It is a medicine that imitates the prostaglandins.
It is a liquid used as eyedrops for the treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension.
It helps to lower the pressure within the eye by increasing the natural outflow of fluid from inside the eye. XALATAN has been shown to work by itself to lower pressure in the eye.
One of the noted side effects is growth and pigmentation of eyebrow hairs. In studies, Xalatan has had a very profound effect at regrowing eyebrow hair that was lost.
A lot of persons are therefore using this medicine as powerful agent of hair regrowth.
It is a safe drug and could very well help to regrow hair but it is very expensive.
Latanoprost appears to have a low potential for causing adverse systemic effects when applied topically to the eye. Upper respiratory tract infection/cold/flu has occurred in 4% of patients receiving latanoprost ophthalmic solution in phase III clinical studies. Adverse systemic effects reported in 1—2% of patients receiving latanoprost in these studies include muscle/joint/back pain, chest pain/angina pectoris, or rash/allergic skin reactions. Toxic epidermal necrolysis, edema (peripheral and facial), dyspnea, asthma, exacerbation of asthma, tachycardia, myocardial infarction, cerebral vascular accident, and hypertension have occurred in patients receiving latanoprost. While IV administration of high-doses of latanoprost in monkeys (i.e., 50—150 times the usual human dose) has been associated with transient increases in airway resistance and blood pressure, latanoprost ophthalmic solution has been used in individuals with bronchial asthma without inducing bronchoconstriction. Laboratory analysis of blood and urine before and during latanoprost therapy have not revealed any substantial change in hematologic, urinary, or clinical chemistry values in patients receiving the drug. No evidence of carcinogenic potential was observed in mice or rats given latanoprost by oral gavage in dosages up to 170 µg/kg daily (approximately 2800 times the recommended maximum human dose) for 20 or 24 months, respectively. In vitro and in vivo studies evaluating unscheduled DNA synthesis in rats receiving latanoprost were negative.
Active Ingredients: each millilitre (mL) contains 50 micrograms of latanoprost.
Other Ingredients: benzalkonium chloride, sodium chloride, sodium dihydrogen phosphate monohydrate, disodium phosphate anhydrous, water for Injection.
Each bottle contains 2.5 mL of solution, approximately 80 drops.
Before using XALATAN you should tell your doctor if:
- You are allergic to any of the ingredients in XALATAN.
- You are using any other eye drops or taking any other medication
- You are pregnant, think you might be pregnant or you are planning a pregnancy.
- You are breast feeding.
One drop of XALATAN should be dropped into the affected eye(s) once daily. The best time to do this is in the evening.
XALATAN is not recommended for use in children.
In some patients, XALATAN may cause a gradual change in eye color by increasing the amount of brown pigment in the iris (the colored part of the eye). This change may not be noticeable for several months to years. This effect may be more noticeable in patients with eye colors that are mixtures of green and brown, blue/gray and brown, or yellow and brown. The brown pigment may gradually spread outward toward the outside edge of the iris. However, the entire iris or parts of it may become more brownish in appearance. This change may be more noticeable if you are only treating one eye. Your doctor will examine you regularly to make sure that your medication is working and look for changes in eye color. If you should experience any changes in eye color, your doctor can stop treatment. However, any color change that has already occurred may be permanent, even after the medication is stopped.
Be sure to tell your doctor (or pharmacist) if you notice any other unwanted side effects.
