The newest eyedrops used for reducing intra-ocular pressure (IOP) seem
ridiculously expensive. In particular, I have been looking at Xalatan or
Travatan. Where can I find a comparison of the relative benefits of these
new drugs compared to old generics. For example, I am already using generic
brimonidine thre times a day. Many years ago, timolol, then available only
as Timoptic worked very well indeed.

And there is always pot. I never used any before but I expect I would have
not trouble growing it. I would prefer not to smoke it. How does it get used
for glaucoma? Would it make sense to try making eye drops from it?

Bill
--
The PC conservative does not believe in evolution but likes to see natural
selection proceed. The PC liberal believes in evolution but will do almost
anything to prevent natural selection from working.

They are (relatively) expensive.


Your eye doctor should be the best source.


If your IOP is consistently at its "target" level, your quality of
life is acceptable and the side effects are acceptable, then there is
probably little reason to change from what you are taking.

Personally, I almost never use anything but a prostaglanding analog --
one of those "ridiculously expensive" drops -- as a "first line drug"
on my glaucoma patients. In layman's terms, "they rule" and are a
Godsend for my patients -- much like timolol was when all we basically
had was pilo and epinephrine.


Forget pot. Its use in the management of glaucoma is nil.

The astonishingly positive recommendations of THC (effective, nontoxic,
practically no side effects worth noting) in the treatment of glaucoma -
from patients, from (*un*bigoted) ophthalmologists, from objective
researchers, from the AMA and most medical associations worldwide, from the
FDA and all of the planet's *other* drug safety/effetciveness watchdogs...
and even from the USDEA - obviously are of no interest to ignorance-blinded
19th century "doctors" like you, or you'd all have read, understood and
adopted them (as apprropriate to the patient) in your prescribing.

Idiots shouldn't be allowed to practice medicine. Think about that every
single time you assess, diagnose or prescribe... would you please?

Glaucoma is a progressive disease and treatment often needs to be
changed to manage; Timoptic may have worked for you years ago but
would not work for you today. Is brimonidine three times a day
working? Or has your doctor recommended an new drug because you need
more control? One benefit of the newer drugs is once a day dosing.
So even if three times the cost, your cost per day is the same.
Sometimes your particular disease needs more than one drug to be controlled.

I find it fascinating you are whinging about price when your vision is
at stake.

Prostaglandins are expensive as there was a huge cost in getting them
to market and the manufacturers need to get a return on investment.
Prostaglandins are the only drug available that gets the required 30%
drop in pressure needed to prevent progression of the disease. On top
of this, it is used ONCE per day at night, which in my opinion is not
only more efficient use of time but less of a PIA and more likely to
sustain compliance by patients. Next, there is the benefit of adding a
second string drug to increase efficacy.

My best advice is to stop stuffing around playing amateur ophthal and
listen to a real one who actually knows his job.

dr grant

On 8/6/07 12:39 PM, in article
1186429185.367512.232650@k79g2000hse.googlegroups. com, "Dr Judy"

The current dosing is brimonidine three times a day PLUS Travatan once in
the evening.

Bill
--
Fermez le Bush--less than 18 months to go.

On 8/6/07 2:39 PM, in article
1186436398.291656.171560@i13g2000prf.googlegroups. com, "CatmanX"


One can the same thing when a robber says, "Your money or your life." I
don't whine about the cost of gasoline. Suppose power companies would charge
what traffic will bear? I'll bet the convenience of electric power is cheap
at 1$ per kWHr. But I am willing to bet that you would bitch like hell. I
would not whine so much if it were truly a free market for drugs.

Bill
--
The PC conservative does not believe in evolution but likes to see natural
selection proceed. The PC liberal believes in evolution but will do almost
anything to prevent natural selection from working.