Travatan Z (travoprost) is a brand-name drug prescribed to lower increased eye pressure in some adults. Travatan Z comes as an eye drop solution that’s typically applied once per day.
Travatan Z is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reduce eye pressure in adults with:
- ocular hypertension (high pressure in the eye)
- open-angle glaucoma
Travatan Z belongs to a drug class called prostaglandin analogs. Travatan Z is available in a generic version.
Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Travatan Z, including its strength and how to apply the eye drops. For a comprehensive look at Travatan Z, see this article.
Note: This article describes the typical dosage of Travatan Z provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Travatan Z, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.
Below is information about Travatan Z’s form, strength, and dosage.
Travatan Z form
Travatan Z comes as an eye drop solution.
Travatan Z strength
Travatan Z comes in one strength of 0.004%, which is 0.04 milligrams (mg) of travoprost per milliliter (mL) of solution (0.04 mg/mL).
Typical dosage
The following information describes the dosage that’s commonly prescribed or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
Dosage for increased eye pressure
Doctors may prescribe Travatan Z to treat increased eye pressure in people with ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma.
If your doctor prescribes Travatan Z for increased eye pressure, your starting dose will likely be one drop in each affected eye. Typically, you’ll apply this once per day in the evening.
This is the typically recommended dosage of Travatan Z for people with increased eye pressure. This is also the maximum dose of Travatan Z that’s recommended.
For more information about your specific dosage, talk with your doctor.
How to use Travatan Z
Travatan Z comes as a solution in a bottle with a dropper tip. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before handling the bottle.
To apply, turn the bottle upside down to dispense a single drop of solution in each affected eye. Be sure not to touch the bottle tip to your eye or any other surface. Doing so can contaminate the solution and lead to an eye infection. This may cause serious side effects, including vision loss.
If you wear contact lenses, take them out before placing Travatan Z drops in your eye. Leave your contacts out for at least 15 minutes after applying Travatan Z. You can put your contact lenses back in 15 minutes after using the eye drops.
If you use other eye drops with Travatan Z, you will need to wait at least 5 minutes between placing each type of drop in your eye. Applying eye drops too close together may cause one drop to wash the other drop out of your eye. If this happens, the other drop may not work as well to treat your condition.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about how to use Travatan Z. You can also read this article about using eye drops.
Long-term treatment
Travatan Z is meant to be a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Travatan Z is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely use it long term.
Before you start taking Travatan Z, your doctor will discuss your treatment plan with you.
Below are some frequently asked questions about Travatan Z.
What is the difference between Travatan vs. Travatan Z?
Travatan is a formulation of the drug that Travatan Z’s manufacturer had previously made. Travatan is no longer available.
Travatan had the same active ingredient (travoprost) as Travatan Z. However, Travatan also contained a preservative called benzalkonium chloride. This preservative caused side effects, such as eye redness and itchiness.
Travatan Z contains a different preservative, called SofZia. This preservative is less likely to cause side effects.
If you’d like more information about Travatan versus Travatan Z, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Why is Travatan Z typically applied at night?
The pressure inside your eyes rises overnight into the morning,
Travatan Z continues working to help maintain low pressure throughout the day.
To learn more, talk with your doctor or pharmacist or refer to the “How it works” section of this article.
It’s important that you do not use more Travatan Z than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, using more than the recommended amount may lead to harmful effects or overdose.
If you use more than the recommended amount of Travatan Z
Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve used too much Travatan Z. Another option is to call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.