Comprehensive medication guide to Brinzolamide including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$10–$45 copay for generic brinzolamide; typically Tier 2-3 on most commercial plans; prior authorization may be required for brand-name Azopt; Medicare Part D covers generic brinzolamide with a $2,100 annual out-of-pocket cap as of 2026.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$308–$444 retail for a 10 mL bottle without insurance; as low as $53 with a GoodRx coupon or $89 with SingleCare at select pharmacies for a 30-45 day supply.
Medfinder Findability Score
65/100
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Brinzolamide is a prescription ophthalmic medication used to lower elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. It is sold under the brand name Azopt (manufactured by Alcon) and is available as a generic suspension from multiple manufacturers including Sandoz, Bausch & Lomb, and Teva. Generic brinzolamide became available in the U.S. in 2021.
Brinzolamide belongs to the drug class known as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs) — a category of ophthalmic sulfonamide drugs. It is available as a 1% ophthalmic suspension (10 mg/mL) administered as one drop in the affected eye(s) three times daily. It is also available in the fixed-combination product Simbrinza (brinzolamide 1% + brimonidine tartrate 0.2%), also dosed three times daily.
Brinzolamide is not a controlled substance and does not have a DEA schedule. It requires a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider — most commonly an ophthalmologist or optometrist.
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Brinzolamide works by inhibiting carbonic anhydrase II (CA-II) — an enzyme in the ciliary body of the eye that drives the production of aqueous humor, the fluid that circulates inside the front of the eye. When CA-II is active, it facilitates bicarbonate ion production, which drives fluid secretion into the eye and raises intraocular pressure.
By blocking CA-II, brinzolamide reduces bicarbonate production and therefore decreases aqueous humor secretion. Less fluid inside the eye means lower pressure. In clinical trials, brinzolamide 1% three times daily reduced IOP by approximately 4–5 mmHg (a reduction of approximately 15–20% from baseline).
Because brinzolamide works through a distinct mechanism from prostaglandin analogs (which increase fluid outflow) and beta-blockers (which reduce fluid production via adrenergic blockade), its IOP-lowering effect is additive when combined with these other drug classes. This makes it particularly useful as an add-on medication for patients who need more than one agent to control their eye pressure.
1% — ophthalmic suspension
10 mg/mL; one drop in affected eye(s) three times daily; shake well before use
1% / 0.2% — ophthalmic suspension (Simbrinza)
Brinzolamide 1% combined with brimonidine tartrate 0.2%; one drop three times daily
Brinzolamide is not on the FDA's official drug shortage list as of 2026. However, localized and regional availability issues are common for this medication. Brinzolamide is a sterile ophthalmic suspension — a specialty formulation requiring complex manufacturing — and is stocked in smaller quantities at most retail pharmacies compared to high-volume oral medications.
Multiple generic manufacturers (Sandoz, Bausch & Lomb, Teva) now produce brinzolamide alongside brand Azopt, which has improved overall availability since generic entry in 2021. However, individual pharmacies may carry only one version and may periodically run out of stock. Patients using brinzolamide long-term should refill early, consider mail-order pharmacies, and ask their prescriber about brand/generic substitution flexibility.
If you're struggling to find brinzolamide at your local pharmacy, medfinder calls pharmacies near you to identify which ones have your medication in stock, texting results directly to you.
Brinzolamide is not a controlled substance, so any licensed prescriber can technically write a brinzolamide prescription. However, because it is used exclusively for elevated intraocular pressure — a condition that requires IOP measurement and optic nerve evaluation — it is almost exclusively prescribed by eye care specialists.
Ophthalmologists (MD/DO) — Primary specialists for glaucoma diagnosis and management
Optometrists (OD) — Licensed to prescribe topical ophthalmic medications including brinzolamide in all 50 states
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants — May prescribe in eye care settings within their scope of practice
Telehealth is not appropriate for initial glaucoma diagnosis — IOP measurement and optic nerve examination require in-person equipment. However, established patients may be able to receive refill management through telehealth follow-up visits with their eye doctor.
No. Brinzolamide is not a controlled substance and has no DEA schedule. It does not have abuse potential, does not require special DEA registration by the prescriber, and does not have refill restrictions based on controlled substance regulations.
While brinzolamide requires a valid prescription from a licensed healthcare provider, it can be refilled at your pharmacy without the limitations that apply to Schedule II-V controlled substances. Prescriptions can be called in, faxed, or sent electronically by your eye doctor, and refills can be authorized for up to a year in most states.
Note: Although brinzolamide is a sulfonamide with some systemic absorption, it does not have psychoactive properties and is not classified as a substance with potential for dependence or misuse.
The most common side effects of brinzolamide (occurring in 5–10% of patients) are:
Blurred vision (temporary, usually resolves within minutes of instillation)
Bitter, sour, or unusual taste (due to nasolacrimal drainage)
Side effects occurring in 1–5% of patients include: blepharitis, dermatitis, dry eye, foreign body sensation, headache, hyperemia, ocular discharge, ocular discomfort, ocular keratitis, ocular pain, ocular pruritus, and rhinitis.
Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) — severe skin reaction, seek emergency care immediately
Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) — life-threatening skin disorder
Fulminant hepatic necrosis — rapid liver failure (extremely rare with topical use)
Agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia, other blood dyscrasias (extremely rare)
Corneal edema (increased risk in patients with low corneal endothelial cell counts)
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Dorzolamide (Trusopt)
Same class (carbonic anhydrase inhibitor), same TID dosing, similar efficacy; comes as a solution (less blurred vision) but causes more stinging; significantly cheaper than brinzolamide ($15-$30 with GoodRx vs $53+ for brinzolamide).
Latanoprost (Xalatan)
Prostaglandin analog; first-line for most glaucoma patients; once-daily dosing; 25-32% IOP reduction (greater than brinzolamide); inexpensive generic (~$10-$40/month); different mechanism — increases fluid outflow rather than reducing production.
Timolol (Timoptic)
Beta-blocker; reduces aqueous humor production via adrenergic blockade; BID dosing (once daily with gel formulation); 20-25% IOP reduction; very inexpensive ($8-$16/month); contraindicated in asthma, COPD, bradycardia.
Brimonidine (Alphagan P)
Alpha-2 agonist; reduces aqueous production and increases uveoscleral outflow; BID-TID dosing; ~20% IOP reduction; used when beta-blockers are contraindicated; risk of allergic conjunctivitis with long-term use.
Simbrinza (brinzolamide/brimonidine)
Fixed-combination containing brinzolamide 1% + brimonidine 0.2%; only FDA-approved fixed-combination without a beta-blocker; TID dosing; greater IOP reduction than either component alone.
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Acetazolamide (Diamox)
majorAdditive systemic carbonic anhydrase inhibition may cause acid-base alterations and electrolyte disturbances. Concomitant use is not recommended.
Methazolamide (Neptazane)
majorSame mechanism as acetazolamide — additive systemic CA inhibition. Concomitant use with brinzolamide is not recommended.
High-dose salicylates (aspirin 2-3g/day)
moderateCarbonic anhydrase inhibitors combined with high-dose salicylate therapy may produce acid-base and electrolyte alterations. Low-dose aspirin (81 mg/day) does not typically cause this interaction.
Sulfonamide antibiotics (sulfamethoxazole, sulfadiazine)
moderateAllergy cross-reactivity risk. Patients with prior serious reactions to sulfa drugs may experience similar reactions with brinzolamide. Discuss allergy history with prescriber.
Brinzolamide (Azopt) is a well-established, effective glaucoma medication with decades of clinical evidence. As a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor with a near-neutral pH formulation, it provides meaningful IOP reduction (15–20%) with better local tolerability than its predecessor, dorzolamide. It is particularly valuable as an add-on agent for patients who need additional pressure control beyond their first-line therapy.
The main challenges with brinzolamide in 2026 are cost and availability. At $300+ per bottle at retail without a discount program, it is one of the more expensive topical glaucoma options. Using GoodRx (prices as low as $53) or exploring Alcon's patient assistance program can dramatically reduce out-of-pocket cost. On the availability front, stocking issues at retail pharmacies are common — early refills and mail-order pharmacy use are the best strategies.
If your pharmacy is out of brinzolamide, medfinder can help you quickly identify which pharmacies near you have it in stock — saving you the time and stress of calling multiple pharmacies yourself. Never skip a dose of your glaucoma medication without consulting your eye doctor first.
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