Lumigan

Lumigan is a prescription medication used to treat high eye blood pressure present in glaucoma and a condition called ocular hypertension, which can lead to glaucoma if not treated.

Lumigan belongs to a group of drugs called prostaglandins. It is thought to work by increasing the amount of fluid that flows out of the eye in order to lower the pressure. The exact way that Lumigan works is not yet completely understood.

This medication comes in eye drop form and is typically administered once daily in the evening. 

Common side effects of Lumigan include itching and dryness of the eye, increased eyelash growth, and eye redness.

Lumigan can also cause blurred vision. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Lumigan affects you.

Lumigan is a prescription medication used to treat elevated eye blood pressure present in both glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

• Allergan, Inc.

Serious side effects have been reported with Lumigan. See the “Lumigan Precautions” section.

Common side effects of Lumigan include the following:

• itchy eyes
• dry eyes
• burning or stinging eyes
• eye redness
• headaches

This is not a complete list of Lumigan side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all of the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• any other eye drop medications
• latanoprost (Xalatan)
• tafluprost (Zioptan)

This is not a complete list of Lumigan drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with Lumigan including the following:

Lumigan may turn the iris (the colored part of the eye) brown and this change in color may be permanent. Lumigan may also temporarily darken the eyelid skin and cause eyelashes to grow longer, thicker, and darker in color. These changes may be reversible after treatment is stopped. Tell your doctor if you experience these changes. 

Eye inflammation. Tell your physician if you have any inflammatory eye conditions as Lumigan can sometimes cause or exacerbate existing eye inflammation.

Macular edema (swelling of eye) has occurred in some people who took Lumigan. Tell your doctor if you experience vision changes.

Bacterial keratitis (a serious infection of the cornea that can quickly lead to blindness) can occur in people who use eyedrop medications. Eye infections are often caused by accidental contamination of the eye drop bottle by users, particularly in people who have active corneal disease. To prevent contamination, never touch the tip of the bottle with your eye, hands, or any other surfaces.

Lumigan can also cause blurred vision. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Lumigan affects you.

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Lumigan there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when using Lumigan.

Before taking Lumigan, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to Lumigan or any other medications
• have inflammation of the eye (uveitis or iritis)
• have a torn or missing lens
• wear contact lenses
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed

Tell your doctor about all of the medications you take including prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

This medication falls into category C. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. No well-controlled studies have been done in humans. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if Lumigan crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using Lumigan.

Use Lumigan exactly as prescribed. 

Lumigan comes in eyedrop form and is typically instilled in the affected eye(s) once per day in the evening.

If more than one eyedrop medication is being used, different eyedrop medications should be administered at least five minutes apart.

If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Lumigan at the same time.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• your weight
• your height
• your age

The recommended dose of Lumigan for the treatment of elevated eye blood pressure in glaucoma and ocular hypertension is one drop in the affected eye(s) once daily in the evening.

If you administer too much Lumigan call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

• Store Lumigan eye drops at room temperature or between 2° to 25°C (36° to 77°F).
• Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.