On this page
Brimonidine Tartrate
Overview
Active ingredients
Source: NDC DirectoryForms, strengths and routes
Source: NDC DirectoryPharmacologic classes are listed in the class section below.
Pharmacologic class
Source: NDC Directory| Class | Type | Browse |
|---|---|---|
| Adrenergic alpha-Agonists [MoA] | MoA | All 85 members |
| alpha-Adrenergic Agonist [EPC] | EPC | All 85 members |
Regulatory status
Source: Drugs@FDANDC Directory| Product | Trade name | Form | Strength | Ingredient | Status | TE | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 076254-001 | BRIMONIDINE TARTRATE | SOLUTION/DROPS | BRIMONIDINE TARTRATE | Prescription | AT |
Therapeutic equivalence
Source: Orange BookWhat this rating means: Therapeutically equivalent — bioequivalence demonstrated (topical dermatological products)
Codes beginning with “A” indicate products the FDA considers therapeutically equivalent. Codes beginning with “B” indicate bioequivalence has not been established. See methodology.
Approval history
Source: Drugs@FDA| Type | No. | Action | Status | Date | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original application | 1 | Approved | September 16, 2003 | — |
Prescribing information
Source: openFDA Drug LabelingReproduced verbatim from the Structured Product Labeling submitted to the FDA (effective 20251124). This is the manufacturer's labelling text, not a summary and not advice.
Recent Major Changes
openFDA Drug Labeling- Contraindications, Neonates and Infants (Pediatric Patients Younger than 2 Years Old) ( 4.1 ) 11/2025 • Warnings and Precautions, Severe Cardiovascular Disease ( 5.2 ) 11/2025 • Warnings and Precautions, Contamination of Topical Ophthalmic Products After Use ( 5.3 ) 11/2025
Indications and Usage
openFDA Drug Labeling1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution, 0.2% is indicated for lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The IOP lowering efficacy of brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution diminishes over time in some patients. This loss of effect appears with a variable time of onset in each patient and should be closely monitored. Brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution, 0.2% is an alpha adrenergic agonist indicated for lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. ( 1 )
Dosage and Administration
openFDA Drug Labeling2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION The recommended dosage is one drop of brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution, 0.15% in the affected eye(s) three-times daily, approximately 8 hours apart. Brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution, 0.15% may be used concomitantly with other topical ophthalmic drug products to lower intraocular pressure. If more than one topical ophthalmic product is being used, the products should be administered at least 5 minutes apart. • Instill one drop in the affected eye(s) three-times daily ( 2 ). • If more than one topical ophthalmic product is being used, the products should be administered at least 5 minutes apart ( 2 ).
Dosage Forms and Strengths
openFDA Drug Labeling3 DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS Ophthalmic solution containing 0.15% (1.5 mg/mL) brimonidine tartrate. Ophthalmic solution containing 0.15% (1.5 mg/mL) brimonidine tartrate ( 3 )
Contraindications
openFDA Drug Labeling4 CONTRAINDICATIONS • Neonates and infants (pediatric patients younger than 2 years old) ( 4.1 ). • Hypersensitivity to any component of this product ( 4.2 ). 4.1 Neonates and Infants (Pediatric Patients Younger than 2 Years Old) Brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution, 0.15% is contraindicated in neonates and infants (pediatric patients younger than 2 years old) [see Use in Specific Populations ( 8.4 ) ]. 4.2 Hypersensitivity Reactions Brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution, 0.15% is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to any component of this product [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 ) and ( 6.2 )].
Warnings and Cautions
openFDA Drug Labeling5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Potentiation of vascular insufficiency. ( 5.1 ) 5.1 Potentiation of Vascular Insufficiency Brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution may potentiate syndromes associated with vascular insufficiency. Brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution should be used with caution in patients with depression, cerebral or coronary insufficiency, Raynaud’s phenomenon, orthostatic hypotension, or thromboangiitis obliterans. 5.2 Severe Cardiovascular Disease Although brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution had minimal effect on the blood pressure of patients in clinical studies, caution should be exercised in treating patients with severe cardiovascular disease. 5.3 Contamination of Topical Ophthalmic Products After Use There have been reports of bacterial keratitis associated with the use of multiple-dose containers of topical ophthalmic products. These containers had been inadvertently contaminated by patients who, in most cases, had a concurrent corneal disease or a disruption of the ocular epithelial surface [see Patient Counseling Information ( 17 )]. 5.4 Use with Contact Lenses The preservative in brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution, benzalkonium chloride, may be absorbed by soft contact lenses. Patients wearing soft contact lenses should be instructed to wait at least 15 minutes after instilling brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution to insert soft contact lenses.
Adverse Reactions
openFDA Drug Labeling6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following serious adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: • Potentiation of Vascular Insufficiency [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] • Severe Cardiovascular Disease [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] • Contamination of Topical Ophthalmic Products after Use [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] • Neonates and Infants (under the age of 2 years) [see Contraindications ( 4.1 )] Most common adverse reactions occurring in approximately 10 to 30% of patients receiving brimonidine ophthalmic solution 0.2% included oral dryness, ocular hyperemia, burning and stinging, headache, blurring, foreign body sensation, fatigue/drowsiness, conjunctival follicles, ocular allergic reactions, and ocular pruritus. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Sandoz Inc. at 1-800-525-8747 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Studies Experience Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical studies of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. • Adverse reactions occurring in approximately 10-30% of the subjects (in descending order): oral dryness, ocular hyperemia, burning and stinging, headache, blurring, foreign body sensation, fatigue/drowsiness, conjunctival follicles, ocular allergic reactions, and ocular pruritus. • Adverse reactions occurring in approximately 3-9% of the subjects (in descending order): corneal staining/erosion, photophobia, eyelid erythema, ocular ache/pain, ocular dryness, tearing, upper respiratory symptoms, eyelid edema, conjunctival edema, dizziness, blepharitis, ocular irritation, gastrointestinal symptoms, asthenia, conjunctival blanching, abnormal vision and muscular pain. • Adverse reactions reported < 3% of the patients: lid crusting, conjunctival hemorrhage, abnormal taste, insomnia, conjunctival discharge, depression, hypertension, anxiety, palpitations/arrhythmias, nasal dryness and syncope. 6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following reactions have been identified during postmarketing use of brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solutions in clinical practice. Because they are reported voluntarily from a population of unknown size, estimates of frequency cannot be made. The reactions, which have been chosen for inclusion due to either their seriousness, frequency of reporting, possible causal connection to brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solutions, or a combination of these factors, include: • Bradycardia; conjunctivitis; hypersensitivity; hypotension; iritis; keratoconjunctivitis sicca; lacrimation increased; miosis; nausea; skin reactions (including erythema, eyelid pruritus, rash, and vasodilation); and tachycardia. • Apnea, bradycardia, coma, hypotension, hypothermia, hypotonia, lethargy, pallor, respiratory depression, and somnolence in infants receiving brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solutions.
Drug Interactions
openFDA Drug Labeling7 DRUG INTERACTIONS • Concomitant use with systemic beta-blockers may potentiate systemic beta-blockade ( 7.1 ). • Use with CNS depressants may result in an additive or potentiating effect ( 7.2 ). • Tricyclic antidepressants may potentially blunt the hypotensive effect of systemic clonidine ( 7.3 ). • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors may result in increased hypotension ( 7.4 ). 7.1 Anti-hypertensives / Cardiac Glycosides Alpha-2 agonists, as a class, may reduce blood pressure. Caution in using drugs such as beta-blockers (ophthalmic and systemic), anti-hypertensives and/or cardiac glycosides is advised. 7.2 CNS Depressants Although specific drug interaction studies have not been conducted with brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution, 0.15%, the possibility of an additive or potentiating effect with CNS depressants (alcohol, barbiturates, opiates, sedatives, or anesthetics) should be considered. 7.3 Tricyclic Antidepressants Tricyclic antidepressants have been reported to blunt the hypotensive effect of systemic clonidine. It is not known whether the concurrent use of these agents with brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution, 0.15% in humans can lead to resulting interference with its IOP-lowering effect. Caution, however, is advised in patients taking tricyclic antidepressants, which can affect the metabolism and uptake of circulating amines. 7.4 Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors may theoretically interfere with the metabolism of brimonidine and potentially result in an increased systemic side-effect such as hypotension. Caution is advised in patients taking MAO inhibitors which can affect the metabolism and uptake of circulating amines.
Use in Specific Populations
openFDA Drug Labeling8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS Use with caution in pediatric patients aged 2 years and older ( 8.4 ). 8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary There are no adequate and well-controlled studies with brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution, 0.15% in pregnant women. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively. In animal studies, brimonidine crossed the placenta and entered into the fetal circulation to a limited extent (see Data). Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution, 0.15% should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit to the mother justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Data Human Data Limited available data from postmarketing safety reports and published literature with topical use of brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution in pregnant women are insufficient to inform a drug-associated risk of pregnancy-related adverse outcomes including miscarriage, stillbirth, congenital anomaly, and events experiences by offspring while breastfeeding. Animal Data Embryofetal studies were conducted in pregnant rabbits administered brimonidine tartrate by daily oral gavage on gestation days 6 to 18, to target the period of organogenesis. Brimonidine caused miscarriage at 5 mg/kg/day (approximately 50-times the recommended human ophthalmic dose (RHOD) based on AUC). The no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) for developmental toxicity in rabbits was 1 mg/kg/day (approximately 6-fold the RHOD based on AUC). No treatment-related malformations were observed in rabbits. Signs of maternal sedation and fatigue were observed at all dose levels; the lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) for maternal toxicity was 5 mg/kg/day, based on the dose-response for these signs. Embryofetal studies were conducted in pregnant rats administered brimonidine tartrate by daily oral gavage on gestation days 6 to 15, to target the period of organogenesis. The NOAEL for developmental toxicity was 2.5 mg/kg/day (approximately 750-fold the RHOD based on AUC). No treatment-related malformations were observed in rats. The LOAEL for maternal toxicity was 2.5 mg/kg/day, based on signs of sedation and fatigue. The maternal NOAEL was 1 mg/kg/day (180-fold the RHOD based on AUC). After pregnant rats received a single oral dose of 14 C-brimonidine tartrate, brimonidine and metabolites crossed the placenta and were detectable in fetal blood and organs. 8.2 Lactation Risk Summary It is not known whether brimonidine tartrate is excreted in human milk. In animal studies, brimonidine has been shown to cross the blood-brain barrier and is excreted into breast milk after oral administration to lactating rats (see Data) . Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions, including central nervous system depression and apnea, from brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution, 0.15% in nursing infants, brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution, 0.15% is not recommended for use during lactation. Data Animal Data After a single oral dose of 14 C-labeled brimonidine tartrate to lactating rats, brimonidine and metabolites were detected in milk. After male and female rats received a single oral dose of 14 C-brimonidine tartrate, brimonidine crossed the blood:brain barrier. Radiolabel was detected in the cerebellum, cerebrum, and spinal cord. 8.4 Pediatric Use Brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution, 0.15% is contraindicated in pediatric patients younger than 2 years old [see Contraindications ( 4.1 )] . During postmarketing surveillance, apnea, bradycardia, coma, hypotension, hypothermia, hypotonia, lethargy, pallor, respiratory depression, and somnolence have been reported in infants receiving brimonidine. In a well-controlled clinical study conducted in pediatric glaucoma patients aged 2 to 7 years old, the most commonly observed adverse events with brimonidine …
Mechanism of Action
openFDA Drug Labeling12.1 Mechanism of Action Brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution, 0.2% is a relatively selective alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist with a peak ocular hypotensive effect occurring at two hours post-dosing. Fluorophotometric studies in animals and humans suggest that brimonidine tartrate has a dual mechanism of action by reducing aqueous humor production and increasing uveoscleral outflow.
Description
openFDA Drug Labeling11 DESCRIPTION Brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution, 0.15% (1.5 mg brimonidine tartrate per mL equivalent to 1.0 mg brimonidine free base per mL) is a relatively selective alpha-2-adrenergic agonist for topical ophthalmic use. The chemical name of brimonidine tartrate is 5-bromo-6-(2-imidazolidinylideneamino) quinoxaline L-tartrate. It is a white to off-white, pale yellow to yellow powder. It has a molecular weight of 442.24 as the tartrate salt, and is both soluble in water (1.5 mg/mL) and in the product vehicle (3.0 mg/mL) at pH 7.2. The structural formula is: Formula: C 11 H 10 BrN 5 • C 4 H 6 O 6 CAS Number: 59803-98-4 In solution, brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution, 0.15% has a clear, pale yellow to greenish yellow color. It has an osmolality of 250 - 350 mOsmol/kg and a pH of 6.6 to 7.4. Contains: Active ingredient: brimonidine tartrate 1.5 mg/mL (1.5 mg/mL), Preservative: Polyquad (polyquaternium-1) 0.001% (0.01 mg/mL), Inactives: boric acid, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, mannitol, potassium chloride, povidone, purified water, sodium borate, sodium chloride, with hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide to adjust pH. chemical
Overdosage
openFDA Drug Labeling10 OVERDOSAGE Very limited information exists on accidental ingestion of brimonidine in adults; the only adverse reaction reported to date has been hypotension. Symptoms of brimonidine overdose have been reported in neonates, infants, and children receiving brimonidine tartrate as part of medical treatment of congenital glaucoma or by accidental oral ingestion [see Use In Specific Populations ( 8.4 )] . Treatment of an oral overdose includes supportive and symptomatic therapy; a patent airway should be maintained.
How Supplied / Storage and Handling
openFDA Drug Labeling16 HOW SUPPLIED/STORAGE AND HANDLING Brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution, 0.15% is supplied sterile in opaque white LDPE plastic bottles and natural tips with purple polypropylene caps as follows: 5 mL in 8 mL bottle NDC 61314-144-05 10 mL in 10 mL bottle NDC 61314-144-10 15 mL in 15 mL bottle NDC 61314-144-15 Storage: Store at 15°C to 25° C (59°F to 77°F). After opening, Brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution, 0.15% can be used until the expiration date on the bottle.
Adverse event reports
Source: openFDA FAERSAttributed to this product's most-reported active ingredient: BRIMONIDINE TARTRATE. Combination products with more than six active ingredients are not attributed, because a report count summed across a long ingredient list measures the list, not the medicine.
Packaging and NDCs
Source: NDC Directory| Package NDC | Product NDC | Labeler | Description | Marketing start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61314-143-05 | 61314-143 | Sandoz Inc | 1 BOTTLE in 1 CARTON (61314-143-05) / 5 mL in 1 BOTTLE | September 17, 2003 |
| 61314-143-10 | 61314-143 | Sandoz Inc | 1 BOTTLE in 1 CARTON (61314-143-10) / 10 mL in 1 BOTTLE | September 17, 2003 |
| 61314-143-15 | 61314-143 | Sandoz Inc | 1 BOTTLE in 1 CARTON (61314-143-15) / 15 mL in 1 BOTTLE | September 17, 2003 |
| 61314-144-05 | 61314-144 | Sandoz Inc | 1 BOTTLE in 1 CARTON (61314-144-05) / 5 mL in 1 BOTTLE | October 2, 2010 |
| 61314-144-10 | 61314-144 | Sandoz Inc | 1 BOTTLE in 1 CARTON (61314-144-10) / 10 mL in 1 BOTTLE | October 2, 2010 |
| 61314-144-15 | 61314-144 | Sandoz Inc | 1 BOTTLE in 1 CARTON (61314-144-15) / 15 mL in 1 BOTTLE | October 2, 2010 |
| 61314-143 | 61314-143 | Sandoz Inc | — | September 17, 2003 |
| 61314-144 | 61314-144 | Sandoz Inc | — | October 2, 2010 |
Sources for this page
| Dataset | Agency | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| NDC Directory | FDA | Identity, ingredients, strengths, forms, routes, labelers, packages |
| Drugs@FDA | FDA | Application, sponsor, submissions, review documents, marketing status |
| Orange Book | FDA | Therapeutic equivalence codes, reference drug flags, patents, exclusivity |
| Drug Labeling | FDA / NLM | Prescribing information reproduced above |
| FAERS | FDA | Adverse event report counts |
Generated September 25, 2026 · 12 sections on this page.