Prescription medication · Alpha-2 Agonist (Ophthalmic)
brimonidine ophthalmic
Also sold as Alphagan P. Alphagan P eye drops are used to lower high pressure inside your eye.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 1
- InteractionFew interactions
- 99% less
- Generic vs brandHuge savings
- $37.34
- Brand price (NADAC)
What the data shows
brimonidine ophthalmic (Alphagan P) is a prescription Alpha-2 Agonist (Ophthalmic), whose generic costs a fraction of the brand (about 99% less).
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
brimonidine ophthalmic (Alphagan P) is a prescription Alpha-2 Agonist (Ophthalmic). Alphagan P eye drops are used to lower high pressure inside your eye.
Alphagan P eye drops help lower pressure in the eye. It is used for people with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$37.34/unit
Generic Price
$0.46/unit
Generic Savings
99%
Generic Available
Yes (20 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Alphagan P eye drops are used to lower high pressure inside your eye.
Common side effects
Allergic conjunctivitis (eye allergy), Eye redness, Eye itching
Key warnings
Alphagan P may worsen problems caused by poor blood flow.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from brimonidine ophthalmic's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Alphagan P is an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist. It works by decreasing the amount of fluid your eye makes. It also helps increase the amount of fluid that drains from your eye, which lowers eye pressure.
How to Take It
Use one drop of Alphagan P in the affected eye(s) three times a day. Space each dose about 8 hours apart. If you use other eye drops, wait at least 5 minutes before using them. This will help each medicine work correctly.
This is a plain-language summary of brimonidine ophthalmic's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
It is not known if Alphagan P will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Alphagan P passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor before breastfeeding.
This is a plain-language summary of brimonidine ophthalmic's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. Then, continue with your regular schedule.
This is a plain-language summary of brimonidine ophthalmic's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store Alphagan P at room temperature, between 59°F and 77°F.
Serious Warnings
Alphagan P may worsen problems caused by poor blood flow. Use caution if you have depression, problems with blood flow to your brain or heart, Raynaud’s phenomenon, low blood pressure when standing up, or thromboangiitis obliterans. Do not touch the tip of the container to your eye or any other surface. This can cause the solution to become contaminated and lead to serious eye damage and vision loss.
Known Drug Interactions
( 7.2 ) Tricyclic antidepressants may potentially blunt the hypotensive effect of systemic clonidine. 7.3 Tricyclic Antidepressants Tricyclic antidepressants have been reported to blunt the hypotensive effect of systemic clonidine.
Mechanism: Both medications work in a similar way to lower blood pressure, which may cause an additive effect when used together.
What to do: Your healthcare provider should monitor your blood pressure closely if you are using both of these medications.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
Common Questions
Can I use Alphagan P if I am under 2 years old?
What should I do if my eyes get irritated after using Alphagan P?
Can Alphagan P affect my blood pressure?
Can I use Alphagan P with other eye drops?
What if the Alphagan P solution changes color?
Can I drive after using Alphagan P?
What should I do if I accidentally swallow Alphagan P?
Can I wear contact lenses while using Alphagan P?
Is it okay to share my Alphagan P eye drops with someone else?
What should I do if I experience an allergic reaction to Alphagan P?
What are the common side effects of brimonidine ophthalmic?
Does brimonidine ophthalmic interact with other medications?
What drug class is brimonidine ophthalmic?
Is there a generic version of brimonidine ophthalmic?
Is brimonidine ophthalmic safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Alpha-2 Agonist (Ophthalmic)
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bimatoprost
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brimonidine/timolol
Combigan
Combigan eye drops contain two medicines that lower pressure in the eye.
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What the FDA Data Shows for brimonidine ophthalmic
The FDA label for brimonidine ophthalmic (sold under brand names such as Alphagan P) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Alpha-2 Agonist (Ophthalmic) class. Alphagan P eye drops are used to lower high pressure inside your eye. Official labeling lists 8 commonly reported side effects, including Allergic conjunctivitis (eye allergy), Eye redness, Eye itching.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. Voluntary reports accumulate over the lifetime of a drug and reflect wide-ranging clinical use. The database also lists 1 documented drug interaction derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.46 versus $37.34 for the brand - a 99% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: September 18, 2025
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages