la-TAN-oh-prost
Commonly used brand name(s)
In the U.S.
- Xalatan
Available Dosage Forms:
- Solution
Therapeutic Class: Antiglaucoma
Pharmacologic Class: Prostaglandin
Uses For latanoprost
Latanoprost is used to treat certain kinds of glaucoma. It is also used to treat a condition called hypertension of the eye. Latanoprost appears to work by increasing the outflow of fluid from the eye. This lowers the pressure in the eye.
latanoprost is available only with your doctor's prescription.
Before Using latanoprost
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For latanoprost, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to latanoprost or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Studies on latanoprost have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of latanoprost in children with use in other age groups.
Geriatric
Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing use of latanoprost in the elderly with use in other age groups, latanoprost has been used mostly in elderly patients and is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.
Pregnancy
| Pregnancy Category | Explanation | |
|---|---|---|
| All Trimesters | C | Animal studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR no animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women. |
Breast Feeding
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Interactions with Medicines
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
Other Medical Problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of latanoprost. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Eye disease, such as iritis or uveitis—Use of latanoprost may make the condition worse
- Eye problems, such as loss of the lens of the eye or
- Intraocular lens (IOL) replacement—May be more prone to an adverse reaction called macular edema
- Kidney disease or
- Liver disease—Higher blood levels of latanoprost may result, which may lead to increased side effects
Proper Use of latanoprost
Use latanoprost only as directed. Do not use more of it and do not use it more often than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of too much medicine being absorbed into the body and the chance of side effects.
If your doctor ordered two different eye drops to be used together, wait at least 5 minutes between the times you apply the medicines. This will help to keep the second medicine from “washing out” the first one.
It is important that your doctor check your eye pressure at regular visits to make certain that your glaucoma is being controlled.
Contact lenses should be removed before you use latanoprost. You should wait at least 15 minutes after using the eye drops before reinserting them.
To use the eye drops:
- First, wash your hands. Tilt the head back and, pressing your finger gently on the skin just beneath the lower eyelid, pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to make a space. Drop the medicine into this space. Let go of the eyelid and gently close the eyes. Do not blink. Keep the eyes closed and apply pressure to the inner corner of the eye with your finger for 1 or 2 minutes to allow the medicine to be absorbed by the eye.
- Immediately after using the eye drops, wash your hands to remove any medicine that may be on them.
- To keep the medicine as germ-free as possible, do not touch the applicator tip to any surface (including the eye). Also, keep the container tightly closed.
Dosing
The dose of latanoprost will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of latanoprost. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
- For ophthalmic solution (eye drops) dosage form:
- For glaucoma or hypertension of the eye:
- Adults—Use one drop in the affected eye(s) once a day in the evening.
- Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For glaucoma or hypertension of the eye:
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of latanoprost, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage
Keep out of the reach of children.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Before the bottle has been opened for the first time, store in the refrigerator. After the bottle has been opened, store at room temperature (up to 25 °C [77 °F]) for up to 6 weeks, or in the refrigerator.
Precautions While Using latanoprost
While you are using latanoprost, the iris (colored part) of your treated eye(s) may slowly become more brown in color. This is more likely to happen if you have blue-brown, gray-brown, green-brown, or yellow-brown eyes. The change in color of the iris is noticeable usually within several months or years from the start of treatment with latanoprost. In addition, there may be a darkening of eyelid skin color. Also, your eyelashes may become longer, thicker, and darker. These changes to the iris, eyelid, and lashes may be permanent even if you stop using latanoprost. Also, these changes to the iris, eyelid, and lashes will affect only the eye being treated with latanoprost. Therefore, if only one eye is being treated, only that eye may develop darker iris, eyelid, and eyelashes and other changes to the eyelashes, and you may have differently appearing eyes. Check with your doctor if you have any questions about this.
Latanoprost may cause your eyes to become more sensitive to light than they are normally. Wearing sunglasses and avoiding too much exposure to bright light may help lessen the discomfort.
latanoprost Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
- Eyelid crusting, redness, swelling, discomfort, or pain
- Cough
- difficulty breathing
- noisy breathing
- redness of eye or inside of eyelid
- shortness of breath
- swelling of the eye
- tightness in chest
- wheezing
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
- Blurred vision, eye irritation, or tearing
- darkening of eyelid skin color
- increase in brown color in colored part of eye
- longer, thicker, and darker eyelashes
- Angina pectoris or other chest pain
- cold or flu symptoms
- eye pain
- pain in muscles, joints, or back
- skin rash
- Discharge from the eye
- double vision or other change in vision
- fever
- sensitivity of eye to light
- sore throat
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
- Burning of eye
- feeling of something in eye
- itching of eye
- stinging of eye
- Dryness of eye
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
See also: latanoprost Ophthalmic side effects (in more detail)
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More latanoprost Ophthalmic resources
- Latanoprost Ophthalmic Side Effects (in more detail)
- Latanoprost Ophthalmic Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Latanoprost Ophthalmic Drug Interactions
- Latanoprost Ophthalmic Support Group
- 5 Reviews for Latanoprost Ophthalmic - Add your own review/rating
- Xalatan Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Xalatan Monograph (AHFS DI)
- Xalatan Drops MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
- Xalatan Consumer Overview
Compare latanoprost Ophthalmic with other medications
- Glaucoma, Open Angle
- Intraocular Hypertension
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