Latanoprost

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION The recommended dosage is one drop in the affected eye(s) once daily in the evening. If one dose is missed, treatment should continue with the next dose as normal. The dosage of latanoprost ophthalmic solution should not exceed once daily; the combined use of two or more prostaglandins, or prostaglandin analogs including latanoprost ophthalmic solution is not recommended.

It has been shown that administration of these prostaglandin drug products more than once daily may decrease the IOP lowering effect or cause paradoxical elevations in IOP. Reduction of the IOP starts approximately 3 to 4 hours after administration and the maximum effect is reached after 8 to 12 hours.

Latanoprost ophthalmic solution may be used concomitantly with other topical ophthalmic drug products to lower IOP. In vitro studies have shown that precipitation occurs when eye drops containing thimerosal are mixed with latanoprost ophthalmic solution.

If more than one topical ophthalmic drug is being used, the drugs should be administered at least five (5) minutes apart. Contact lenses should be removed prior to the administration of latanoprost ophthalmic solution, and may be reinserted 15 minutes after administration.

One drop in the affected eye(s) once daily in the evening. (2)

4) ] Most common adverse reactions (5-15%) from clinical trials are blurred vision, burning and stinging, conjunctival hyperemia, foreign body sensation, itching, increased pigmentation of the iris, and punctate keratitis. gov/medwatch .

1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, the adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice.

Latanoprost ophthalmic solution was studied in three multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trials. Patients received 50 mcg/mL latanoprost ophthalmic solution once daily or 5 mg/mL active-comparator (timolol) twice daily. The patient population studied had a mean age of 65±10 years.

Seven percent of patients withdrew before the 6-month endpoint.

Table 1:

Ocular Adverse Reactions and Ocular Signs/Symptoms Reported by 5-15% of Patients Receiving Latanoprost Symptom/Finding Adverse Reactions (incidence (%)) Latanoprost (n=460) Timolol (n=369) Foreign body sensation 13 8 Punctate keratitis 10 9 Stinging 9 12 Conjunctival hyperemia 8 3 Blurred vision 8 8 Itching 8 8 Burning 7 8 Increased pigmentation of the Iris 7 0 Less than 1% of the patients treated with latanoprost ophthalmic solution required discontinuation of therapy because of intolerance to conjunctival hyperemia.

2 Postmarketing Experience The following reactions have been identified during postmarketing use of latanoprost ophthalmic solution in clinical practice. Because they are reported voluntarily from a population of unknown size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Pigmentation : Pigmentation of the iris, periorbital tissue (eyelid) and eyelashes can occur. Iris pigmentation likely to be permanent. 1) Eyelash Changes : Gradual change to eyelashes including increased length, thickness and number of lashes.

Usually reversible. 1 Pigmentation Latanoprost ophthalmic solution has been reported to cause changes to pigmented tissues. The most frequently reported changes have been increased pigmentation of the iris, periorbital tissue (eyelid), and eyelashes.

Pigmentation is expected to increase as long as latanoprost is administered. The pigmentation change is due to increased melanin content in the melanocytes rather than to an increase in the number of melanocytes. After discontinuation of latanoprost, pigmentation of the iris is likely to be permanent, while pigmentation of the periorbital tissue and eyelash changes have been reported to be reversible in some patients.

Patients who receive treatment should be informed of the possibility of increased pigmentation. 2) ] . Iris color change may not be noticeable for several months to years. Typically, the brown pigmentation around the pupil spreads concentrically towards the periphery of the iris and the entire iris or parts of the iris become more brownish.

Neither nevi nor freckles of the iris appear to be affected by treatment. While treatment with latanoprost ophthalmic solution can be continued in patients who develop noticeably increased iris pigmentation, these patients should be examined regularly.

2 Eyelash Changes Latanoprost ophthalmic solution may gradually change eyelashes and vellus hair in the treated eye; these changes include increased length, thickness, pigmentation, the number of lashes or hairs, and misdirected growth of eyelashes.

Eyelash changes are usually reversible upon discontinuation of treatment. 3 Intraocular Inflammation Latanoprost ophthalmic solution should be used with caution in patients with a history of intraocular inflammation (iritis/uveitis) and should generally not be used in patients with active intraocular inflammation because inflammation may be exacerbated.

4 CONTRAINDICATIONS Known hypersensitivity to latanoprost, benzalkonium chloride, or any other ingredients in this product. Known hypersensitivity to latanoprost, benzalkonium chloride, or any other ingredients in this product. (4)