change was made to open-label therapy according to the following: 30 patients <2 years were switched to concomitant therapy with timolol gel-forming solution 0.25% daily and dorzolamide 2% t.i.d.; 30 patients ≥ 2 years were switched to 2% dorzolamide/0.5% timolol fixed combination b.i.d. (twice a day).

Overall, this study did not reveal additional safety concerns in paediatric patients: approximately 26% (20% in dorzolamide monotherapy) of paediatric patients were observed to experience drug related adverse effects, the majority of which were local, non serious ocular effects such as ocular burning and stinging, injection and eye pain. A small percentage <4%, was observed to have corneal oedema or haze. Local reactions appeared similar in frequency to comparator. In post marketing data, metabolic acidosis in the very young particularly with renal immaturity/impairment has been reported.

Efficacy results in paediatric patients suggest that the mean IOP decrease observed in the dorzolamide group was comparable to the mean IOP decrease observed in the timolol group even if a slight numeric advantage was observed for timolol.

Longer-term efficacy studies (>12 weeks) are not available.

Unlike oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, topical administration of dorzolamide hydrochloride allows for the active substance to exert its effects directly in the eye at substantially lower doses and therefore with less systemic exposure. In clinical trials with dorzolamide, this resulted in a reduction in IOP without the acid-base disturbances or alterations in electrolytes characteristic of oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.

When topically applied, dorzolamide reaches the systemic circulation. To assess the potential for systemic carbonic anhydrase inhibition following topical administration, active substance and metabolite concentrations in red blood cells (RBCs) and plasma and carbonic anhydrase inhibition in RBCs were measured. Dorzolamide accumulates in RBCs during chronic dosing as a result of selective binding to CA-II while extremely low concentrations of free active substance in plasma are maintained. The parent active substance forms a single N-desethyl metabolite that inhibits CA-II less potently than the parent active substance but also inhibits a less active isoenzyme (CA-I). The metabolite also accumulates in RBCs where it binds primarily to CA-I. Dorzolamide binds moderately to plasma proteins (approximately 33%). Dorzolamide is primarily excreted unchanged in the urine; the metabolite is also excreted in urine. After dosing ends, dorzolamide washes out of RBCs non-linearly, resulting in a rapid decline of active substance concentration initially, followed by a slower elimination phase with a half-life of about four months.

When dorzolamide was given orally to simulate the maximum systemic exposure after long-term topical ocular administration, steady state was reached within 13 weeks. At steady state, there was virtually no free active substance or metabolite in plasma; CA inhibition in RBCs was less than that anticipated to be necessary for a pharmacological effect on renal function or respiration. Similar pharmacokinetic results were observed after chronic, topical administration of dorzolamide.

However, some elderly patients with renal impairment (estimated CrCl 30-60 ml/min) had higher metabolite concentrations in RBCs, but no meaningful differences in carbonic anhydrase inhibition and no clinically significant systemic side effects were directly attributable to this finding.

The main findings in animal studies with dorzolamide hydrochloride administered orally were related to the pharmacological effects of systemic carbonic anhydrase inhibition. Some of these findings were species-specific and/or were a result of metabolic acidosis. In rabbits given maternotoxic doses of dorzolamide associated with metabolic acidosis, malformation of the vertebral bodies were observed.

In lactating rats, decreases in the body weight gain of offspring were observed. No adverse effects upon fertility were observed in male and female rats given dorzolamide prior to and throughout mating.

In clinical studies, patients did not develop signs of metabolic acidosis or serum electrolyte changes that are indicative of systemic CA inhibition. Therefore, it is not expected that the effects noted in animal studies would be observed in patients receiving a therapeutic dose of dorzolamide.

Hydroxyethyl cellulose,

Mannitol (E421),

Sodium citrate dihydrate,

Sodium hydroxide (E524) (for pH adjustment)

Water for injections.

Not applicable.

30 months. After first opening, the product may be stored for a maximum of 28 days.

Store below 30 ° C.

For storage conditions after first opening of the medicinal product, see section 6.3.

5 ml solution in a white opaque 11 ml LDPE bottle and white Novelia nozzle (HDPE and silicone) with a white HDPE cap.

Pack sizes: 1,3 or 4 bottles in cardbox.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

No special requirements for disposal.