Is It Possible to Overdose on Ocupress?
Ocupress® (
carteolol hydrochloride) is a prescription eye drop approved to treat
glaucoma or high eye pressure. It belongs to a group of medications known as
beta blockers. As with most medications, it is probably possible to take an Ocupress overdose. The specific effects of an overdose could be dangerous but will vary, depending on a number of factors, including the
Ocupress dosage and how it was taken (by mouth or as an eye drop).
Effects of an Ocupress Overdose
Taking the drops by mouth (as might happen with a child or a pet) is probably more likely to cause serious problems than taking the drops as intended (in the eyes). It is not clear exactly what may happen as the result of an Ocupress overdose. However, some of the predicted effects (based on overdoses with other beta blockers) might include:
- Low blood pressure (hypotension)
- Slow heart rate (bradycardia)
- Heart failure
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- Constriction of the airway.
The treatment for an overdose of Ocupress will vary. If the overdose was recent and taken by mouth, your healthcare provider may give certain medicines or place a tube into the stomach to "pump the stomach." If the overdose was taken as an eye drop, the eyes should be flushed with water or a saline solution. Treatment will also involve supportive care, such as:
- Giving asthma medications to reverse airway constriction
- Giving atropine or other medications to increase the heart rate
- Giving IV fluids and medications to increase blood pressure
- Giving medications to treat heart failure
- Giving IV glucose to reverse low blood sugar.
It is important that you seek medical attention immediately if you believe that you may have overdosed on Ocupress.
