LATANOPROST (Ophthalmic)

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S.?

• Xalatan

Category

• Antiglaucoma agent (ophthalmic)
• antihypertensive, ocular

Description

Latanoprost (la-TA-noe-prost) is used to treat certain kinds of glaucoma. It is alsoused to treat a condition called hypertension of the eye. Latanoprost appearsto work by increasing the outflow of fluid from the eye. This lowers the pressurein the eye.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription, in thefollowing dosage form(s):

Ophthalmic
• Ophthalmic solution (eye drops) (U.S.)

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine,the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do.This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For latanoprost, the followingshould be considered:

Allergies?Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual orallergic reaction to latanoprost. Also tell your health care professionalif you are allergic to any other substances, such as benzalkonium chlorideor other preservatives.

Pregnancy?Latanoprost has not been studied in pregnant women.However, latanoprost has been shown to cause death of the fetus when givento pregnant rabbits in doses many times larger than the human dose. Beforeusing this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or ifyou may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding?It is not known whether latanoprost passes intothe breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts,many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are usingthis medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children?Studies on this medicine have been done only in adultpatients, and there is no specific information comparing use of latanoprostin children with use in other age groups.

Older adults?Many medicines have not been studied specificallyin older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactlythe same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific informationcomparing use of latanoprost in the elderly with use in other age groups,this medicine has been used mostly in elderly patients and is not expectedto cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does inyounger adults.

Other medicines?Although certain medicines should not be usedtogether at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used togethereven if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want tochange the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are usinglatanoprost, it is especially important that your health care professionalknow if you are taking any of the following:

• Thimerosal-containing ophthalmic medications?A precipitationoccurs (a solid settles out of the solution) when latanoprost is applied atthe same time as a thimerosal-containing ophthalmic medicine; you should waitat least 5 minutes between using these two types of eye drops

Other medical problems?The presence of other medicalproblems may affect the use of latanoprost. Make sure you tell your doctorif you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Eye disease, such as iritis or uveitis?Use of latanoprost maymake the condition worse

• Eye problems, such as loss of the lens of the eye or
• Intraocular lens (IOL) replacement?May be more prone to anadverse 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 This Medicine

Use this medicine only as directed. Do not use more of it and do notuse it more often than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chanceof 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, waitat least 5 minutes between the times you apply the medicines. This will helpto keep the second medicine from ?washing out? the first one.

It is important that your doctor check your eye pressureat regular visits to make certain that your glaucoma is being controlled.

Contact lenses should be removed before you use this medicine. You shouldwait 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 fingergently on the skin just beneath the lower eyelid, pull the lower eyelid awayfrom the eye to make a space. Drop the medicine into this space. Let go ofthe eyelid and gently close the eyes. Do not blink. Keep the eyes closed andapply pressure to the inner corner of the eye with your finger for 1 or 2minutes to allow the medicine to be absorbed by the eye.
• Immediately after using the eye drops, wash your hands to removeany 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 fordifferent patients. Follow your doctor's orders or thedirections on the label. The following information includes only theaverage dose of latanoprost. If your dose is different,do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

• For ophthalmic solution (eye drops) dosageform:
  • For glaucoma or hypertension of the eye:
    • Adults?Use one drop in the affected eye(s) once a day in theevening.
    • Children?Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed dose?If you miss a dose of this medicine, use it assoon as possible. However, if you do not remember the missed dose until thenext day, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.Do not double doses.

Storage?To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Before the bottle has been opened for the first time, store in therefrigerator. 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. However,keep the medicine from freezing.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be surethat any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

Precautions While Using This Medicine

While you are using latanoprost, the iris (colored part) of your treated eye(s) may slowly become more brown in color. This ismore likely to happen if you have blue-brown, gray-brown, green-brown, oryellow-brown eyes. The change in color of the iris is noticeable usually withinseveral 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 changesto 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 eyebeing treated with latanoprost. Therefore, if only one eye is being treated,only that eye may develop darker iris, eyelid, and eyelashes and other changesto the eyelashes, and you may have differently appearing eyes. Checkwith your doctor if you have any questions about this.

Latanoprost may cause your eyes to become more sensitive to light thanthey are normally. Wearing sunglasses and avoiding too much exposure to brightlight may help lessen the discomfort.

Side Effects of This Medicine

Along with its needed effects, a medicine maycause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur,if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctorimmediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

Eyelid crusting, redness, swelling, discomfort, or pain

Rare

Cough; difficulty breathing; noisy breathing; redness of eye or insideof 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 sideeffects occur:

More common

Blurred vision, eye irritation, or tearing; darkening of eyelid skin color; increase in browncolor in colored part of eye; longer, thicker, anddarker eyelashes

Less common

Angina pectoris or other chest pain; cold or flu symptoms; eye pain; pain in muscles, joints, or back; skin rash

Rare

Discharge from the eye; double visionor other change in vision; fever; sensitivity of eye to light; sore throat

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention.These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to themedicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effectscontinue or are bothersome:

More common

Burning of eye; feeling of somethingin eye; itching of eye; stinging of eye

Less common

Dryness of eye

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. Ifyou notice any other effects, check with your doctor.