Xelpros, Xalatan, Iyuzeh

Introduction

Written by Alex Brewer, PharmD, MBA
Medically reviewed by Victor Nguyen, PharmD, MBA
Updated on July 31, 2023

Latanoprost (la TA noe prost) is a generic medication prescribed for lowering pressure in the eye. Latanoprost belongs to a group of drugs called prostaglandin analogs.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved latanoprost to lower pressure in the eye in adults with either of the following conditions:

• open-angle glaucoma
• ocular hypertension

Side effects of latanoprost

Latanoprost may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of latanoprost 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.

To learn more about latanoprost’s side effects, see this article or ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to the prescribing information for latanoprost listed in the “Resources” section.

Mild side effects

More common mild side effects reported with latanoprost are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. To learn more about latanoprost’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for latanoprost 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.

Latanoprost eye drops’ mild side effects include:

• blurry vision
• itchiness, burning, or stinging in your eye
• darkened or discolored skin on your eyelid
• feeling as if something is in your eye
• mild allergic reaction*

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

Serious side effects

Serious side effects of latanoprost are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug. To learn more about latanoprost’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for latanoprost 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, latanoprost’s serious side effects include:

• changes to the color of your eyes
• eyelash changes, including increased thickness and color changes
• pain, redness, or swelling in your eye
• eye sensitivity to light
• severe allergic reaction*

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

Common questions about latanoprost

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

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

Latanoprost is prescribed to lower high pressure in the eye caused by certain conditions. It’s believed that latanoprost’s mechanism of action (how a drug works) is to increase the flow of fluid out from your eye. By improving fluid drainage, latanoprost reduces pressure inside your eye.

It takes about 3–4 hours for latanoprost to start lowering pressure in your eye after you apply the drops. The drug will not take full effect until 8–12 hours after you’ve applied the eye drops.

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

Do I need to use latanoprost at night?

Yes, it’s recommended that you apply latanoprost eye drops in the evening or at night.

Latanoprost is prescribed to lower high pressure in the eye caused by certain conditions. The pressure in your eye is typically highest at night. Applying your latanoprost dose at night helps keep the pressure low when it tends to be at its highest.

That said, always follow the dosing instructions given by your doctor. Talk with them or with your pharmacist if you have questions about when to use latanoprost eye drops.

Can latanoprost cause long-term side effects?

Yes, in some cases latanoprost may cause long-term side effects. These can occur if you use the drug for a long time. And in some cases, they may last for a while after you’ve stopped using the drug.

Examples of long-term side effects include:

• eyelash changes, including increased thickness and color changes
• eye color changes
• eye sensitivity to light

Talk with your doctor to learn more about these side effects and how to best manage them. Ask your doctor for more information about how long these side effects of latanoprost may last.

Uses of latanoprost

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as latanoprost for certain conditions. Approved uses for latanoprost are described below.

Use for lowering pressure within the eye

Doctors may prescribe latanoprost eye drops for lowering high pressure in the eye caused by either of the following conditions:

• open-angle glaucoma
• ocular hypertension

It’s used for this purpose in adults. It’s usually prescribed as a long-term treatment.

Our eyes contain fluid, and pressure can build up in your eye when this fluid doesn’t drain properly. With both open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension, eye fluid is prevented from draining properly. This causes pressure in your eye to build up. Over time, high pressure in your eye can damage your optic nerve and cause vision loss.

High eye pressure often doesn’t cause symptoms until it becomes severe. It’s usually detected when your eye doctor performs an eye exam. But without treatment, you may notice:

• worsening vision, especially peripheral vision loss
• moderately dilated pupils that don’t respond to changes in light
• redness affecting the white of your eye

Interactions and warnings for latanoprost

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

Interactions of latanoprost

Latanoprost 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 latanoprost won’t happen or be reported sometime. For instance, medications created at a later time could interact with latanoprost.

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

• vaccines
• foods or alcohol
• other drugs

Warnings for latanoprost

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

Latanoprost could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether latanoprost is a safe option for you.

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

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

Allergic reaction

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

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to latanoprost or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe latanoprost. 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 latanoprost, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Overdose of latanoprost

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

If you think you’ve used too much latanoprost, 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 latanoprost

Information about latanoprost and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.

Latanoprost and pregnancy

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

Latanoprost and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether latanoprost 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 latanoprost or would like more details about it.

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

• How does latanoprost compare with other treatments for lowering eye pressure?
• How can I lower my risk of eye infections while using latanoprost?
• Is it safe for me to use latanoprost if I wear contact lenses?
• Are latanoprost eye drops safe to use with other eye drops?

Resources

• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
• Latanoprost — latanoprost solution/drops. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/19cdfef0-b770-4758-8f59-1769e4b6119c/spl-doc

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.