Brand name: Mirvaso
Drug class: Adrenergic Agonists

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on May 10, 2024. Written by ASHP.

Introduction

Relatively selective α₂-adrenergic agonist.

Uses for Brimonidine (Topical)

Rosacea

Used topically for the treatment of persistent (nontransient) erythema associated with rosacea (acne rosacea).

Effective in treating erythema, unlike other currently available medications for rosacea (e.g., azelaic acid, doxycycline, metronidazole).

Does not affect the inflammatory lesions associated with rosacea.

Brimonidine (Topical) Dosage and Administration

Administration

Topical Administration

Apply topically as a 0.33% gel.

For external use only. Do not administer orally, vaginally, or topically to the eye.

Apply smoothly and evenly as a thin layer across the entire face. Avoid contact with the eyes and lips; wash hands after application.

Dosage

Available as brimonidine tartrate; dosage of gel expressed in terms of brimonidine.

Adults

Rosacea

Topical

Apply a pea-sized amount to each of the 5 areas of the face (central forehead, chin, nose, and each cheek, for a total of 5 pea-sized amounts) once daily.

Cautions for Brimonidine (Topical)

Contraindications

• No known contraindications.

Warnings/Precautions

Sensitivity Reactions

Allergic Contact Dermatitis

Allergic contact dermatitis reported in about 1% of individuals in clinical trials.

Two of these individuals underwent patch testing; one was sensitive to brimonidine, and the other was sensitive to phenoxyethanol (a preservative contained in brimonidine gel).

Potentiation of Vascular Insufficiency

Use with caution in patients with depression, cerebral or coronary insufficiency, Raynaud's phenomenon, orthostatic hypotension, thromboangiitis obliterans, scleroderma, or Sjögren's syndrome.

Severe Cardiovascular Disease

α₂-Adrenergic agonists, such as brimonidine, can lower BP. Use with caution in patients with cardiovascular disease that is severe, unstable, or uncontrolled.

Serious Adverse Reactions Following Ingestion

Serious adverse reactions requiring hospitalization (e.g., lethargy, respiratory distress with apneic episodes requiring intubation, sinus bradycardia, confusion, psychomotor hyperactivity, diaphoresis) reported in at least 2 young children following accidental ingestion. Both were discharged without sequelae after one night of hospitalization.

Store out of reach of children.

Erythema and Flushing

May cause erythema and flushing, sometimes requiring discontinuance. Effects may begin to diminish several hours after application of the gel.

Severe, rebound erythema, sometimes accompanied by a severe burning sensation, has occurred 3–12 hours after application. In some cases, erythema returned 3–6 hours after application; in others, erythema returned as drug effects waned (10–12 hours after application) and was similar to baseline. However, returning erythema was worse in severity than at baseline in some patients.

Intermittent flushing also reported with onset ranging from about 30 minutes to 3–4 hours after application.

Erythema and flushing appear to resolve following discontinuance of the drug.

Specific Populations

Pregnancy

Category B.

Lactation

Distributed into milk in animals. Not known whether distributed into human milk. Discontinue nursing or the drug.

Pediatric Use

Safety and efficacy not established.

Accidental ingestion has caused serious adverse reactions in children; keep out of reach of children. (See Serious Adverse Reactions Following Ingestion under Cautions.)

Geriatric Use

Insufficient experience in patients ≥65 years of age to determine whether geriatric patients respond differently than younger adults.

Common Adverse Effects

In short-term clinical trials, erythema, flushing, burning sensation of the skin.

In a 12-month open-label trial, flushing, erythema, worsening of rosacea, nasopharyngitis, burning sensation of the skin, increased intraocular pressure, headache.

Drug Interactions

Specific Drugs

Brimonidine (Topical) Pharmacokinetics

Absorption

Bioavailability

Following administration of brimonidine tartrate gel (1 g to the entire face) once daily for 29 days in patients with erythema associated with rosacea, peak plasma concentration and AUC were 40 and 20%, respectively, those observed following administration of brimonidine tartrate 0.2% ophthalmic solution (1 drop in each eye every 8 hours for 24 hours).

Mean peak plasma concentration and AUC were highest on day 15 in patients receiving brimonidine gel.

Slightly lower systemic exposure observed on day 29, indicating no further drug accumulation.

Onset

Maximal effects typically occur 3 hours after application.

Duration

Maximal effects typically continue until about 6 hours after application.

Total duration of effect >12 hours in majority of patients.

Distribution

Extent

Distributed into milk in animals; not known whether distributed into human milk.

Elimination

Metabolism

Extensively metabolized by the liver.

Elimination Route

Excreted principally in urine as brimonidine and metabolites.

Stability

Storage

Topical

Gel

20–25°C (may be exposed to 15–30°C).

Actions

• Relatively selective α₂-adrenergic agonist.

• Topical application appears to reduce erythema through direct vasoconstriction.

• May act by targeting α-adrenergic receptors present in the smooth muscle sheath encasing the vessel wall of superficial cutaneous blood vessels.

Advice to Patients

• Patients should be given a copy of the patient information provided by the manufacturer.

• Importance of advising patients that brimonidine gel should only be used as directed by a clinician.

• Importance of advising patients that brimonidine gel is for external use only and that contact with the eyes and lips should be avoided; importance of not using the drug orally or intravaginally.

• Importance of advising patients not to apply to irritated skin or open wounds.

• Importance of washing hands immediately after applying brimonidine gel.

• Importance of advising patients of the possibility of erythema or flushing.

• Importance of advising patients to report adverse reactions to a clinician.

• Importance of advising patients to keep brimonidine gel out of the reach of children. (See Serious Adverse Reactions Following Ingestion under Cautions.)

• Importance of women informing clinicians if they are or plan to become pregnant or plan to breast-feed.

• Importance of informing clinicians of existing or contemplated concomitant therapy, including prescription and OTC drugs, as well as any concomitant illnesses.

• Importance of informing patients of other important precautionary information. (See Cautions.)

Additional Information

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. represents that the information provided in the accompanying monograph was formulated with a reasonable standard of care, and in conformity with professional standards in the field. Readers are advised that decisions regarding use of drugs are complex medical decisions requiring the independent, informed decision of an appropriate health care professional, and that the information contained in the monograph is provided for informational purposes only. The manufacturer’s labeling should be consulted for more detailed information. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. does not endorse or recommend the use of any drug. The information contained in the monograph is not a substitute for medical care.

Preparations

Excipients in commercially available drug preparations may have clinically important effects in some individuals; consult specific product labeling for details.

Please refer to the ASHP Drug Shortages Resource Center for information on shortages of one or more of these preparations.

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