Latanoprost: how to take it safely
Xalatan
Reviewed by Pharm. Abeeb Junior
What it is for
Lowers eye pressure in glaucoma and ocular hypertension.
How to take it
- Prescription medicine: take it exactly as your doctor or pharmacist told you.
- Wash your hands. Tilt your head back, pull down the lower eyelid and put one drop in the pocket it makes.
- Close your eye gently for 1 to 2 minutes and press the inner corner of the eye. This keeps the drop in the eye.
- Do not let the tip touch your eye or fingers.
- If you use more than one eye drop, wait 5 minutes between them.
When to take it
Use one drop in the affected eye(s) once a day, in the evening.
Take it with
Not applicable.
What to avoid
- Wearing soft contact lenses unless the label says it is safe. Take lenses out first and wait 15 minutes.
- Touching the dropper tip to anything.
- Using the bottle for more than 4 weeks after opening.
- Sharing the bottle.
- Stopping without advice. Glaucoma can slowly damage vision without any symptoms.
- Keeping the unopened bottle warm. Keep it in the fridge. Once opened, keep it below 25 C.
Possible side effects
Red eyes, stinging, darker eye colour or eyelid skin, longer and thicker eyelashes.
Get help if
Eye pain, redness that gets worse, swelling, a rash, or sudden change in vision: see a doctor straight away.
This is general information, not personal medical advice. Always follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions and read the leaflet that comes with your medicine. Medicines and doses can differ between products and people.