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 →

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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.

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

minor clonidine

( 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.

This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.

Common Questions

Can I use Alphagan P if I am under 2 years old?
No, you should not use Alphagan P if you are younger than 2 years old.
What should I do if my eyes get irritated after using Alphagan P?
Tell your doctor if you have eye irritation, redness, itching, or other eye problems.
Can Alphagan P affect my blood pressure?
Yes, Alphagan P can sometimes lower blood pressure. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.
Can I use Alphagan P with other eye drops?
Yes, but wait at least 5 minutes between using Alphagan P and other eye drops.
What if the Alphagan P solution changes color?
The solution should be clear with a greenish-yellow color. If it changes color or becomes cloudy, do not use it.
Can I drive after using Alphagan P?
Alphagan P may cause drowsiness or blurred vision in some people. Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine affects you.
What should I do if I accidentally swallow Alphagan P?
Seek medical attention immediately or call a poison control center.
Can I wear contact lenses while using Alphagan P?
Ask your doctor if you can wear contact lenses while using Alphagan P.
Is it okay to share my Alphagan P eye drops with someone else?
No, never share your eye drops with anyone else, even if they have the same condition.
What should I do if I experience an allergic reaction to Alphagan P?
Stop using Alphagan P and seek immediate medical attention if you have signs of an allergic reaction, such as rash, itching, swelling, or trouble breathing.
What are the common side effects of brimonidine ophthalmic?
The registry lists Allergic conjunctivitis (eye allergy), Eye redness, Eye itching, Burning sensation in the eye, Small bumps on the conjunctiva (conjunctival folliculosis) among the most-reported FAERS reaction terms for brimonidine ophthalmic. These counts are not an individual symptom assessment.
Does brimonidine ophthalmic interact with other medications?
The registry has 1 documented interaction rows for brimonidine ophthalmic. Notable source-record pairings include clonidine. These rows are not a complete medication review.
What drug class is brimonidine ophthalmic?
brimonidine ophthalmic belongs to the Alpha-2 Agonist (Ophthalmic) drug class. It requires a prescription (Rx). Alphagan P eye drops are used to lower high pressure inside your eye.
Is there a generic version of brimonidine ophthalmic?
Yes, generic brimonidine ophthalmic is available from 20 manufacturers. The generic costs $0.46 per unit compared to $37.34 for the brand version, saving approximately 99%. Pricing is based on NADAC (National Average Drug Acquisition Cost) data from CMS.
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for brimonidine ophthalmic?
The FDA label for brimonidine ophthalmic contains product-specific pregnancy or breastfeeding language. PlainMeds does not apply that source text to an individual.

Related Medications in Alpha-2 Agonist (Ophthalmic)

Other drugs grouped near brimonidine ophthalmic - same-class peers and common alternatives.

aflibercept

Eylea

AHZANTIVE is a medicine used to treat certain eye problems.

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artificial tears

Refresh, Systane

Artificial tears are eye drops that lubricate your eyes.

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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 are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.

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. This registry does not provide medication decisions.

Last updated: September 18, 2025

PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.

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 from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.

All federal data sources used on this page