To the Editor.—
Stephen A. Shaivitz, MD (242:1611, 1979), recently reported in The Journal on aggravation of myasthenia with timolol maleate. Alan N. Kohn, MD (243:1131, 1980), warned of systemic effects.Timolol, a β-adrenergic receptor blocking agent, has been prescribed to thousands of patients since its recent Food and Drug Administration approval for glaucoma.I treated an alert, active, and unusually healthy 78-year-old woman with timolol starting in November 1978. It controlled her open-angle glaucoma well. Unlike most persons in this age group, she was taking no other medications. On Labor Day 1979, she was swimming in a lake and experienced an episode of syncope and nearly drowned. A hospital workup was noncontributory.On Feb 14, 1980, she experienced confusion, inability to speak or write for a few minutes, and vivid and frightening visual hallucinations for several days. She was hospitalized by an internist. Findings from a complete workup, including computerized