Latisse Side Effects

Latisse Side Effects: Latisse is a prescription only a drug previously used to treat glaucoma called bimatoprost, and is available in the 0.03% solution. It’s to be applied only to the upper eyelid margin and to use a sterile disposable applicator for each eye. This is because one of the potential Latisse side effects could be inoculation of infection from one eye to the other if the applicator were used for both eyes. Interestingly much like other peer growth branded products including Rogaine and Propecia, Latisse came to market after discovery that the active ingredient when used as a glaucoma eye drop sometimes lead to longer and thicker eyelashes in patients under treatment. This led to an investigation of bimatoprost for eyelash growth and to Latisse being brought to market for an indication called eyelash hypotrichosis.

Common Latisse Effects: Fortunately common Latisse side effects are few. In the product insert only eye itching, enlargement of the conjunctival capillaries called conjunctival hyperemia, eye irritation, eyelid reddening, and darkening or discoloration of the skin around the eye especially on the eyelids. Unfortunately this discoloration often notice a plum colored purpleish colored skin change may not be reversible.

Serious Latisse Side Effects: two potentially serious Latisse side effects are mentioned in the product insert. Macular edema, a condition where the part of the retina called the macula where the highest acuity vision is located becomes swollen leading to diminished or lost vision can occur with Latisse used for eyelash growth. A more serious and annoying type of skin abnormality of the eyelashes called punctate epithelial keratitis can also occur with Latisse use.

Contraindications Cautions and Drug Interactions: Latisse is not approved for pediatric use Latisse is contraindicated in patients with risk for macular edema, with any type of eye inflammation, with patients who are sensitive to either benyalkonium chloride, a preservative the product, to the active ingredient in Latisse itself. Latisse is also not for use in patients with artificial lenses after cataract surgery. The use of Latisse should either be avoided or requires careful monitoring in patients on other prostaglandin active eye products.

Pregnancy and lactation: Interestingly Latisse is pregnancy category C, meaning animal studies have shown the potential for adverse effects. The safety of Latisse in breast-feeding women is unknown.

Latisse Pharmacology: Little is known about the systemic pharmacology of Latisse and it seems reasonable to assume that serum concentrations are low enough that except in pregnancy or lactation and other unusual circumstances that system metabolism is likely be a problem.

Latisse is widely available through Internet sites most of which don’t involve the FDA recommended direct physician supervision. Readers would be advised to carefully consider the potentially serious Latisse side effects before embarking on a self monitored use of Latisse for growing longer and thicker eyelashes.