The efficacy and safety of dose escalation of dorzolamide used in combination with other topical antiglaucoma agents.

We investigated the dose-escalation profile of dorzolamide used in combination with other antiglaucoma agents in patients with primary glaucoma and ocular hypertension. In a prospective, open-label study, 78 patients received dorzolamide 0.5% in addition to other topical antiglaucoma agents for > or =4 weeks. The concentration of dorzolamide was then escalated to 1.0% and intraocular pressure (IOP) measured every 4 weeks for 12 weeks. Dose escalation of dorzolamide from 0.5% to 1.0% resulted in a significant reduction in IOP throughout the 12 weeks of treatment at the higher dose. Mean baseline IOP was 19.7 mmHg. At 4, 8, and 12 weeks after dose escalation, mean IOP had decreased to 17.8 (-9.4%), 17.6 (-10.8%), and 17.5 (-10.7%) mmHg. No serious drug-related adverse effects were reported. These results indicate that dose escalation of dorzolamide from 0.5% to 1.0% is effective and well tolerated as adjunctive therapy for patients in whom IOP is insufficiently controlled by combination therapy.