dorzolamide
Brand names: Trusopt
Dorzolamide eye drops help lower pressure in the eye. It is used for people with ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$1.41/unit
Generic Available
Yes (22 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This medicine treats high pressure inside your eye.
Common side effects
Burning, stinging, or discomfort in the eye right after using the drops, Bitter taste in your mouth, Superficial punctate keratitis (small spots on the surface of the eye)
Key warnings
Dorzolamide contains a sulfonamide.
How It Works
Dorzolamide is a type of medicine called a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. It works by decreasing the amount of fluid your eye makes. This lowers the pressure inside your eye.
How to Take It
Use one drop in the affected eye(s) three times a day. You can use dorzolamide with other eye drops to lower eye pressure. If you use other eye drops, wait at least 5 minutes between each medicine.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
It is not known if dorzolamide is safe to use during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if dorzolamide passes into breast milk.
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.
Storage
Store dorzolamide at room temperature, between 59° to 86°F (15° to 30°C). Protect from light.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 4,759 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 7,422 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
7,422
Death-Related Reports
381
Hospitalization Reports
1,356
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TREATMENT FAILURE | 1,369 |
| 2 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 704 |
| 3 | OFF LABEL USE | 475 |
| 4 | FATIGUE | 444 |
| 5 | HEADACHE | 356 |
| 6 | PAIN | 321 |
| 7 | EYE PAIN | 292 |
| 8 | EYE IRRITATION | 281 |
| 9 | HYPERSENSITIVITY | 265 |
| 10 | RASH | 252 |
| 11 | PAIN IN EXTREMITY | 251 |
| 12 | WEIGHT DECREASED | 242 |
| 13 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 241 |
| 14 | DYSPNOEA | 238 |
| 15 | DIZZINESS | 234 |
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
Dorzolamide contains a sulfonamide. Rarely, severe reactions to sulfonamides have happened, even death. If you have signs of a serious reaction or allergy, stop using this medicine right away.
Known Drug Interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Potential additive effect of oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitor with dorzolamide hydrochloride and timolol maleate ophthalmic solution. ( 7.7 ) 7.1 Oral Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors There is a potential for an additive effect on the known systemic effects of carbonic anhydrase inhibition in patients receiving an oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitor and dorzolamide hydrochloride and timolol maleate ophthalmic solution. The concomitant administration of dorzolamide hydrochloride and timolol maleate ophthalmic solution and oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors is not recommended.
Mechanism: Using these drugs together can cause their effects to stack up, which may lead to more side effects throughout your body.
What to do: This combination is not recommended, and you should talk to your doctor about other options.
7.2 High-Dose Salicylate Therapy Although acid-base and electrolyte disturbances were not reported in the clinical trials with dorzolamide hydrochloride ophthalmic solution, these disturbances have been reported with oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors and have, in some instances, resulted in drug interactions (e.g., toxicity associated with high-dose salicylate therapy).
Mechanism: Taking two drugs that both contain dorzolamide can cause the medicine to build up in your body and lead to chemical imbalances in your blood.
What to do: Check with your pharmacist to make sure you are not using two different products that contain the same active ingredient at the same time.
Common Questions
Can I use dorzolamide with other eye drops?
What should I do if I experience burning or stinging in my eye?
Can dorzolamide cause allergic reactions?
What if I wear contact lenses?
Is it okay to drive while using these eye drops?
What if I accidentally use too much of the eye drops?
How long can I use dorzolamide after opening the bottle?
Can dorzolamide cause any other side effects?
What if I am taking other medications?
Can dorzolamide cure my glaucoma?
What are the common side effects of dorzolamide?
Does dorzolamide interact with other medications?
What drug class is dorzolamide?
Is dorzolamide safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitor (Ophthalmic)
Other drugs grouped near dorzolamide — same-class peers and common alternatives.
aflibercept
Eylea
AHZANTIVE is a medicine used to treat certain eye problems.
Compare with dorzolamide →
artificial tears
Refresh, Systane
Artificial tears are eye drops that lubricate your eyes.
Compare with dorzolamide →
bevacizumab (ophthalmic)
Avastin
Avastin is a medicine that blocks a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).
Compare with dorzolamide →
bimatoprost
Lumigan
Bimatoprost eye drops help lower pressure in the eye.
Compare with dorzolamide →
brimonidine ophthalmic
Alphagan P
Alphagan P eye drops help lower pressure in the eye.
Compare with dorzolamide →
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
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Related Health & Safety Data
🩺 Find a Doctor
Search prescribers for Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitor (Ophthalmic)
🏨 Hospital Quality
CMS hospital ratings, safety scores & patient outcomes
💊 Supplement Data
NIH DSLD — check supplement ingredients & label claims
🍽️ Food Safety Alerts
FDA recalls, inspections & outbreak investigations
⚠️ Product Recalls
FDA, CPSC & NHTSA recall search
💉 Procedure Costs
Medicare procedure pricing for 9,297 procedures
Save on dorzolamide
Compare prices and find discounts at pharmacies near you. Free coupons can save up to 80% on prescriptions.
Disclosure: This link may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. See our terms.
What the FDA Data Shows for dorzolamide
The FDA label for dorzolamide (sold under brand names such as Trusopt) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitor (Ophthalmic) class. This medicine treats high pressure inside your eye. Official labeling lists 4 commonly reported side effects, including Burning, stinging, or discomfort in the eye right after using the drops, Bitter taste in your mouth, Superficial punctate keratitis (small spots on the surface of the eye).
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 4,759 voluntary reports. The database also lists 2 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $1.41.
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: January 9, 2026
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