Imprimis compounding 2 glaucoma drugs in short supply
Ophthalmology-focused company Imprimis Pharmaceuticals is dispensing alternatives to glaucoma treatments recently added to the Food and Drug Administration’s Drug Shortage List. The company has begun dispensing preservative-free dorzolamide and preservative-free dorzolamide/timolol — the latter of which is a compounded version of a combination marketed as Cosopt and Cosopt PF.
Imprimis said that the two medications were prescribed roughly 4 million in 2017, according to data from IQVIA. The compounded formulations it’s offering are free of the preservative benzalkonium chloride, or BAK, which is often found in glaucoma treatments. A 2013 Clinical Ophthalmology paper attributed such adverse effects as conjunctival inflammation and fibrosis, macular edema and anterior chamber inflammation, among others, to BAK.
“These effects can lead to ocular discomfort, poor intraocular pressure control, glaucoma surgery failure, and decreased patient compliance,” the paper noted.
Imprimis said the compounded products are currently available.
Imprimis said that the two medications were prescribed roughly 4 million in 2017, according to data from IQVIA. The compounded formulations it’s offering are free of the preservative benzalkonium chloride, or BAK, which is often found in glaucoma treatments. A 2013 Clinical Ophthalmology paper attributed such adverse effects as conjunctival inflammation and fibrosis, macular edema and anterior chamber inflammation, among others, to BAK.
“These effects can lead to ocular discomfort, poor intraocular pressure control, glaucoma surgery failure, and decreased patient compliance,” the paper noted.
Imprimis said the compounded products are currently available.