brimonidine ophthalmic
Brand names: Alphagan P
Alphagan P eye drops help lower pressure in the eye. It is used for people with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
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.
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.
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.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. Then, continue with your regular schedule.
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.
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)
Other drugs grouped near brimonidine ophthalmic — same-class peers and common alternatives.
aflibercept
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bevacizumab (ophthalmic)
Avastin
Avastin is a medicine that blocks a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).
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bimatoprost
Lumigan
Bimatoprost eye drops help lower pressure in the eye.
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brimonidine/timolol
Combigan
Combigan eye drops contain two medicines that lower pressure in the eye.
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Compare brimonidine ophthalmic vs aflibercept side-by-side →
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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.
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