Shortage of preservative free Timolol

[Roger Burgess]

For many years, I have been on preservative free Timoptol 0.5%, which has controlled my normal tension glaucoma very well. It has to be preservative free, as the normal Timoptol reacts with the Xalatan that I also put in. I am now told that these drops will not be available again until the end of the year, due to a world wide shortage. The only readily available alternative that my consultant can find is only 0.25%, but nobobody will tell me if this will make a difference. Has anybody else got the same problem, and with any resolution ?

[Ed Lucas]

Roger Burgess wrote:

For many years, I have been on preservative free Timoptol 0.5%, which has controlled my normal tension glaucoma very well. It has to be preservative free, as the normal Timoptol reacts with the Xalatan that I also put in. I am now told that these drops will not be available again until the end of the year, due to a world wide shortage. The only readily available alternative that my consultant can find is only 0.25%, but nobobody will tell me if this will make a difference. Has anybody else got the same problem, and with any resolution ?

Hi Roger only just found your posting as I've only recently been prescribed preserv free timolol 0.25%( after months of fiddling around with umpteen other drops) which local pharmacies were unable to obtain, this was about a month ago. Do you know if this strength is now available, one chemist thought that production was to be restarted in October. Is there really a WORLD WIDE shortage? I'd bve very interested to hear from you. Regards Ed Lucas

[Roger Burgess]

Ed Lucas wrote:

<quoted text>
Hi Roger only just found your posting as I've only recently been prescribed preserv free timolol 0.25%( after months of fiddling around with umpteen other drops) which local pharmacies were unable to obtain, this was about a month ago. Do you know if this strength is now available, one chemist thought that production was to be restarted in October. Is there really a WORLD WIDE shortage? I'd bve very interested to hear from you. Regards Ed Lucas

Hi Ed,
Since my original posting, the situation has changed twice. Shortly after that posting, the IGA informed me that the 0.5% was now back available, so I obviously continued with it. However, in July I was informed that it was once again out of production, and would not be available again until next year (no idea of when). Once again I contacted the IGA, who suggested that my doctor contacted Moorfields Eye Hospital, and they have promised to supply the 0.5% in bottles that have to be thrown away after 7 days, rather than the normal unit doses, although this route has yet to be tested, as I built up stock of of my normal drops in case of problems. The overall situation is rather confusing. I am not sure whether the problem also apples for 0.25%(although the original shortage was for this strength).I am informed that the problem is only for preservative free Timolol in unit doses. I am also told that Merck are the only manufacturer, and they state there is a worldwide shortage, but my doctor's pharmacist is telling me that Moorfields make their own, but only in disposable bottles. I can only suggest you contact your doctor, or consultant (whoever is prescribing your drops)for more information. The IGA are very helpful, and they can be contacted at [e-mail]
Hope this info helps, and good luck.
Roger

[Keith Sheppard]

This Timolol preservative free saga has been rumbling on for well over a year now. I have managed to maintain supplies by switching back and forth between the 0.25% and 0.5% as stocks waxed and waned... until now. Now I cannot get either. As a temporary measure (until I can track down my consultant's stand-in, my consultant having fallen off his loft ladder!) I am using the with-preservative type, to which I have an alergy but I reckoned red, sore, eyes was worth suffering in order to avoid eye damage. Does anyone know what the alternatives are and which are readily available? Also, out of passing interest, why have there been these production problems and why have they rumbled on for so long?

[Roger Burgess]

Keith Sheppard wrote:

This Timolol preservative free saga has been rumbling on for well over a year now. I have managed to maintain supplies by switching back and forth between the 0.25% and 0.5% as stocks waxed and waned... until now. Now I cannot get either. As a temporary measure (until I can track down my consultant's stand-in, my consultant having fallen off his loft ladder!) I am using the with-preservative type, to which I have an alergy but I reckoned red, sore, eyes was worth suffering in order to avoid eye damage. Does anyone know what the alternatives are and which are readily available? Also, out of passing interest, why have there been these production problems and why have they rumbled on for so long?

Hi Keith,
Please see my post to Ed above, and maybe get your GP (or pharmacist if you have one at your surgery) to contact Moorfields. It is working for me. Good luck, Roger