Prescription medication · Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitor (Ophthalmic)
brinzolamide
Also sold as Azopt. Azopt is used to treat high pressure inside the eye.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 8,461
- FDA reportsLightly reported
- 63% less
- Generic vs brandBig savings
- $35.31
- Brand price (NADAC)
What the data shows
brinzolamide (Azopt) is a prescription Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitor (Ophthalmic), reported less often than most tracked drugs (8,461 FDA reports), whose generic runs roughly half the brand price or less (63% 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.
brinzolamide (Azopt) is a prescription Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitor (Ophthalmic). Azopt is used to treat high pressure inside the eye.
Azopt eye drops contain brinzolamide, which lowers pressure in the eye. It is used to treat glaucoma and ocular hypertension.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$35.31/unit
Generic Price
$12.97/unit
Generic Savings
63%
Generic Available
Yes (2 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Azopt is used to treat high pressure inside the eye.
Common side effects
Blurred vision, Bitter, sour, or unusual taste
Key warnings
Azopt is a sulfonamide drug, and serious reactions can occur, though rarely.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from brinzolamide's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Azopt contains brinzolamide, which is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. It works by decreasing the production of fluid in the eye. This helps to lower the pressure inside the eye.
How to Take It
Use one drop of Azopt in the affected eye(s) three times a day. Shake the bottle well before each use. If you are using other eye drops, wait at least 10 minutes before using Azopt.
This is a plain-language summary of brinzolamide'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 Azopt can harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
This is a plain-language summary of brinzolamide'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 of Azopt, use it as soon as you remember. Then, continue with your regular schedule.
This is a plain-language summary of brinzolamide's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store Azopt at 39°F to 86°F (4°C to 30°C).
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 8,461 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for brinzolamide, by number of reports
- The medicine did not work
The medicine did not work
1,429 reports
- Difficulty breathing 564
Difficulty breathing
564 reports
- Feeling lightheaded or unsteady 479
Feeling lightheaded or unsteady
479 reports
- Pain in the eye 468
Pain in the eye
468 reports
- Loose or watery stools 460
Loose or watery stools
460 reports
- Feeling tired 454
Feeling tired
454 reports
- Accidentally falling down 433
Accidentally falling down
433 reports
- Pain in the head 426
Pain in the head
426 reports
- Eyesight is not clear 418
Eyesight is not clear
418 reports
- Weakness 410
Weakness
410 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.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for brinzolamide each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where brinzolamide sits
brinzolamide has more FDA adverse-event reports than 36% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is brinzolamide; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 8,461 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
8,461
Reports Mentioning Death
612
7.2% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
1,856
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TREATMENT FAILURE | 1,429 |
| 2 | DYSPNOEA | 564 |
| 4 | DIZZINESS | 479 |
| 5 | EYE PAIN | 468 |
| 6 | DIARRHOEA | 459 |
| 7 | FATIGUE | 454 |
| 8 | FALL | 433 |
| 9 | HEADACHE | 426 |
| 10 | VISION BLURRED | 418 |
| 11 | ASTHENIA | 410 |
| 12 | MALAISE | 386 |
| 13 | BLINDNESS | 361 |
| 14 | NAUSEA | 361 |
| 15 | ARTHRALGIA | 360 |
| 16 | INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE INCREASED | 328 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Azopt is a sulfonamide drug, and serious reactions can occur, though rarely. If you have signs of a serious reaction or hypersensitivity, stop using Azopt right away. If you have a low number of cells in the cornea, use Azopt with caution, as corneal edema may occur. Azopt is not recommended if you have severe kidney problems.
Common Questions
Can I use Azopt with contact lenses?
What if the tip of the bottle touches my eye?
Can I use Azopt if I am allergic to sulfa drugs?
What should I do if I experience eye irritation while using Azopt?
Can I drive or operate machinery after using Azopt?
How long does it take for Azopt to start working?
Can I use Azopt with other glaucoma medications?
What if I accidentally swallow Azopt?
How will I know if Azopt is working?
Is it normal to have a strange taste in my mouth after using Azopt?
What are the common side effects of brinzolamide?
What drug class is brinzolamide?
Is there a generic version of brinzolamide?
Is brinzolamide safe during pregnancy?
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What the FDA Data Shows for brinzolamide
The FDA label for brinzolamide (sold under brand names such as Azopt) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitor (Ophthalmic) class. Azopt is used to treat high pressure inside the eye. Official labeling lists 2 commonly reported side effects, including Blurred vision, Bitter, sour, or unusual taste.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 8,461 voluntary reports. Interaction data is drawn directly from FDA-approved prescribing information. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $12.97 versus $35.31 for the brand - a 63% 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: November 24, 2023
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