Timolol

[bosschester]

In the outside hope that someone in pharmaceuticals might read this, can someone tell me what is the difference between my regular Timolol eyedrops (which have worked wonders with my glaucoma) and the recently delivered Timoptol 0,5% collirio, soluzione. My concern stems from an article that I read in the Express a few months ago, that chemists had been conned into buying foreign medications - this preparation is in a cheap looking box written in Italian.

[LazyGun]

1.Timolol is the brand name drug, manufactured by MSD. Active ingredient is Timolol maleate, which acts as a beta blocker.
2. Eye drop formulation used for open angle glaucoma and treatment and intraocular pressure.
3. Google translate appears to confirm that you have a timoptol, which was presumably aimed at the Italian market.
4.Although it probably is the right ingredient etc, I would not be at all happy using this - I assume the pack insert with the instructions for use etc are all in italian also?

If it were me, I would be talking to the pharmacist about why he is prescribing you italian language labelled product - sounds very fishy to me.

[york310]

Timoptol is timolol.

[Mamyalynne]

My son in law has just been for my latest prescription and my eye drops too are in an italian package with an english label stuck on, they must surely be safe to use as wouldn`t the pharmacists be in trouble?

PS mine are also Timolo

[LazyGun]

mamya - As I have already said, it looks to be the same active ingredient - If you have a label on english on there and a pack insert that is in english, and you are happy to use it, then fine.

For me use them,at the very least, I would require a plausible and reasonable explanation as to why they are dispensing drugs that were self evidently intended for the Italian market,

[Mamyalynne]

Thankyou lazygun yes the insert is in english I`ve been using these for 5 years at least and this is the first occurrence of this

Thanks again

M

[bosschester]

Many thanks to you all. I've now had a chat with my pharmacist and he assures me that the Italian version is identical to the English version. Only difference is that the italians can do it more cheaply than us! A lesson there for us all???
George S