The drug bimatoprost uk is well known in America under the brand name Latisse for the amazing effect it has on eyelashes. It grows them longer, fuller and darker. It has been studied for safety and efficacy and it has been approved by The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US. However, in the UK it is not licensed for this use and doctors can only prescribe it off label if they think it will help. It is often prescribed to treat high pressure in the eyes, known as glaucoma but it is also used by women who want thicker and longer lashes. This is because the active ingredient, Bimatoprost 0.3 mg/ml, can cause eyelash growth.
It works by mimicking the action of a natural body chemical called prostaglandin, which increases the drainage of aqueous humour out of the eyeball and decreases the pressure inside it. This makes it more difficult for fluid to build up and damage the cornea, which can occur if the pressure in the eye is too high.
Eye drops with the active ingredient of bimatoprost 0.03% are available in the UK under the brand name Lumigan. It is prescribed by doctors to treat glaucoma and has been shown to increase the thickness, length and darkness of the eyelashes. It is used on the upper lash line only and is applied once at night with the applicator brush supplied.
A small number of patients in the study reported AEs related to bimatoprost. Most of these were localized to the treatment area, mild in severity, reversible with treatment cessation and predictable based on the pharmacology of bimatoprost. The incidence of AEs was higher in the chemotherapy-induced hypotrichosis subpopulation than in the idiopathic hypotrichosis subpopulation. The most common AEs were conjunctival hyperaemia, punctate keratitis and eye pruritus.
One patient reported enophthalmos, which led to treatment discontinuation. Enophthalmos is a condition where the front part of the eyeball curves outward away from the centre of the pupil, making the pupils look larger than usual. This can lead to blurred vision and light sensitivity.
Occasionally, eye drops containing the active ingredient of bimatoprost can also cause the colour of the iris to change slightly, usually to brown. This happens more commonly in people with green-brown or yellow-brown eyes but can happen to anyone. It is not harmful and will return to normal once the drops have been stopped.
Like all medicines, bimatoprost can cause side effects. These are mostly minor but may be more serious in some cases. These can include a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).
It is important to use the correct dosage of eye drops as too many can be dangerous. It is also important to keep the eye drops in a cool place and not to touch them with dirty hands. If you experience any of the more serious side effects, stop using them and contact your doctor or nurse immediately. This includes if you have a sudden change in eye colour or any other sign of an allergic reaction. bimatoprost uk