Compare Zioptan vs. brimonidine
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Lowers eye pressure and controls glaucoma.
Zioptan (tafluprost) is often a first choice treatment for lowering eye pressure to prevent and treat glaucoma, but is preservative-free so it has special storage instructions.
Lowers high eye pressure.
Alphagan P (brimonidine) is an effective medication for treating high pressure in the eyes, but it can cause some bothersome effects such as dry mouth, eye burning, and stinging upon administration.
Upsides
- Easy to use, with single-use containers and one drop daily in the evening.
- Can use with other eye drops, if needed for better results.
- Zioptan (tafluprost) is the only medicine in its class without preservatives, which may be less irritating to the eye.
- Alphagan P (brimonidine) is a good medication for reducing high eye pressure and helping prevent development of glaucoma.
- It is available as a cheaper, generic form.
Downsides
- Zioptan (tafluprost) can permanently change your eyes and eyelids to brown, even after you stop using it.
- Zioptan (tafluprost) may darken and increase the length, thickness and number of eyelashes, irritating the eyes.
- No generic available, so can be expensive.
- Is preservative-free so it should only be used 30 days after opening.
- Even though it's administered in the eye, Alphagan P (brimonidine) can make you feel fatigued and drowsy.
- You must wait 5 minutes before using another eye drop in the same eye.
- You have to remove contact lenses and leave them out for 15 minutes after using the eyedrops.
- Alphagan P (brimonidine) can't be used in children under 2 years of age.
Used for
- Ocular hypertension
- Glaucoma
- Elevated intraocular pressure
Dosage forms
- Eye drops
- Eye drops
Price
Lowest price
$171.64
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$192.00
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Side effects
The Alphagan P (brimonidine) FDA package insert doesn’t have numbers about how common side effects are.
Risks and risk factors
- Darkening of the eyes
- Long term use
- Darkening of lashes
- Long term use
- Darkening of contact lenses
- (Re)inserting contact lenses too soon after applying Zioptan (tafluprost)
- Eye injury/infection
- Sharing eye drops with others
- Contact lens use
- Contamination of eye products after use
- Corneal disease
- Disruption of the ocular epithelial surface
- Severe heart disease
- CNS depression (sleepiness and fatigue)