Two medicines, side by side
Dorzolamide vs brimonidine
Dorzolamide and brimonidine are both labeled for glaucoma. Drugs@FDA records approvals of dorzolamide since 1994 and of brimonidine since 1996. Pharmacies paid $0.835 per mL (Dorzolamide HCl 2% eye drops) and $9.06 per mL (Brimonidine tartrate 0.1% drop) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, dorzolamide is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor and brimonidine an alpha-adrenergic agonist.
Check it at the source: the dorzolamide FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 29, 2026); the brimonidine FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 24, 2025).
Highlights of the dorzolamide record
Dorzolamide (Trusopt) · label of June 29, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsDorzolamide hydrochloride ophthalmic solution is indicated in the treatment of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma. Dorzolamide hydrochloride ophthalmic solution is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 9, 1994
- Generic labelers
- 14 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.835 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the brimonidine record
Brimonidine (Lumify) · label of July 24, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsBrimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution 0.2% is indicated for lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The IOP lowering efficacy of brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution diminishes over time in some patients. This loss of effect appears with a variable time of onset in each patient and should be closely monitored. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 6, 1996
- Generic labelers
- 14 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $9.06 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 4
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Dorzolamide label of June 29, 2026, Brimonidine label of July 24, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do dorzolamide and brimonidine differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, dorzolamide is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor and brimonidine an alpha-adrenergic agonist.
How each works, in its label's words: Dorzolamide, “Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is an enzyme found in many tissues of the body including the eye.”; Brimonidine, “Brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution 0.2% is a relatively selective alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist with a peak ocular hypotensive effect occurring at two hours post-dosing.”
Generics: dorzolamide since 2008; brimonidine since 2003 (Drugs@FDA).
| Dorzolamide | Brimonidine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Glaucoma | Glaucoma |
| Pharmacologic class | Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitor | alpha-Adrenergic Agonist |
| How it works (label) | Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is an enzyme found in many tissues of the body including the eye. It catalyzes the reversible reaction involving the hydration of carbon dioxide and the dehydration of carbonic acid. | Brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution 0.2% is a relatively selective alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist with a peak ocular hypotensive effect occurring at two hours post-dosing. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | 12.3 Pharmacokinetics Absorption After ocular administration of a 0.2% solution, plasma concentrations peaked within 1 to 4 hours and declined with a systemic half-life of approximately 3 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 9, 1994 | September 6, 1996 |
| First generic approved | October 28, 2008 | May 28, 2003 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 14 labelers | 14 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.835 per mL (Dorzolamide HCl 2% eye drops) | $9.06 per mL (Brimonidine tartrate 0.1% drop) |
| 12-month price change | -16% | -41% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 4 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 8,938 | 17,837 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to dorzolamide
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions