Bimatoprost (ophthalmic)

Introduction

Written by Sarah Lewis, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Patricia Weiser, PharmD
Updated on August 18, 2023

Bimatoprost (bi MAT oh prost) is a generic medication prescribed for lowering pressure inside the eye and to help eyelashes grow. Bimatoprost belongs to a group of drugs called prostaglandin analogs.

These approved uses differ based on the form of bimatoprost your doctor prescribes.

This article doesn’t provide coupons for all forms of bimatoprost. To find coupons for bimatoprost topical solution, see this article.

Side effects of bimatoprost

Bimatoprost may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of bimatoprost and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age, overall health, and any other medications you take.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about bimatoprost’s side effects. You can also refer to the prescribing information for bimatoprost listed in the “Resources” section.

Mild side effects

More common mild side effects reported with some forms of bimatoprost are listed below. These side effects may differ based on the form of bimatoprost you use.

This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. To learn more about bimatoprost’s side effects based on the form, refer to the prescribing information for bimatoprost listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.

Bimatoprost eye drops’ mild side effects include:

• dry eyes
• eye itchiness or irritation
• eye redness
• increased length, number, or thickness of eyelashes
• mild allergic reaction*

Bimatoprost topical solution’s mild side effects include:

• dry eyes
• eye itchiness or irritation
• eye redness
• redness around the eye
• mild allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for bimatoprost” section.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects of bimatoprost are listed below. These side effects may differ based on the form of bimatoprost you use.

This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug. To learn more about bimatoprost’s side effects based on the form, refer to the prescribing information for bimatoprost listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.

In general, bimatoprost’s serious side effects include:

• bacterial eye infections
• contact lens discoloration
• darkening of the eyelid skin or colored part of the eye, which may be permanent
• hair growth around the eye
• intraocular inflammation (swelling of the middle layer of the eye)
• macular edema (fluid buildup in the part of the eye that processes what you see straight ahead)
• severe allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for bimatoprost” section.

Uses of bimatoprost

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as bimatoprost for certain conditions. Approved uses for bimatoprost are described below. These uses differ based on the form of bimatoprost drug prescribed.

Use for helping eyelashes grow

Doctors may prescribe bimatoprost topical solution for helping eyelashes grow in people with hypotrichosis of the eyelashes. It’s used for this purpose in adults and children 5–17 years old. It can be prescribed as a long-term or short-term treatment.

With hypotrichosis of the eyelashes, a person doesn’t have enough eyelashes. Eyelashes play an important role in protecting the eyes. They catch dust and other debris before it can get in the eyes. If you don’t have enough of them, it can cause eye problems.

Hypotrichosis of the eyelashes can happen after cancer chemotherapy. It can also occur with conditions such as alopecia areata (an autoimmune form of hair loss). Some people also choose to enhance their eyelashes for cosmetic reasons.

Use for lowering eye pressure

Doctors may prescribe bimatoprost eye drops for lowering pressure inside the eye. It’s used for this purpose in adults and children 16 years and older who have glaucoma or ocular hypertension (high pressure in the eye). It’s usually prescribed as a long-term treatment.

With glaucoma or ocular hypertension, the pressure inside the eye is too far above typical pressure. This can cause symptoms such as eye pain, headaches, and vision changes. Without treatment, high pressure in the eye can lead to nerve damage and vision loss.

Common questions about bimatoprost

Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about bimatoprost.

What brand names are available for bimatoprost?

Bimatoprost eye drops are available as the brand-name drug Lumigan. The topical solution is available as the brand-name drug Latisse.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) Generic drugs are believed to be as effective and safe as brand-name drugs. And generic drugs typically cost less than brand-name drugs.

To learn more about these two brand-name products, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Is it safe to use bimatoprost with timolol?

Yes, it’s safe to use bimatoprost with timolol if your doctor prescribes both kinds of eye drops. There isn’t a known interaction between them.

If you use these eye drops together, it’s important to space them apart by 5 minutes. Otherwise, one may wash out the other and stop it from working. If you use timolol gel-forming drops, apply it last. Otherwise, the order doesn’t matter.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about using these two eye drops together.

How does bimatoprost work? And how long does it take to start working?

Bimatoprost works to lower eye pressure by helping fluid flow out of the eye. The exact way it works to help eyelashes grow isn’t totally clear. It likely increases the time that the lashes spend growing and the number of eyelashes growing at any one time. This increases their thickness, darkness, and length.

Bimatoprost eye drops will start lowering eye pressure within 4 hours of using them. It can take up to 12 hours to see the maximum effect. (You probably won’t notice any difference in your eyes, but an eye doctor could measure the pressure to observe the drug’s effect.)

When using bimatoprost to help eyelashes grow, the effect is slower. You should expect it to take up to 2 months of treatment to see a noticeable difference in your eyelashes.

If you’d like to know more about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Interactions and warnings for bimatoprost

Below, you’ll find information about bimatoprost’s possible interactions and warnings.

Interactions of bimatoprost

Bimatoprost isn’t known to interact with any medications or supplements. (Interactions can affect how a drug works.) But this doesn’t mean drug interactions with bimatoprost won’t happen or be reported sometimes. For instance, medications created at a later time could interact with bimatoprost.

Because of this, you should ask your doctor and pharmacist about possible interactions with bimatoprost. They can check for any interactions that may affect you, such as those with:

• vaccines
• foods or alcohol
• other drugs

Warnings for bimatoprost

Some people should not use bimatoprost, and others should use it cautiously.

Bimatoprost could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether bimatoprost is a safe option for you. These warnings may differ based on the form of bimatoprost you use.

Ask your doctor about specific warnings for bimatoprost, and be sure to tell your doctor about your:

• current health, including any allergies to medications
• past health conditions or surgeries

Allergic reaction

Bimatoprost can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to bimatoprost or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe bimatoprost. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.

A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
• swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems

If you have an allergic reaction to bimatoprost, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Overdose of bimatoprost

If you use bimatoprost, you should not use more bimatoprost than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to harmful effects or overdose.

If you think you’ve used too much bimatoprost, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding and bimatoprost

Information about bimatoprost and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.

Bimatoprost and pregnancy

It’s not known whether bimatoprost should be used during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before using this medication.

Bimatoprost and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether bimatoprost should be used while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before using this medication.

What to ask your doctor

Let your doctor know whether you have questions about bimatoprost or would like more details about it.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• How should I use bimatoprost?
• Am I at a higher risk of side effects from bimatoprost than other people?
• What will happen if I stop using bimatoprost?
• What should I know about bimatoprost and contact lens use?

Resources

• Bimatoprost solution. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/2c997c76-fd01-479a-a005-dbdb375560a4/spl-doc
• Bimatoprost solution/drops. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/b2afe664-49b0-4d69-bc89-adddf50b58ba/spl-doc
• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.