Timolol 0.5% w/v: uses, price & cheaper substitutes
Prescription required (Schedule H)
Common uses: Glaucoma – lowers the pressure inside the eye to protect the optic nerve; Ocular hypertension – raised eye pressure without damage yet, to prevent glaucoma.
Listed MRPs range from ₹3.94 to ₹14.40 per ml across 8 listings. Use only on a doctor's prescription.
Price comparison
| Brand | Manufacturer | Pack | MRP | ₹ / ml | As on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timolol Maleate Eye Drops IP 0.5 %Jan Aushadhi | Jan Aushadhi (PMBJP) | 5 ml | ₹19.69 | ₹3.94 | 19 October 2026 |
| Timolen 0.5% | Indoco Remedies Ltd | 5 ml | ₹70.29 | ₹14.06 | 19 October 2026 |
| Timolet | Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd | 5 ml | ₹71.51 | ₹14.30 | 19 October 2026 |
| Timolong | Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd | 5 ml | ₹71.56 | ₹14.31 | 19 October 2026 |
| Glucotim LA | Centaur Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd | 5 ml | ₹71.55 | ₹14.31 | 19 October 2026 |
| Glucomol 0.5% | Allergan India Pvt Ltd | 5 ml | ₹71.97 | ₹14.39 | 19 October 2026 |
| Lopres 0.5% | Micro Labs Ltd | 5 ml | ₹71.96 | ₹14.39 | 19 October 2026 |
| Iotim | FDC Ltd | 5 ml | ₹72.00 | ₹14.40 | 19 October 2026 |
MRPs as printed/listed on the date shown; actual price may vary.
Uses
- Glaucoma – lowers the pressure inside the eye to protect the optic nerve.
- Ocular hypertension – raised eye pressure without damage yet, to prevent glaucoma.
- Often combined with other glaucoma drops (dorzolamide, brimonidine, latanoprost) when one drop is not enough.
How to take it
Wash your hands, tilt your head back and put one drop into the affected eye(s), usually twice a day at the same times, or once a day if your doctor has prescribed a long-acting (LA/OD) version. After the drop goes in, close your eye and press the inner corner near the nose for about 2 minutes – this stops the medicine draining into the body and reduces side effects on the heart and lungs. Do not let the dropper tip touch your eye, fingers or any surface. If you use other eye drops, wait at least 5 minutes between them. Glaucoma treatment is lifelong; do not stop just because the eye feels fine – you cannot feel raised eye pressure. Discard the bottle 4 weeks after opening.
Side effects
Common
- Burning, stinging or itching for a few seconds after the drop.
- Blurred vision for a short while – do not drive until it clears.
- Dry or red eyes.
- Headache.
Serious
Stop and get medical help urgently if you notice any of these.
- Slow or irregular heartbeat, chest pain, fainting – some medicine enters the blood and acts like a beta-blocker tablet.
- Wheezing or breathlessness, especially if you have asthma or COPD – stop and see a doctor.
- Eye pain, severe redness, swelling or persistent double vision.
- Signs of allergy – swelling of face or lips, rash, difficulty breathing.
Safety information
Alcohol
Alcohol does not interact with timolol eye drops, but both can lower blood pressure and cause dizziness, so be careful standing up.
Pregnancy
Can be used in pregnancy and breastfeeding if your eye doctor feels it is needed. Small amounts reach breast milk but harm to the baby is unlikely; press the tear duct after each drop to reduce absorption.
Kidney problems
No dose change is needed for kidney problems, but tell your doctor.
Liver problems
No dose change is usually needed; tell your doctor about liver disease.
Children
Used in children only under an eye specialist; babies and small children absorb more into the blood and need close watching.
Missed dose
Put the drop in as soon as you remember, unless the next dose is nearly due – then skip it. Never use double drops.
Interactions
- Beta-blocker tablets for blood pressure or heart (atenolol, metoprolol, propranolol) – effects add up; heart rate can drop too much.
- Calcium-channel blockers such as verapamil, diltiazem and nifedipine, and clonidine – risk of very low blood pressure or slow heart.
- Diabetes medicines – timolol can hide the warning signs of low sugar (fast heartbeat, shaking).
- Digoxin – risk of slow heart rhythm.
- Adrenaline/epinephrine for allergy emergencies – may work less well; tell doctors you use a beta-blocker drop.
- Other glaucoma drops – fine to combine, but space them 5 minutes apart.
Frequently asked questions
What is Timolet eye drop used for?
Timolet contains timolol 0.5%, a beta-blocker eye drop that lowers the pressure inside the eye. It is prescribed for glaucoma and ocular hypertension to protect the optic nerve from damage. It does not improve vision; it prevents further loss.
How many times a day should I use Iotim or Timolet eye drops?
Usually one drop in the affected eye twice a day, morning and evening. Long-acting gel-forming versions such as Glucotim LA or Timolet OD are used once a day. Follow the schedule on your prescription exactly, because missed drops let the eye pressure rise again.
Can I use timolol eye drops if I have asthma?
Timolol is generally avoided in asthma and COPD. Enough drug can get into the blood from the eye to narrow the airways and cause wheezing or breathlessness. Tell your eye doctor about any breathing problem; a different class of glaucoma drop can be chosen.
Why does my eye sting after Timolet?
A few seconds of burning or stinging is common and settles quickly. If stinging is severe, the eye stays red and painful, or your vision stays blurred, stop and see your eye doctor, as this can mean irritation or allergy to the drop or its preservative.
Does timolol eye drop affect the heart?
Yes, it can. Timolol is the same type of medicine as beta-blocker tablets, and some of it is absorbed through the nose and tear duct into the blood. It can slow the heart and lower blood pressure, so tell your doctor if you have heart failure, a slow pulse or take beta-blocker tablets. Pressing the inner corner of the eye for 2 minutes after each drop reduces this.
Timolet vs Glucomol – which is better?
Both contain timolol maleate 0.5% and work the same way. Differences are in the maker, preservative and price. Do not swap brands on your own; your doctor may choose a preservative-free version (such as Timolet OD BKC-free) if your eyes are dry or sensitive.
Can I stop timolol drops once my eye pressure is normal?
No. The pressure is normal because the drops are working. Glaucoma is a lifelong condition and stopping treatment lets the pressure climb back silently and damage the nerve. Only your eye doctor should change or stop the drop.
Is timolol eye drop safe in pregnancy?
It can be used in pregnancy if your doctor decides it is needed; the dose reaching the baby through the eye is small. Tell your eye doctor and gynaecologist that you are pregnant or breastfeeding so they can pick the lowest effective dose.
Do I need a prescription for Timolet eye drops in India?
Yes. Timolol is a Schedule H medicine, sold only on a doctor's prescription. Glaucoma also needs regular eye-pressure checks, so see an ophthalmologist rather than self-buying.
Sources
- NHS – Timolol eye drops (19 October 2026)
- NPPA Pharma Sahi Daam (ceiling prices) (19 October 2026)
- PMBI Jan Aushadhi Product & MRP List (19 October 2026)
Medyzen Editorial Team · Last updated
This page is general information, not medical advice. Do not start, stop or change a medicine without asking a doctor or pharmacist. Terms