What Is Betaxolol Used For?

There are several approved uses for Betaxolol. The tablet form of the medication is licensed to treat high blood pressure, while the eye drops are approved to lower eye pressure in people with open angle glaucoma or high eye pressure. Healthcare providers may also occasionally prescribe betaxolol tablets for "off-label" purposes, such as for the treatment of chest pain, heart failure, or arrhythmias.

Betaxolol Drug Information

An Overview of Betaxolol Uses

Betaxolol hydrochloride (Betoptic^®, Kerlone^®) is a prescription beta blocker medication. The different forms of betaxolol are approved for different uses.

Using Oral Betaxolol

Betaxolol tablets (Kerlone) is approved for treating high blood pressure. Clinical studies have demonstrated that taking Kerlone once daily can effectively lower blood pressure for a full 24 hours. By lowering blood pressure, blood pressure medications (like Kerlone) are thought to decrease the risks that occur with long-term high blood pressure (see Effects of High Blood Pressure).

Kerlone does not, however, cure high blood pressure. If you stop taking the medication, your blood pressure will increase again. It can be used alone or in combination with other blood pressure medications.

Uses Betaxolol Eye Drops

Betaxolol eye drops come in two forms -- regular Betoptic solution and Betoptic S suspension. In a solution, the medication is dissolved in the liquid and does not need to be shaken. In a suspension, the medication is not dissolved and must be shaken well before each dose. Both products are approved to help lower eye pressure in people with the following conditions:

Open angle glaucoma
High eye pressure (known medically as ocular hypertension).

Glaucoma is a group of diseases sharing certain features such as high pressure within the eye (intraocular pressure), damage to the optic nerve, loss of peripheral (side) vision, and possibly blindness. Of all the different types of glaucoma, open angle glaucoma is by far the most common (see Types of Glaucoma).

Not everyone with high eye pressure has glaucoma, although high eye pressure can lead to glaucoma. Effectively treating high eye pressure can help prevent glaucoma. Although there is no cure for open angle glaucoma, symptoms can usually be controlled. The most common treatments are:

Medications such as betaxolol hydrochloride (see Glaucoma Medications)
Traditional surgery (see Glaucoma Surgery)
Laser surgery (see Glaucoma Laser Surgery).

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