Unoprostone

Unoprostone is a prescription medication used to treat increased eye pressure in patients with glaucoma or ocular (eye) hypertension. Unoprostone belongs to a group of drugs called prostaglandins, which help to decrease the amount of fluid build-up in the eye.

This medication comes in eye drop solution form and is taken by placing one drop in the affected eye twice daily.

Common side effects of unoprostone include burning or stinging upon use, dry eyes, itching, and increased length of eyelashes.

Unoprostone may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• Rescula

Use unoprostone as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• For the eye only.
• Wash your hands before and after use.
• Take out contact lenses before using this medicine. Lenses may be put back in 15 minutes after unoprostone is given. Do not put contacts back in if your eyes are irritated or infected.
• Do not touch the container tip to the eye, lid, or other skin.
• Tilt your head back and drop drug into the eye.
• After use, keep your eyes closed. Put pressure on the inside corner of the eye. Do this for 1 to 2 minutes. This keeps the drug in your eye.
• If more than 1 drug is being used in the same eye, use each drug at least 5 minutes apart.
• To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Use a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
• Do not use 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.

• Store at room temperature.
• Keep lid tightly closed.
• Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Check with your pharmacist about how to throw out unused drugs.

To lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension

Refer to adult dosing.

No dosage adjustment provided in manufacturer’s labeling.

>10%: Ophthalmic: Burning sensation of eyes (≤25%), stinging of eyes (≤25%), eye pruritus (10% to 25%), eye redness (10% to 25%), xerophthalmia (10% to 25%), increased eyelash length (10% to 14%; ≥1 mm at 12 months)

1% to 10%:

Cardiovascular: Hypertension

Central nervous system: Foreign body sensation of eye (5% to 10%), dizziness, headache, insomnia, pain

Endocrine & metabolic: Diabetes mellitus

Hypersensitivity: Hypersensitivity reaction

Neuromuscular & skeletal: Back pain

Ophthalmic: Abnormal lacrimation (5% to 10%), eyelid disease (5% to 10%), visual disturbance (5% to 10%), decreased eyelash length (7%), blepharitis, cataract, conjunctivitis, corneal lesion, eye discharge, eye irritation, eye pain, hemophthalmos, keratitis, photophobia, vitreous disorder

Respiratory: Flu-like symptoms (6%), bronchitis, cough, pharyngitis, rhinitis, sinusitis

Miscellaneous: Accidental injury

<1% (Limited to important or life-threatening): Blepharoptosis, color blindness, corneal deposits, corneal edema, corneal opacity, diplopia, hyperpigmentation of eyelids, increased growth in number of eyelashes, increased intraocular pressure (acute), iris hyperpigmentation, iritis, optic atrophy, retinal hemorrhage, visual field defect

Concerns related to adverse effects:

• Ocular pigmentation: May cause permanent change in eye color (increases the amount of brown pigment in the iris, may not be noticeable for months to years); long-term consequences and potential injury to eye are not known. May also cause pigment changes to periorbital tissues and eyelashes during use; reversible upon discontinuation in most patients.

• Infection: Bacterial keratitis, caused by inadvertent contamination of multiple-dose ophthalmic solutions, has been reported. Minimize contamination by not touching the eyelids or surrounding areas with the dropper tip; keep bottle tightly closed when not in use.

Disease-related concerns:

• Ocular disease: Use with caution in patients with intraocular inflammation (eg, uveitis); may exacerbate intraocular inflammatory conditions. May cause macular edema, including cystoid macular edema; use cautiously in aphakic patients, pseudophakic patients with torn posterior lens capsules, or in patients at risk for macular edema.

Special populations:

• Contact lens wearers: Contains benzalkonium chloride which may be adsorbed by contact lenses; remove contacts prior to administration and wait 15 minutes before reinserting.

Dosage form specific issues:

• Contains benzalkonium chloride 0.015% as a preservative.