What is the most important information I should know about bimatoprost topical ophthalmic?
Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.
What is bimatoprost topical ophthalmic?
Bimatoprost topical ophthalmic is a manmade form of a naturally occurring substance called a prostaglandin.
Bimatoprost topical ophthalmic is used to treat hypotrichosis (abnormal growth of the eyelashes). Bimatoprost helps increase the growth, length, thickness, and darkness of eyelashes.
Bimatoprost topical ophthalmic may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using bimatoprost topical ophthalmic?
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to bimatoprost.
To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- glaucoma or increased pressure inside your eyes;
- any swelling or infection in or around your eye;
- retinal detachment; or
- eye surgery or injury affecting the lens of your eye.
Bimatoprost may cause a gradual change in the color of your eyes or eyelids and lashes, usually an increase in brown pigment. You may also notice increased growth or thickness of your eyelashes. These changes occur slowly and you may not notice them for months or years. Color changes may be permanent even after your treatment ends, and may occur only in the eye being treated. This could result in a cosmetic difference in eye or eyelash color from one eye to the other.
It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
It is not known whether bimatoprost topical ophthalmic passes into breast milk or if it could affect the nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.
Do not give this medicine to a child without medical advice.
How should I use bimatoprost topical ophthalmic?
Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not use this medicine in larger amounts than recommended. Using more of this medicine will not make it more effective.
Use this medicine in the evening, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
Do not use this medicine while wearing contact lenses. Bimatoprost topical ophthalmic may contain a preservative that can discolor soft contact lenses. Wait at least 15 minutes after using this medicine before putting in your contact lenses.
Read all patient information, medication guides, and instruction sheets provided to you. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Wash and thoroughly dry your face before using this medicine. Remove all makeup.
Use only the disposable applicators provided with your medicine to apply it. Do not use the same applicator to treat both eyes. Throw away an applicator after one use.
Apply the medicine directly to the skin of your upper eyelid at the base of your eyelashes. Do not use on the lower eyelid.
Do not place this medicine directly into your eye. Do not touch the tip of the medicine dropper. A contaminated dropper can infect your eye, which could lead to serious vision problems.
It may take up to 2 months before your lash growth improves. The effects of this medicine are not permanent. Your eyelash growth will return to its pretreatment levels after you stop using bimatoprost topical ophthalmic.
Tell your doctor right away if you have an eye injury or eye infection, or if you plan to have eye surgery.
Store at cool room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Skip the missed dose and wait until the next night to apply the medicine. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
An overdose of bimatoprost topical ophthalmic is not expected to be dangerous. Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 if anyone has accidentally swallowed the medication.
What should I avoid while using bimatoprost topical ophthalmic?
Avoid getting this medicine on any skin areas outside the base of your eyelashes. Increased hair growth can occur on any skin surface that comes into contact with bimatoprost topical ophthalmic.
If this medicine gets directly in your eye, rinse with water.
What are the possible side effects of bimatoprost topical ophthalmic?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have:
- severe burning or itching of your eyes;
- eye swelling, redness, severe discomfort, crusting or drainage (may be signs of infection);
- vision problems, eye pain, seeing halos around lights;
- increased sensitivity to light; or
- feeling like something is in your eye.
Common side effects may include:
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect bimatoprost topical ophthalmic?
It is not likely that other drugs you take orally or inject will have an effect on topically applied bimatoprost. But many drugs can interact with each other. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about bimatoprost topical ophthalmic.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
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