[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Pharmacology](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/) › [Antiglaucoma agents](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/antiglaucoma-agents/) › Brinzolamide

# Brinzolamide

## Antiglaucoma agents?

Antiglaucoma agents

A carbonic anhydrase inhibitor eye drop that makes less aqueous humour and so lowers eye pressure. It is a sulfonamide and can blur vision briefly.

Updated Nov 1, 2026

## Quick facts

**Group**
[Antiglaucoma agents](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/antiglaucoma-agents/)

**Target**
Carbonic anhydrase II of the ciliary processes

**Used for**
Open-angle glaucoma · Ocular hypertension

**Key effects**
Blurred vision right after the drop · Bitter

**Monitor**
Intraocular pressure · Skin rash or signs of allergy

**ATC**
S01EC04

No doses: the clinician sets them by the current guideline.

On this page

- The basics Mechanism of action
- Indications
- Adverse effects
- Pharmacokinetics
- Memory aid

- Safety Contraindications
- Key interactions
- What is monitored
- Administration and safety
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Nursing care

- Study Test yourself

- Connections Connections

## Mechanism of action

✂**Carbonic anhydrase II of the ciliary processes**Brinzolamide

ⓘ The figure shows brinzolamide bound to the zinc active site of human carbonic anhydrase II.

**Target in 3D:** Carbonic anhydrase II of the ciliary processes. PDB structure 4M2R (RCSB PDB, public domain). [View the structure at RCSB PDB](https://www.rcsb.org/structure/4M2R) · Drag to rotate · pinch to zoom

Brinzolamide inhibits carbonic anhydrase II in the ciliary processes. Less bicarbonate forms, so less sodium and water are moved into the eye, aqueous humour secretion falls and intraocular pressure drops. Some drug is absorbed and binds the same enzyme in red blood cells, which explains its long stay in whole blood.

- Brinzolamide blocks carbonic anhydrase II in the ciliary body
- Less bicarbonate, less sodium and fluid transport
- Less aqueous humour; intraocular pressure falls

## Indications

- Open-angle glaucoma [Open-angle glaucoma →](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/open-angle-glaucoma/)
- Ocular hypertension

## Adverse effects

### Common

- Blurred vision right after the drop (it is a suspension)
- Bitter, sour or unusual taste
- Eye discomfort, itching or redness

### Serious (rare, important)

- Sulfonamide-type reactions, including severe skin reactions and blood disorders
- Corneal oedema in eyes with a low endothelial cell count

## Contraindications

- Hypersensitivity to brinzolamide or any component
- Caution in sulfonamide allergy

## Key interactions

**Oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (acetazolamide)**
Additive systemic effects; the combination is not recommended

**High-dose salicylates**
Rare acid-base disturbances

## What is monitored

- Intraocular pressure
- Skin rash or signs of allergy
- Corneal clarity in eyes with endothelial disease

## Administration and safety

- Shake the suspension well before each use.
- Other eye drops are spaced at least 10 minutes apart.
- Contact lenses come out before the drop and go back in about 15 minutes later.

## Pregnancy and breastfeeding

There are no adequate human studies; it is used in pregnancy only if the benefit justifies the risk.

## Nursing care

- Ask about sulfonamide allergy before the first dose.
- Warn about brief blurred vision and a bitter taste.
- Teach to stop and report rash, blistering, eye pain or swelling.

## Pharmacokinetics

**Absorption**
Absorbed into the blood from the eye; plasma levels stay low

**Distribution**
Binds carbonic anhydrase in red blood cells and stays there a long time

**Elimination**
Mainly in urine, largely unchanged

## Memory aid

«-zolamide = zero aqueous made»: carbonic anhydrase blocked, less fluid produced.

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## Which enzyme does brinzolamide inhibit?

Carbonic anhydrase II in the ciliary processes.

## Which allergy history matters before starting?

Sulfonamide allergy, because brinzolamide is a sulfonamide.

## Why should it not be combined with oral acetazolamide?

The systemic effects of carbonic anhydrase inhibition add up.

[Add to my cards (3)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/pharmacology/brinzolamide/)

[More Pharmacology questions →](https://durgical.com/en/practice/?f=pharmacology)

## Connections

## Related drugs 3

- [Dorzolamide](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/dorzolamide/)
- [Acetazolamide](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/acetazolamide/)
- [Timolol](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/timolol/)

## Related conditions 1

- [Open-angle glaucoma](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/open-angle-glaucoma/)

[← Back to the class: Antiglaucoma agents](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/antiglaucoma-agents/)

Educational content on how drugs work; not a prescribing guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.

Sources: [DailyMed - BRINZOLAMIDE suspension/ drops](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=fb7229d4-522e-4cb2-b513-9d34f3ded591) (DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2021); [Brinzolamide Ophthalmic: MedlinePlus Drug Information](https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601233.html) (MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2026); [ATCDDD - ATC/DDD Index](https://atcddd.fhi.no/atc_ddd_index/?code=S01EC04) (WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, 2026); [RCSB PDB - 4M2R: Human Carbonic Anhydrase II in complex with Brinzolamide](https://www.rcsb.org/structure/4M2R) (RCSB Protein Data Bank, 2026).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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