FDA-filed SPL labeling · retrieved through openFDA

Dorzolamide Ophthalmic

Dorzolamide is an eye drop used to lower elevated pressure inside the eye in people with ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma.

Brand names Trusopt Ocumeter PlusTrusopt
Drug class ⓘ Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitor
Rx Form 1 Route Ophthalmic
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Reviewed by Last reviewed Jul 10, 2026
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand

The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 16 clinical label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →

At a glance
Linked label effectiveMay 10, 2025
Clinical labels in scope ⓘ16
AvailabilityRx
Earliest approval/marketing year ⓘ1994
FDA-listed product records ⓘ31
Boxed warningNone found in compared labels
How we combine label and product data →
✓No current FDA shortage listed · checked Sep 23, 2026
⭐ Dorzolamide Ophthalmic at a glance The quick version — the full detail is in the Patient Information Guide below.
💊
HelloPharmacist Editorial Team Bottom Line
Dorzolamide hydrochloride eye drops lower elevated eye pressure in people with ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma by reducing the amount of fluid the eye produces. It's used three times a day and is well tolerated by most people, though burning and a bitter taste are common at first. Because it belongs to the sulfonamide drug class, tell your doctor about any sulfa drug allergies before using it, and watch for any signs of a serious skin or allergic reaction.
How we write & review this content — our editorial policy →

📖 Dorzolamide Ophthalmic: Patient Information Guide

A plain-language walkthrough of Dorzolamide Ophthalmic — what it treats, how it works, how it’s taken, side effects, warnings and interactions. Tap any section to expand it.

🎯What it's used for▾

Dorzolamide ophthalmic solution is used to lower elevated pressure inside the eye. It is indicated for:

  • Ocular hypertension — abnormally high pressure inside the eye, even without current vision damage
  • Open-angle glaucoma — the most common form of glaucoma, where gradual optic nerve damage can lead to vision loss if pressure is not controlled

Trusopt (dorzolamide hydrochloride ophthalmic solution 2%) is specifically approved for both of these conditions. Dorzolamide may be used alone or together with other eye drops that lower intraocular pressure.

⚙️How it works▾

The eye constantly makes a clear fluid called aqueous humor. An enzyme called carbonic anhydrase II helps drive the production of this fluid in a part of the eye called the ciliary body. Dorzolamide blocks this enzyme, which slows fluid production and lowers the pressure inside the eye. High intraocular pressure is the main risk factor for damage to the optic nerve — the nerve that sends what you see to your brain — so keeping pressure in a healthy range helps protect your vision.

💊How it's taken▾

Dorzolamide hydrochloride ophthalmic solution is applied as eye drops, directly into the affected eye or eyes. It is generally used three times a day. Food does not affect how eye drops work, so there is no food-timing requirement.

  • If you use other eye drops, space them at least 5 minutes apart from dorzolamide
  • Remove soft contact lenses before applying; you can put them back in 15 minutes later
  • If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember — but if it's almost time for your next drop, skip the missed one and resume your regular schedule

Always follow your prescriber's specific instructions and the directions on your prescription label.

🤒Side effects — in detail▾

Most side effects with dorzolamide eye drops are eye-related and tend to be mild. Common ones include:

  • Burning, stinging, or discomfort right after putting in the drop
  • Bitter taste in the mouth after use
  • Superficial punctate keratitis (tiny surface irritation spots on the cornea)
  • Conjunctivitis (pink eye) or eyelid swelling or reactions
  • Blurred vision, eye redness, or tearing
  • Dryness or light sensitivity
  • Headache or nausea (less common)

Serious reactions are rare but important: stop the drops and get medical help right away if you develop severe skin blistering, widespread rash, difficulty breathing, facial swelling, or signs of a severe eye infection such as sudden pain, redness, or vision changes.

⚠️Warnings & precautions▾
  • Sulfonamide hypersensitivity: Dorzolamide is a sulfonamide (sulfa-type) drug. Even as an eye drop, it enters the bloodstream. Rarely, sulfonamides cause life-threatening reactions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (severe skin blistering) and serious blood or liver disorders. Stop use immediately and seek care if you develop any severe skin or allergic reaction.
  • Eye contamination and bacterial keratitis: Never touch the dropper tip to your eye or any surface. Contaminated tips can introduce bacteria into your eye and cause serious infections, including bacterial keratitis (corneal infection).
  • Corneal risk in vulnerable eyes: Patients with a low corneal endothelial cell count (fewer cells lining the inside of the cornea) may be at higher risk for corneal edema (swelling). Your doctor will weigh this risk before prescribing.
  • Allergic eye reactions: Chronic use may lead to allergic-looking conjunctivitis or eyelid reactions. If this happens, stop the drops and check with your doctor before restarting.
  • Acute angle-closure glaucoma: Dorzolamide alone is not adequate treatment for acute angle-closure glaucoma. That condition requires additional urgent interventions.
🔀What it interacts with▾

Dorzolamide can interact with a few specific drugs, so let your prescriber and pharmacist know everything you take:

  • Oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (such as acetazolamide or methazolamide): Using both at once amplifies the drug's systemic effects. This combination is not recommended.
  • High-dose salicylates (high-dose aspirin): Oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors are known to interact with high-dose aspirin, causing electrolyte imbalances. The same potential risk applies to dorzolamide eye drops.
  • Other eye drops: Not an interaction in the usual sense, but using multiple eye drops at the same time can wash one away before it's absorbed. Always space eye drops at least 5 minutes apart.

This is not a complete list of interactions. Always talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.

📋Before taking it▾
  • Sulfa allergy: Tell your doctor if you've ever had a reaction to sulfa drugs — dorzolamide is in that family and can trigger the same types of reactions.
  • Severe kidney disease: Dorzolamide is not recommended if your kidney function is severely reduced (creatinine clearance below 30 mL/min), because the drug and its byproduct are cleared mainly by the kidneys.
  • Liver disease: Dorzolamide hasn't been studied in patients with liver impairment — use with caution and inform your doctor.
  • Low corneal endothelial cell count: Higher risk of corneal edema; your doctor should weigh the benefits and risks carefully.
  • Pregnancy: No adequate studies exist in pregnant women. Animal studies showed fetal harm at high doses. Discuss the risk-benefit balance with your doctor.
  • Breastfeeding: It's unknown whether dorzolamide passes into human breast milk. Talk to your doctor about whether to continue the medication while nursing.
  • Children: Safety and effectiveness have been demonstrated in pediatric patients in clinical trials.
  • Older adults: No significant differences in safety or effectiveness compared to younger patients.
  • Contact lens wearers: The preservative in dorzolamide (benzalkonium chloride) can be absorbed by soft contact lenses. Always remove lenses before use and wait 15 minutes before reinserting.
🚑If you take too much▾

If too much dorzolamide is absorbed into the body — for example, through accidental ingestion — it may cause electrolyte imbalances (especially low potassium), a drop in blood pH (acidosis), and possible effects on the central nervous system. If an overdose is suspected, medical monitoring of electrolyte levels and blood pH is recommended. Contact a poison control center or emergency services right away.

📡Pharmacodynamics — effects in the body▾

Dorzolamide lowers intraocular pressure by reducing the production of aqueous humor — the fluid inside the eye. It does this by blocking carbonic anhydrase II in the ciliary body of the eye, which slows the formation of bicarbonate ions and, in turn, reduces the fluid and sodium transport that generates eye pressure. Elevated intraocular pressure is the primary driver of optic nerve damage in glaucoma, so reducing it helps slow or prevent vision loss.

🔬Pharmacokinetics — how your body processes it▾

Even though dorzolamide is applied to the eye, it is absorbed into the bloodstream after use. Once in the body, it accumulates in red blood cells by binding to carbonic anhydrase II, and its main breakdown product also builds up in red blood cells. Actual levels in the liquid part of the blood (plasma) stay very low. Dorzolamide and its metabolite are cleared primarily through the urine. After stopping the medication, it leaves red blood cells slowly — with a prolonged elimination phase that has a half-life of roughly four months — though this level of systemic exposure is not expected to significantly affect kidney function or breathing in healthy individuals.

📦How to store it▾

Store at 15° to 30°C (59° to 86°F). Protect from light.

📄 Written from Dorzolamide Ophthalmic’s FDA-approved label information, summarized in plain language with AI, and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Every point is grounded in that labeling — nothing is invented. How we use AI →

🩺 Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Dorzolamide Ophthalmic — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.

What exactly does dorzolamide do for my eyes? ▾
Your eye constantly makes a fluid that keeps it properly pressurized — but in some people, that pressure gets too high, which can damage the optic nerve over time. Dorzolamide blocks an enzyme involved in making that fluid, so less is produced and the pressure drops. It won't restore vision you've already lost, but keeping pressure controlled helps protect the vision you have.
I always get a bitter taste after using my eye drops — is that normal? ▾
Yes, that's very common with dorzolamide — about one in four people notice it. Eye drops can drain into the back of your throat through a small channel between your eye and nose, which is what causes the taste. It's harmless. Gently pressing the inner corner of your eye closed for about a minute after each drop can help reduce how much drains through.
Can I wear my contact lenses while using these drops? ▾
You'll need to take your soft contact lenses out first. Dorzolamide contains a preservative called benzalkonium chloride that can be absorbed by soft lenses and potentially irritate your eyes. Remove your lenses before using the drops, and you can safely put them back in 15 minutes later.
I'm allergic to sulfa antibiotics — is it safe for me to use these drops? ▾
That's a really important thing to share with your doctor and pharmacist. Dorzolamide belongs to the sulfonamide (sulfa) drug family, so if you've had a reaction to sulfa drugs before, there's a chance you could react to dorzolamide too. Even as an eye drop, a small amount gets absorbed into your body. Your doctor needs to know about this before you start using it.
What side effects should I just watch and wait on versus ones where I should call my doctor? ▾
Mild burning or stinging right after the drop goes in, a bitter taste, or some temporary blurred vision are common and usually not a reason to worry. But stop using the drops and call your doctor if you notice your eye getting significantly red, swollen, or crusty — especially if it looks like a reaction building up over time. And if you ever get a severe skin rash, blistering, or trouble breathing, seek emergency care right away. Those signs could indicate a rare but serious sulfa-type reaction.
I also take other eye drops for my glaucoma. Is it okay to use them at the same time? ▾
Yes, dorzolamide can be used alongside other eye drops that lower eye pressure — in fact, that's how many people use it. The key is to space them out. Use each eye drop at least 5 minutes apart so one doesn't simply wash the other away before it has a chance to work. Your pharmacist can help you figure out the best order and timing if you're juggling multiple drops.
Is Dorzolamide Ophthalmic available over the counter? ▾
Dorzolamide Ophthalmic is dispensed by prescription according to its FDA labeling, so it isn't sold over the counter. Your prescriber and pharmacist will determine if it's appropriate for you.
When was Dorzolamide Ophthalmic first available? ▾
Dorzolamide Ophthalmic has been available in the United States since at least 1994, based on FDA approval history (Drugs@FDA) and product marketing records.
Who makes Dorzolamide Ophthalmic? ▾
Dorzolamide Ophthalmic is supplied by 18 manufacturers listed in the FDA NDC Directory, including A-S Medication Solutions, Bausch & Lomb Incorporated, Sandoz Inc.

💬 Answers drafted from Dorzolamide Ophthalmic’s FDA-approved label information, summarized in plain language with AI, and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Grounded in that labeling — nothing is made up. How we use AI →

🧰 Keep exploring

🌿Drug & Supplement CheckerDorzolamide Ophthalmic vs. vitamins & herbs 💬Ask a PharmacistFree answer, usually < 24h 🔎NDC & pricing lookupFind Dorzolamide Ophthalmic NDCs & costs 🅰️Browse Drugs A–ZLook up any medication

💊 How Dorzolamide Ophthalmic comes

Dorzolamide Ophthalmic is available in 1 form. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.

Eye drops

In the eye
Brands Trusopt
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Treats elevated intraocular pressure in patients with ocular hypertension
  • Treats elevated intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma
  • Trusopt (dorzolamide hydrochloride ophthalmic solution 2%) is indicated for elevated intraocular pressure in patients with ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma
Important instructions
  • Apply one drop into the affected eye(s) three times daily
  • If using other eye drops at the same time, wait at least 5 minutes between each medication
  • Remove soft contact lenses before applying and wait 15 minutes before reinserting them
  • Do not let the dropper tip touch your eye, eyelid, or any surface — this can contaminate the bottle and cause eye infection
Available strengths 1 strength
20 mg/mL
31 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

📊 Dorzolamide Ophthalmic across the U.S. market

How Dorzolamide Ophthalmic appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.

1
Dose forms ⓘ
18
Manufacturers
5
Brand names
31
FDA-listed product records ⓘ
1994
First marketed ⓘ
A-S Medication Solutions13%
Bausch & Lomb Incorporated10%
Sandoz Inc6%
Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc.6%
Micro Labs Limited6%
Florida Pharmaceutical Products, LLC6%
Other makers52%

Share of FDA-listed product records by manufacturer — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

📈 How widely Dorzolamide Ophthalmic is used

A general measure of how commonly Dorzolamide Ophthalmic is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.

Think of this as a proxy for how widely Dorzolamide Ophthalmic is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.

67,286
Medicaid prescriptions filled (Q1–Q4 2025)
$1.4M gross Medicaid reimbursement (before mandatory rebates — net cost is lower)

How commonly is Dorzolamide Ophthalmic prescribed? Of the 1,596 medications we measure, Dorzolamide Ophthalmic ranks #574 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 64% of them.

Where Dorzolamide Ophthalmic ranks among the drugs we measure · Q1–Q4 2025 · neighbors ±5
Total prescriptions — #574 of 1,596
#569 Metoclopramide Injecti... 67,896 Rx #570 Fluorouracil Injection 67,822 Rx #571 Miconazole Vaginal 67,703 Rx #572 Elvitegravir, Cobicist... 67,455 Rx #573 Fosaprepitant Dimeglum... 67,432 Rx #574 Dorzolamide Ophthalmic 67,286 Rx #575 Glucagon Injection / S... 67,274 Rx #576 Isosorbide Dinitrate 67,209 Rx #577 Perphenazine 66,429 Rx #578 Selenium Sulfide 65,979 Rx #579 Pantoprazole Injection 65,430 Rx

Utilization by Dorzolamide Ophthalmic product

Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.

dorzolamide 20 MG/ML Ophthalmic Solution

67,286 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 100% of Dorzolamide Ophthalmic prescriptions shown $1.4M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $20 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 9 of 23 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 310015

Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.

Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Dorzolamide Ophthalmic, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 9 of 23 listed Dorzolamide Ophthalmic NDCs with Medicaid activity.

🔍 Compare Dorzolamide Ophthalmic products

A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Dorzolamide Ophthalmic — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)

Showing 31 of 31 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 31 Dorzolamide Ophthalmic NDCs →

RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength

This page starts with one ingredient concept (IN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). Combination products remain separate concepts with their own pages.

Ingredient (IN) Dorzolamide Ophthalmic RxCUI 60207 1 dose form · 1 strength
  1. Dose form (SCDF) Ophthalmic Solution RxCUI 377440 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 20 MG/ML RxCUI 310015

Look up RxCUI 60207 in the RxCUI Atlas →

RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.

🏷️ Sold under these brand names

Trusopt Ocumeter Plus Trusopt

🏭 Manufacturers & labelers

A-S Medication Solutions 4 Bausch & Lomb Incorporated 3 Sandoz Inc 2 Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc. 2 Micro Labs Limited 2 Florida Pharmaceutical Products, LLC 2 Fosun Pharma Usa Inc 2 Gland Pharma Limited 2 Indoco Remedies Limited 2 Leading Pharma, LLC 2 Somerset Therapeutics, LLC 1 Sagent Pharmaceuticals 1 Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC 1 Golden State Medical Supply, Inc. 1 Biocon Pharma Inc. 1 Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited 1 Akorn 1 Advagen Pharma Ltd. 1

RxNorm drug class

Dorzolamide Ophthalmic belongs to the Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitor class.

Pharmacologic class Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitor
Drug family (ATC) Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
How it works Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors

Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.

🔬 Where this comes from

Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.

📄
FDA-filed drug labels (SPL) Uses, dosing, warnings & side effects from SPL records retrieved through openFDA; the linked representative set can be verified on DailyMed. ✓ Linked label effective May 10, 2025
🏭
Forms, brands & labelersAggregated from ingredient-matched FDA National Drug Code Directory product records for Dorzolamide Ophthalmic.
📈
Real-world reportsThe FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), served through openFDA.
🚨
Recalls & shortagesopenFDA drug-enforcement reports and the FDA drug-shortage database.
🧾 Clinical label set — FDA-filed SPL labels retained for Dorzolamide Ophthalmic after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching
Clinical labels in scope
16
NDC products indexed
31
Distinct labelers/manufacturers represented
18
Linked representative label ⓘ
Gland Pharma Limited
Linked label effective
May 10, 2025
Composite sections available
23
Linked SPL Set ID
2023e603-12bb-4502-9f93-0126e0cc24ed
Linked SPL Document ID
97a5fb1e-bdb1-43f9-8419-4b12d36d429c
Open the linked representative label on DailyMed ↗
NDC package records associated with this linked SPL 1

How we combine label and product data

HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records; we don’t author the underlying clinical facts. We identified 16 FDA-filed SPL label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. The representative label is the starting point for the displayed reference monograph; the 12 largest stored in-scope SPL records, which may include that representative, are compared section by section, and the longest available version of each section is retained. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, product-listed strengths, and product-record counts are aggregated separately from ingredient-matched FDA NDC Directory records; package records listed above are associated with the linked SPL; and the normalized concept hierarchy comes from NLM RxNorm.

Where a section is identified as AI-written, its plain-language text is generated from bounded label evidence. New draft drug pages remain in the admin review queue before first publication. Gland Pharma Limited is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates; it is not the sole source used for the page.

This is general education, not medical advice — always consult your doctor or pharmacist about your medications and any medical condition. For the exact wording of the linked representative label, view that label on DailyMed; some displayed composite sections may come from other in-scope SPL labels. Learn how we use AI and our data sources & update cadence.