Skip to main content
HomeDrug Comparisons
Drug bottle and Pill

Compare Xalatan vs. Combigan

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.

Key takeaways

Latanoprost (Xalatan) and Combigan (brimonidine/timolol) are both used to lower eye pressure in conditions like glaucoma and ocular hypertension, but they work differently and have distinct characteristics. Latanoprost is a prostaglandin that helps fluid drain from the eye, and it's typically used once daily in the evening. Combigan, on the other hand, is a combination of an alpha agonist (brimonidine) and a beta blocker (timolol), which both reduce fluid production and help fluid flow out of the eye, and it is used twice a day. Latanoprost can cause changes in eye color and eyelash growth, while Combigan can affect your blood pressure and is not suitable for people with certain heart or lung conditions. Latanoprost is available in a generic form, making it more affordable, whereas Combigan is only available as a brand medication, which can be more expensive. Both medications require careful handling to avoid contamination and should not be used with contact lenses in place.

  • Latanoprost (Xalatan)
    Combigan (brimonidine / timolol)
  • Latanoprost (Xalatan)
    Combigan (brimonidine / timolol)

  • Summary of Xalatan vs. Combigan

    Summary for Prostaglandin
    Prescription only

    Latanoprost (Xalatan) is an eye drop medication. It's used in adults to treat conditions related to high pressure in the eye, such as glaucoma. It works as a prostaglandin to help with high eye pressure. The typical dosage is 1 drop in the affected eye(s) once each night. Side effects include feeling like there's something in the eye, burning, and stinging. Unopened bottles need to be refrigerated. But once opened, you keep the medication at room temperature. Latanoprost (Xalatan) is available as a brand-name and generic medication.

    Summary for Alpha agonist / Beta blocker
    Prescription only

    Combigan is a combination eye drop containing brimonidine (an alpha agonist) and timolol (a beta blocker). It's used to lower high pressure inside the eye in adults with conditions like glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Typically, you apply one drop to the affected eye(s) twice daily, about 12 hours apart. Common side effects include eye redness, itching, or dryness. Combigan (brimonidine / timolol) is available as both a brand-name and generic medication.

  • Indications of Xalatan vs. Combigan

    Indications for
    •Lowering pressure in the eye in people with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension (high pressure in the eye)
    Indications for

    Treatment of high pressure in the eye in people ages 2 years and older with:

    •Ocular hypertension
    •Open-angle glaucoma

  • Pros and Cons of Xalatan vs. Combigan

    Pros and Const for Prostaglandin
    Pros
    •A first-choice option for lowering the pressure in the eye
    •Only used once a day
    Cons
    •Can permanently change the color of your eye
    •Need to take out any soft contact lenses before using
    Pros and Const for Alpha agonist / Beta blocker
    Pros
    •Convenient to have a single eye drop that combines two different medications
    •Can be stored at room temperature
    •Possible option for children older than 2 years old
    Cons
    •Used twice a day
    •Can cause tiredness or drowsiness in some people
    •Not for people with asthma, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or certain heart-related problems

  • Common Side Effects of Xalatan vs. Combigan

    Common Side Effects for
    •Feeling like there's something inside the eye (13%)
    •Stinging (9%)
    •Eye redness (8%)
    •Blurry vision (8%)
    •Itchy eye (8%)
    •Burning (7%)
    •Changes in eye color (7%)
    Common Side Effects for

    Reported in up to 15% of people in clinical studies:

    •Eye redness
    •Eye itching
    •Eye burning or stinging

  • Warnings of Xalatan vs. Combigan

    Common Side Effects for
    •Darker eyes or eyelids
    •Eyelash changes
    •Eye inflammation
    •Swelling of the retina (macular edema)
    •Caution use in people with a history of a herpes eye infection
    •Risk of bacterial eye infection when using contaminated medication
    •Don't use while wearing soft contact lenses
    Common Side Effects for
    •Only use in the eye
    •Allergic reaction of the eye
    •Interaction with inhaled beta agonists for asthma or COPD
    •Worsening heart problems
    •Worsening of other medical conditions
    •Masked symptoms of low blood sugar in people with diabetes
    •Masked symptoms of high thyroid hormone levels (hyperthyroidism)

  • Prices with our coupons for Xalatan vs. Combigan

    Learn more about Latanoprost
    Learn more about Combigan

Compare other Glaucoma and Eye Pressure drugs

Trusopt vs XalatanXalatan vs BetopticXalatan vs BrimonidineXalatan vs CombiganXalatan vs PilocarpineXalatan vs TimololXalatan vs TravatanXalatan vs ZioptanBetimol vs TimololIstalol vs TimololNeptazene vs TrusoptPilocarpine vs CombiganSimbrinza vs PilocarpineSimbrinza vs TrusoptTimolol vs BetopticTimolol vs CombiganTravatan vs BetopticTravatan vs BrimonidineTravatan vs CombiganTrusopt vs AzoptTrusopt vs Dorzolamide TimololTrusopt vs KeppraTrusopt vs LasixTrusopt vs LumiganTrusopt vs TimololTrusopt vs TravatanZioptan vs BetopticZioptan vs BrimonidineZioptan vs CombiganZioptan vs Pilocarpine
View More

Browse medications

View All

Research prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.