PHYSICIANS GUIDE TO INTERACTIONS BETWEEN GLAUCOMA AND SYSTEMIC MEDICATIONS

Purpose: To develop a Physicians' Guide to assist clinicians in the co ncomitant use of glaucoma and systemic medications. Methods: The recor ds of 100 consecutive patients with chronic open-angle glaucoma were r etrospectively studied to determine the most common systemic medicatio ns that are prescribed in this population. The ten most common drug cl asses were then used to construct a guide to potential interactions ai d side effects when these medications are used concomitantly with glau coma drugs. Results: Eighty-four patients were receiving 1 or more med ications (a mean of 3.5) for a mean of 2.6 systemic conditions. System ic antihypertensive agents was the most common class of drugs, being u sed by 48 patients. Aspirin, the most common single systemic drug, was being used by 25 patients. Conclusions: A high percentage of patients with chronic open-angle glaucoma receive a wide variety of medication s for coexisting systemic disorders. The concomitant use of glaucoma a nd systemic medications creates the potential for drug interactions, a s well as side effects for both groups of drugs, for which the Physici ans' Guide may be beneficial.