Prescription medication · Alpha-2 Agonist / Beta-Blocker Combination
brimonidine/timolol
Also sold as Combigan. Combigan is used to lower high pressure in your eyes.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 4,700
- FDA reports
- 2
- InteractionsFew interactions
- $39.18
- Brand price (NADAC)
What the data shows
brimonidine/timolol (Combigan) is a prescription Alpha-2 Agonist / Beta-Blocker Combination, with 4,700 FDA adverse-event reports on file, with 2 documented drug interactions.
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/timolol (Combigan) is a prescription Alpha-2 Agonist / Beta-Blocker Combination. Combigan is used to lower high pressure in your eyes.
Combigan eye drops contain two medicines that lower pressure in the eye. It is used to treat glaucoma or high pressure in the eye.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$39.18/unit
Generic Available
No
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Combigan is used to lower high pressure in your eyes.
Common side effects
Allergic conjunctivitis (eye allergy), Conjunctival folliculosis (bumps on the eye), Conjunctival hyperemia (redness of the eye)
Key warnings
Combigan contains timolol, which can cause serious heart and breathing problems.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from brimonidine/timolol's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Combigan has two drugs that work together to lower eye pressure. Brimonidine lowers fluid production in the eye and increases fluid drainage. Timolol reduces fluid production.
How to Take It
Use one drop of Combigan in the affected eye(s) two times a day. Space the doses about 12 hours apart. If you use other eye drops, wait at least 5 minutes before using them. This helps each medicine work properly.
This is a plain-language summary of brimonidine/timolol's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Animal studies suggest possible risk to the fetus. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Timolol can pass into breast milk, so talk to your doctor about breastfeeding while using Combigan.
This is a plain-language summary of brimonidine/timolol'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. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
This is a plain-language summary of brimonidine/timolol's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store Combigan at room temperature (59°-77°F) and protect it from light.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 4,700 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for brimonidine/timolol, by number of reports
- The medicine is not working
The medicine is not working
2,756 reports
- Allergic reaction 440
Allergic reaction
440 reports
- Tiredness 240
Tiredness
240 reports
- Eye pressure increased 224
Eye pressure increased
224 reports
- Feeling dizzy 183
Feeling dizzy
183 reports
- Eye is irritated 180
Eye is irritated
180 reports
- Eye redness 179
Eye redness
179 reports
- Blurred vision 167
Blurred vision
167 reports
- Diarrhea 166
Diarrhea
166 reports
- Eye pain 165
Eye pain
165 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Serious Warnings
Combigan contains timolol, which can cause serious heart and breathing problems. These problems can be more likely if you have asthma, COPD, or heart failure. Tell your doctor if you have any of these conditions.
Known Drug Interactions
( 7.7 ) Tricyclic antidepressants may potentially blunt the hypotensive effect of systemic clonidine. 7.8 Tricyclic Antidepressants Tricyclic antidepressants have been reported to blunt the hypotensive effect of systemic clonidine.
Mechanism: Both drugs work in a similar way to lower blood pressure. Taking them together can cause an additive effect, which might make your blood pressure drop too low.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor your blood pressure and heart rate closely if you are using both of these medications.
7.7 CYP2D6 Inhibitors Potentiated systemic beta-blockade (e.g., decreased heart rate, depression) has been reported during combined treatment with CYP2D6 inhibitors (e.g., quinidine, SSRIs) and timolol.
Mechanism: Certain medicines can block the body from breaking down timolol. This can lead to higher levels of the drug in your system, which may cause a slow heart rate or feelings of depression.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor you for a slow pulse or mood changes if you take these medications together.
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 Combigan if I have asthma?
Can Combigan affect my heart?
How often should I use Combigan?
What should I do if I wear contact lenses?
Can I use Combigan if I am pregnant?
Can I use Combigan if I am breastfeeding?
What should I do if I experience side effects?
Can I use other eye drops with Combigan?
How should I store Combigan?
What if I accidentally swallow Combigan?
What are the common side effects of brimonidine/timolol?
Does brimonidine/timolol interact with other medications?
What drug class is brimonidine/timolol?
Is brimonidine/timolol safe during pregnancy?
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Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
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What the FDA Data Shows for brimonidine/timolol
The FDA label for brimonidine/timolol (sold under brand names such as Combigan) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Alpha-2 Agonist / Beta-Blocker Combination class. Combigan is used to lower high pressure in your eyes. Official labeling lists 6 commonly reported side effects, including Allergic conjunctivitis (eye allergy), Conjunctival folliculosis (bumps on the eye), Conjunctival hyperemia (redness of the eye).
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 4,700 voluntary reports. The database also lists 2 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS.
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: July 26, 2024
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