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Latanoprost is a topical medicine used to curtail hypertension in the eye as well as glaucoma. The active pharmaceutical ingredients present in this medicine help reduce pressure in the intraocular region. By increasing production and flow of fluid from the eyes, it reduces the overall pressure inside. The company Pfizer sells Latanoprost under the trade name of Xalatan.
Common side effects associated with Latanoprost can include darkening of eyelashes, hyperemia or reddishness in the eye, blurring of vision, redness in the eyelid, heterochromia, which is when the iris darkens in color, eyelash thickness increase, burning sensations while using as well as herpes simplex keratitis, in rare cases.
Latanoprost is available as a neutral liquid without any color to a yellowish oily liquid. It is easily dissolved in acetonitrile and also in ethanol, acetone, isopropanol, octanol, methanol etc. It cannot be dissolved in water. You get the generic medicine called Xalatan in an aqueous, isotonic and sterile form containing pH levels of around 6.7.
The osmolality is around 267 mOsmol for every kilogram. The concentration of Latanoprost in this medicine is around 50 mg for every mL of Xalatan. In addition, around 0.02% Benzalkonium chloride is added for preservative function. Other substances in inert form are sodium dihydrogen phosphate monohydrate, sodium chloride, disodium hydrogen phosphate anhydrous as well as water for the purpose of injecting. Each drop of Xalatan contains 1.5 ug of Latanoprost.
Latanoprost is typically administered as one drop for both eyes. It is to be applied once in a day, best during evening times. If you miss one dose continue with subsequent doses. Ideally, dosage frequency should not be more than once in a day.
Otherwise, it can reduce intraocular pressure more than required. At times it can even cause increase in IOP. You can experience reduction in IOP within 3-4 hours after putting the Latanoprost drops. The optimal effects result after 8 or 12 hours.
Latanoprost is known to cause a reaction with drugs containing thimerosal. If these are administered a gap of minimum 5 minutes is needed before applying Latanoprost. Latanoprost is also known to cause more hypersensitivity when used with drugs like benzalkonium chloride etc.
Contact lens wearers should remove the lenses before applying Latanoprost and can wear the lens after at least 15 minutes. In addition, Latanoprost can cause risks to the unborn child. Hence, pregnant women should not apply Latanoprost unless their condition of the eyes absolutely necessitates it. Nursing mothers should exercise caution while using Latanoprost as there have been some reports that the active pharmaceutical ingredients can pass to the breast milk. This can then harm the baby.
Children may or may not be prescribed Latanoprost because no specific tests have been conducted to ascertain the harmful effects of the drug on children. If an intravenous dose of Latanoprost is administered some side effects may occur. These include feeling tired, sense of fatigue, pain in the abdomen, dizziness and feeling faint etc. Some people using Latanoprost intravenously also experience sweating, nausea and hot flushes.