A 62-year-old man with newly diagnosed primary open-angle glaucoma is prescribed topical timolol maleate 0.5% twice daily. Which pre-existing condition is the most important contraindication to this drug?

• A Benign prostatic hyperplasia
• B Type 2 diabetes mellitus
• C Hypertension
• D Bronchial asthma ✓

Explanation

Timolol is a non-selective beta blocker that blocks beta-2 receptors in bronchial smooth muscle and can precipitate severe bronchospasm in asthmatics, so asthma is an absolute contraindication. It can also cause bradycardia and heart block, so cardiac conduction disease matters too. Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a concern with alpha blockers like tamsulosin, not with timolol, and diabetes or hypertension do not preclude its use.

Reference: Khurana, Comprehensive Ophthalmology, 7th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.