Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Using Timolol Eyedrops For Glucoma. Eyes Are Puffy And Echo Cardiogram Showed Mild Leak In Mitro Valve
Question: I have been using timolol eyedrops for several months for glucoma. Since I 've been using it, I notice unde my eyes are puffy. Not only that when I went for my yearly checkup, my doctor heard a slight murmur and he wanted me to have an echo cardiogram. It showed I have a mild leak in my mitro valve. I never had this problem before, since I been using timolol I got this. I am very upset over it. I am going to see my optomologist XXXXXXX 14 and tell him about it.
Please help me.
Thankyou, XXXXXXX
Please help me.
Thankyou, XXXXXXX
Hello
Thanks for choosing XXXXXXX for getting your health query answered and I'll try my best to answer it to your satisfaction.
Timolol is a beta blocker and has certain effects on heart like bradycardia, conduction disorders, myocardial ischaemia on prolonged usage. Patients with heart diseases are usually not prescribed timolol maleate for glaucoma treatment. However, effects on the cardiac valves seem to be unlikely in my opinion and posibility of this mild leak having been missed earlier needs to be kept in mind.
In order to help you better, I would like to know a few more things:
1. When did you get an ECG done before now and was this leak seen at that time too?
2. Have you got an ECHO done for confirming the diagnosis of leak?
3. Let me know if you have been taking any other medicines during this time along with timolol.
4. Did you ever stop using timolol abruptly during this period?
Based on your answers for these, I will be in a better position to guide you.
However, you are advised not to stop the timolol maleate abruptly to avoid further complication. This has to be tapered off during a period of 3-4 weeks. There are newer and more effective medicines for treatment of glaucoma which you should use under the supervision of your ophalmologist.
Regards
Thanks for choosing XXXXXXX for getting your health query answered and I'll try my best to answer it to your satisfaction.
Timolol is a beta blocker and has certain effects on heart like bradycardia, conduction disorders, myocardial ischaemia on prolonged usage. Patients with heart diseases are usually not prescribed timolol maleate for glaucoma treatment. However, effects on the cardiac valves seem to be unlikely in my opinion and posibility of this mild leak having been missed earlier needs to be kept in mind.
In order to help you better, I would like to know a few more things:
1. When did you get an ECG done before now and was this leak seen at that time too?
2. Have you got an ECHO done for confirming the diagnosis of leak?
3. Let me know if you have been taking any other medicines during this time along with timolol.
4. Did you ever stop using timolol abruptly during this period?
Based on your answers for these, I will be in a better position to guide you.
However, you are advised not to stop the timolol maleate abruptly to avoid further complication. This has to be tapered off during a period of 3-4 weeks. There are newer and more effective medicines for treatment of glaucoma which you should use under the supervision of your ophalmologist.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
1. I started using Timolol since May 2012. I got an EKG which was normal, but my doctor heard a slight murmur and that is when he wanted me to have an ECHO and it showed a mild leak in the mitral valve.
2. My optomologist ask me to call my doctor to see if I had any heart problems, before I take the timolol. My doctor said it was OK to take it. Which was last year 2012.
3. When I had the ECHO it was February 14, 2013 thats when It was found. I also take Latanaprost in the evening and Timolol in the morning.
4. I am still on both eye drops. I have an appointment with my optomologist next Thursday XXXXXXX 13.
5. I never had heart problems before I took Timolol, that is why I am going to ask my optomologist about it.
6. Last year in January 2012 when I went for my annual checkup everything was fine. He didnt hear any slight murmur. That is why my optomologist said it was ok to use it which was 4 months after my annual checkup. That is when I started using timolol it's 13 months that I am on it and also Latanaprost. My glucoma is under control that is why I am concerned about taking the timolol.
I hope my answers to your questionss will help you.
2. My optomologist ask me to call my doctor to see if I had any heart problems, before I take the timolol. My doctor said it was OK to take it. Which was last year 2012.
3. When I had the ECHO it was February 14, 2013 thats when It was found. I also take Latanaprost in the evening and Timolol in the morning.
4. I am still on both eye drops. I have an appointment with my optomologist next Thursday XXXXXXX 13.
5. I never had heart problems before I took Timolol, that is why I am going to ask my optomologist about it.
6. Last year in January 2012 when I went for my annual checkup everything was fine. He didnt hear any slight murmur. That is why my optomologist said it was ok to use it which was 4 months after my annual checkup. That is when I started using timolol it's 13 months that I am on it and also Latanaprost. My glucoma is under control that is why I am concerned about taking the timolol.
I hope my answers to your questionss will help you.
I hope my answers to your questionss will help you.
Hello
Thanks for giving details above. In my opinion, if you are using 0.5% of timolol maleate, you can reduce to 0.25% for few days and subsequently it should be taken off. Latinoprost alone should be able to take care of your glaucoma. If it is not sufficient alone, surgery for glaucoma should be good substitute to avoid all the complications being faced by you.
Hope this answers your query and let me know if you have any further questions. In case there are no more questions, I would request you to please close the question and share your review on the same.
Regards
Thanks for giving details above. In my opinion, if you are using 0.5% of timolol maleate, you can reduce to 0.25% for few days and subsequently it should be taken off. Latinoprost alone should be able to take care of your glaucoma. If it is not sufficient alone, surgery for glaucoma should be good substitute to avoid all the complications being faced by you.
Hope this answers your query and let me know if you have any further questions. In case there are no more questions, I would request you to please close the question and share your review on the same.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
