Levobunolol

Introduction

Written by Lee Holland, PharmD, MPH
Medically reviewed by Victor Nguyen, PharmD, MBA
Updated on November 3, 2023

Levobunolol (lee voe BYOO noe lole) is a generic medication prescribed for glaucoma and high pressure inside the eye. Levobunolol belongs to a group of drugs called beta-blockers.

Common questions about levobunolol

Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about levobunolol.

What brand names are available for levobunolol?

Levobunolol is a generic form of eye drops for glaucoma or high eye pressure. The brand-name versions of levobunolol are Betagan and AKBeta.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. An active drug is the ingredient that makes medication work. Generic drugs are believed to be as effective and safe as brand-name drugs. And generic drugs typically cost less compared to brand-name drugs.

If you have questions about generic drugs, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

How does levobunolol compare with timolol?

Levobunolol and timolol eyedrops are both beta-blockers. Levobunolol is approved for use in adults, while timolol is approved for use in people ages 2 years and older.

If you have questions about levobunolol or timolol, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

How does levobunolol work? And how long does it take to start working?

Levobunolol works by reducing the amount of liquid inside the eyeball. How a drug works is called the mechanism of action. Decreasing the amount of liquid inside the eyeball lowers eye pressure and helps slow the progression of glaucoma.

Levobunolol begins working within 1 hour after using the eye drops. But it may take 2–6 hours to experience its full effects.

If you’d like to know more about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Side effects of levobunolol

Levobunolol may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of levobunolol and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age, overall health, and any other medications you take.

To learn more about levobunolol’s side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to the prescribing information for levobunolol listed in the “Resources” section.

Mild side effects

More common mild side effects reported with some forms of levobunolol are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. To learn more about levobunolol’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for levobunolol listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.

Levobunolol eye drop’s mild side effects include:

• burning or stinging of the eyes
• redness of the eyes
• red, crusty eyelids
• headache
• mild allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for levobunolol” section.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects of levobunolol are listed below. These side effects may differ based on the form of levobunolol you use.

This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug. To learn more about levobunolol’s side effects based on the form, refer to the prescribing information for levobunolol listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.

In general, levobunolol’s serious side effects include: 

• serious skin reactions, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, which may be life threatening
• heart problems, such as new or worsening heart failure
• severe allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for levobunolol” section.

Interactions and warnings for levobunolol

Below, you’ll find information about levobunolol’s possible interactions and warnings.

Interactions of levobunolol

Certain things may affect how a drug works. These include getting vaccines, consuming alcohol or certain foods, or taking the drug with other medications. This effect is called a drug interaction.

Before you use levobunolol, ask your doctor to check for possible interactions. Be sure to tell them about any of the following you take or use:

• prescription or over-the-counter drugs 
• vitamins, herbs, or supplements

To learn about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings for levobunolol” section below.

Warnings for levobunolol

Levobunolol should not be used by certain people.

Levobunolol could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether levobunolol is a safe option for you.

Ask your doctor about specific warnings for levobunolol, and be sure to tell your doctor about your:

• current health, including any allergies to medications
• past health conditions or surgeries

Allergic reaction

Levobunolol can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to levobunolol or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe levobunolol. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.

A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• serious skin reactions called Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, which may be life threatening
• swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
• swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems

If you have an allergic reaction to levobunolol, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Overdose of levobunolol

If you use levobunolol, you should not use more levobunolol than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to harmful effects or overdose.

If you think you’ve used too much levobunolol, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding and levobunolol

Information about levobunolol and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.

Levobunolol and pregnancy

It’s not known whether levobunolol should be used during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before using this medication.

Levobunolol and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether levobunolol should be used while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before using this medication.

Uses of levobunolol

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as levobunolol for certain conditions. Approved uses for levobunolol are described below.

Use for glaucoma and high eye pressure

Doctors may prescribe levobunolol eye drops for treating glaucoma and high eye pressure. It’s used for these purposes in adults. It’s usually prescribed as a long-term treatment.

With glaucoma, you may not experience symptoms right away. Still, over time, glaucoma can damage the nerves of the eye. This may cause a gradual loss of peripheral vision and, eventually, blindness.

With high eye pressure, fluid isn’t draining properly, allowing it to build up in the eye. This leads to an increase in eye pressure.

Levobunolol is prescribed together with other drugs to control glaucoma.

What to ask your doctor

Let your doctor know if you have questions about levobunolol or would like more details about it.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• What are my options if I can’t afford my medication?
• Are there any alternative medications that I can take for glaucoma?
• Does my doctor need to change my dosage of levobunolol eye drops if I’m taking other beta-blocker drugs?

Resources

• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
• Levobunolol hydrochloride — levobunolol hydrochloride solution/drops. (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/5ab1efbe-530b-4787-b40a-c7dbf18161e1/spl-doc

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.