Meyer M A, Savitt M L
Department of Ophthalmology, Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, Illinois.
Ophthalmology. 1994 Oct;101(10):1658-61. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(94)31119-5.
The authors analyzed the actual length of use of commercially available 5-ml bottles of 0.5% timolol maleate (Timoptic) and 0.5% levobunolol (Betagan) among patients who routinely use topical beta-blockers (1 drop twice daily in both eyes) for glaucoma treatment.
Patients were randomized to receive two 5-ml bottles of either timolol or levobunolol in a double-blind fashion. The patients used the drops independently and the bottles in sequence. The dates were recorded when each of the two 5-ml bottles were used. Sixty patients were enrolled, 15 were excluded from the study, and the data from the remaining 45 were analyzed.
There was a 21% greater length of use per 5-ml bottle among patients who were randomized to 0.5% timolol maleate (36.6 +/- 10.4 days) compared with 0.5% levobunolol (28.9 +/- 8.1 days) (P = 0.009). The length of use of the first bottle versus the second bottle was compared and was found not to be significantly different in either group. There was no statistical difference in intraocular pressure control among patients before and after the study.
There is a markedly greater length of use of the 5-ml bottle of timolol compared with the 5-ml bottle of levobunolol. The difference is believed to be due to the configuration of the levobunolol's bottle tip and the vehicle used to deliver the drug. The data may be extrapolated to a substantial patient savings and should be considered in prescription recommendations.
作者分析了青光眼患者中，常规使用局部β受体阻滞剂（双眼每日两次，每次一滴）进行治疗时，市售5毫升瓶装0.5%马来酸噻吗洛尔（噻吗心安）和0.5%左布诺洛尔（贝他根）的实际使用时长。
患者被随机双盲接受两瓶5毫升的噻吗洛尔或左布诺洛尔。患者独立使用滴眼液，并按顺序使用药瓶。记录两瓶5毫升药瓶各自使用的日期。共招募60名患者，15名被排除在研究之外，对其余45名患者的数据进行分析。
随机接受0.5%马来酸噻吗洛尔的患者，每5毫升药瓶的使用时长（36.6±10.4天）比接受0.5%左布诺洛尔的患者（28.9±8.1天）长21%（P = 0.009）。比较了第一瓶和第二瓶的使用时长，发现两组均无显著差异。研究前后患者的眼压控制无统计学差异。
5毫升瓶装的噻吗洛尔使用时长明显长于5毫升瓶装的左布诺洛尔。这种差异被认为是由于左布诺洛尔药瓶尖端的构造以及用于给药的赋形剂所致。这些数据可外推至可观的患者节省费用情况，在处方建议中应予以考虑。
