Dipivefrine was first described by 1975.[9] It is widely marketed throughout the world.[10] However, it is no longer available in theUnited States.[11]
Use innarrow-angle glaucoma may be dangerous because it could make the eye susceptible to an attack of angle closure,[3] causing an increase in pressure and pain and possibly loss of vision.
The most commonside effects of dipivefrine are burning, stinging, and other irritations of the eye. Possible but uncommon side effects are the same as those of epinephrine and includetachycardia (fast heartbeat),hypertension (high blood pressure) andarrhythmias (irregular heartbeat).[3]
The experimentallog P of dipivefrine is 1.7 and its predicted log P ranges from 1.49 to 3.71.[6][1][12] It is dramatically morelipophilic (600-fold) than epinephrine,[7][8][4] which is highlyhydrophilic and has a log P of -1.37.[13] The lipophilicity of dipivefrine allows it to penetrate thecornea much more readily (17-fold) than epinephrine.[7][8][4] Eye drops containing 0.1% dipivefrine have similar effectiveness to conventional eye drops containing 2% epinephrine in loweringintraocular pressure.[4]
Dipivefrine is thegeneric name of the drug and itsINNTooltip International Nonproprietary Name,BANTooltip British Approved Name, andDCFTooltip Dénomination Commune Française, whiledipivefrin is itsUSANTooltip United States Adopted Name anddipivefrina is itsDCITTooltip Denominazione Comune Italiana.[14][10][15] In the case of thehydrochloridesalt,dipivefrine hydrochloride is itsBANMTooltip British Approved Name whiledipivefrin hydrochloride is itsUSANTooltip United States Adopted Name andJANTooltip Japanese Accepted Name.[14][10][15]
Synonyms of dipivefrine includeepinephrine pivalate,adrenaline pivalate, anddipivalyl epinephrine, among others.[14][10]
Dipivefrine has been sold under brand names includingDiopine,Glaucothil,Pro-Epinephrine,Propine,Thilodrin, andVistapine, among many others.[14][10]
^Arthur S, Cantor LB (September 2011). "Update on the role of alpha-agonists in glaucoma management".Exp Eye Res.93 (3):271–283.doi:10.1016/j.exer.2011.04.002.PMID21524649.
^abMcClure DA (1 June 1975). "The Effect of a Pro-drug of Epinephrine (Dipivalyl Epinephrine) in Glaucoma—General Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Clinical Experience".Pro-drugs as Novel Drug Delivery Systems. ACS Symposium Series. Vol. 14. Washington, D. C.: American Chemical Society. pp. 225–235.doi:10.1021/bk-1975-0014.ch006.ISBN978-0-8412-0291-7.
