Pharmacology Of Levobunolol

Indication For lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) and may be used in patients with chronic open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
Pharmacodynamics Levobunolol is an ophthalmic beta-blocker, equally effective at β(1)- and β(2)-receptor sites. Levobunolol reduces both elevated and normal IOP in patients with or without glaucoma. In patients with elevated IOP, levobunolol reduces mean IOP by approximately 25-40% from baseline. As the drug is a nonselective &beta-adrenergic blocking agent, it can produce both systemic pulmonary and cardiovascular effects following topical application to the eye. These effects include adverse pulmonary effects (eg. bronchoconstriction, increased airway resistance), and a decrease in blood pressure and heart rate.
Mechanism of action Levobunolol's mechanism of action in reducing IOP is not clearly defined, but is believed to be due to a reduction of the production of aqueous humor via blockage of endogenous catecholamine-stimulated increases in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP) concentrations within the ciliary processes.
Absorption 80%
Volume of distribution Not Available
Protein binding Not Available
Metabolism Hepatic
Route of elimination Not Available
Half life 20 hours
Clearance Not Available
Toxicity Bradycardia, hypotension, bronchospasm, and acute cardiac failure, LD50=700 mg/kg (orally in rat).

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