Vyzulta is a brand-name eye drop that’s prescribed for increased eye pressure related to certain conditions. Vyzulta contains the active ingredient latanoprostene bunod.
Vyzulta is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help reduce eye pressure. It’s used in adults and children ages 16 years and older who have ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma.
Drug details
You’ll find key information about Vyzulta below.
- Drug class: prostaglandin analog
- Drug form: solution given as an eye drop
- Generic available? no
- Prescription required? yes
- Controlled substance? no
- Year of FDA approval: 2017
Vyzulta is available only as a brand-name medication. It’s not currently available in generic form.
A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs.
The following information describes the Vyzulta dosage that is commonly used 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.
Drug form and strength
Vyzulta comes as a solution in a 2.5-milliliter (mL) and a 5-mL bottle. It’s given as an eye drop.
Vyzulta is available in one strength of 0.024%. There are 0.24 milligrams (mg) of the drug per mL of solution.
Dosage for increased eye pressure
Vyzulta is prescribed to treat increased eye pressure in adults with ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma.
The typical dosage for this purpose is one drop in the affected eye once per day, usually in the evening.
Children’s dosage
Vyzulta is approved for use in children ages 16 years and older. The recommended dosage for this age group is the same as for adults. For details, see “Dosage for increased eye pressure” right above.
How to use
Vyzulta comes in a multiuse bottle. You’ll use the tip of the bottle to dispense the drops into your eye.
It’s important to avoid touching the tip of the Vyzulta bottle to any surface or directly to your eye. This will help prevent contamination with bacteria that could lead to eye infections.
If your doctor prescribes Vyzulta with other eye drops, be sure to wait at least 5 minutes between using the two products.
If you wear contact lenses, remove them before using Vyzulta. After using Vyzulta, wait at least 15 minutes before putting your contact lenses back in.
To learn more about using Vyzulta, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also visit the drug manufacturer’s website.
About using Vyzulta
Below you’ll find information about key dosage issues.
- When to use: You’ll use Vyzulta once per day, usually in the evening.
- If you miss a dose: If you miss a dose of Vyzulta but remember on the same evening that it was due, take the missed dose. But if you realize the next day that you missed a dose, just skip it and take the next dose at your usual time. If you have questions about whether to take a missed dose or skip it, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
- Length of use: Vyzulta is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Vyzulta is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely use it long term.
- Length of time to work: Vyzulta starts working after your first dose. In clinical trials, Vyzulta was shown to be effective in reducing eye pressure over a 12-month period. Your eye doctor will give you eye pressure tests to determine how well Vyzulta is working for you.
Overdose
Do not use more Vyzulta than your doctor recommends. For some drugs, doing so may lead to unwanted side effects or overdose.
What to do in case you use too much Vyzulta
If you think you’ve used too much of this drug, call your doctor. You can also call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. However, if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency room right away.
Vyzulta can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur with Vyzulta use. These lists do not include all possible side effects.
For more information about the possible side effects of Vyzulta, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to manage any side effects that may be concerning or bothersome.
Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tracks side effects of drugs it has approved. If you would like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Vyzulta, you can do so through MedWatch.
Mild side effects
Below is a partial list of mild side effects of Vyzulta. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist or view Vyzulta’s prescribing information.
Mild side effects of Vyzulta can include:
- blurred vision
- eye irritation, pain, redness, or swelling
- a feeling as though something is in your eye
Most of these side effects may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. However, if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects from Vyzulta aren’t common, but they can occur. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency.
Serious side effects and their symptoms can include:
- keratitis (inflammation of your cornea), which may include symptoms such as:
- blurred vision
- eye pain
- eye redness
- macular edema (inflammation of your retina), which may include symptoms such as:
- changes in the way colors or shapes look
- worsened vision or loss of vision
- eyelash changes, which may include:
- an increased number of eyelashes
- longer or thicker eyelashes
- discolored eyelashes
- changes in the color of your eye or eyelid, which may include:
- discoloration of your iris (the area around your pupils)
- darkening of your eyelid skin
ALLERGIC REACTIONFor some people, Vyzulta can cause an allergic reaction. But this side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s clinical trials.
In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious.
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep using the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Vyzulta, your doctor may recommend a different medication instead.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Vyzulta to treat certain conditions.
Vyzulta for increased eye pressure
Vyzulta is FDA-approved to treat increased eye pressure in adults with ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma.
When you have ocular hypertension, the pressure in your eye is higher than usual. This can happen when fluid in your eye doesn’t drain as it should. Ocular hypertension may not cause any symptoms, but it can be detected with an eye pressure test. This condition may increase the risk of glaucoma.
When you have open-angle glaucoma, high pressure in your eye damages your optic nerve. This may lead to gradual vision loss. Open-angle glaucoma may not cause any other symptoms, but it can be detected with certain eye tests.
To learn more, visit our eye health hub.
Vyzulta and children
Vyzulta is approved to treat increased eye pressure in children ages 16 years and older with ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma. To learn more about these conditions, see “Vyzulta for increased eye pressure” above.
If you’d like to learn more about Vyzulta for children, talk with your child’s doctor.
Vyzulta is not known to interact with other medications, herbs, supplements, foods, or alcohol. The manufacturer did not list any interactions in the drug’s prescribing information.
However, this doesn’t mean that interactions won’t be recognized in the future. For example, new drugs could be approved that interact with Vyzulta.
Before starting Vyzulta treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you take. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
As with all medications, the cost of Vyzulta can vary. The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use.
Drug coupons: You can visit Optum Perks for price estimates of Vyzulta. These estimates are based on the use of Optum Perks coupons. (Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.)
Financial and insurance assistance: If you need financial support to pay for Vyzulta or need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available.
A savings offer called the Bausch & Lomb Access Program is available for Vyzulta. For more information and to find out whether you’re eligible for support, call 866-693-4880 or visit the program website.
To learn more about saving money on prescriptions, check out this article.
Generic version: Vyzulta is not available in a generic form. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.
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Other drugs are available that can treat increased eye pressure. Some may be a better fit for you than others. If you’re interested in finding an alternative to Vyzulta, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you.
The following drugs may be used to treat increased eye pressure:
If you can become pregnant, consider the following information about pregnancy, birth control, and breastfeeding.
Vyzulta and pregnancy
It’s not known whether Vyzulta should be used during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before using this medication.
Vyzulta and birth control
It’s not known whether Vyzulta is safe to use during pregnancy. If you’re sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your birth control needs while you’re using Vyzulta.
Vyzulta and breastfeeding
It’s not known whether Vyzulta should be used while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before using this medication.
This drug comes with several precautions.
Before using Vyzulta, discuss your health history with your doctor. Vyzulta may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:
- inflammation in your eye
- factors that increase the risk of macular edema (inflammation of your retina), such as not having a lens in your eye
- previous allergic reaction to this or a similar drug
- pregnancy
- breastfeeding
Note: For more information about the potential negative effects of Vyzulta, see the “Vyzulta side effects” section.
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.