Evidence for a synergistic interaction between isoprenaline and timolol on intraocular pressure in conscious rabbits

Gen Pharmacol. 1993 Mar;24(2):471-8. doi: 10.1016/0306-3623(93)90334-t.

Abstract

1. Interaction between topical isoprenaline and timolol on intraocular pressure was studied in conscious rabbits through changes of the dose-response curves. 2. Both drugs caused a dose-dependent fall of intraocular pressure mainly by reducing the aqueous humour formation. 3. When combined, timolol increased the response to submaximal concentrations of isoprenaline as well as EC50 (from 2.06 x 10(-3) M to 3.63 x 10(-3) M) and slope (from 1.21 to 1.89), but peak response to isoprenaline remained unchanged. 4. Discordance between experimental and theoretical additive curves as well as an interaction index smaller than 1 show that the interaction between both drugs is synergistic.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Synergism
  • Female
  • Intraocular Pressure / drug effects*
  • Isoproterenol / pharmacology*
  • Rabbits
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / drug effects
  • Timolol / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta
  • Timolol
  • Isoproterenol