tafluprost
Zioptan (tafluprost) helps lower pressure in the eye and treats glaucoma. Like the other eye drops in the same medication class, it can cause changes to your eyelashes and eye color. It comes in convenient single-use containers, but it is only available as a brand medication, so it can be expensive.
What is Zioptan (tafluprost)?
What is Zioptan (tafluprost) used for?
- High pressure in the eye caused by open-angle glaucoma (the most common type of glaucoma) or ocular hypertension (high pressure inside the eye)
How Zioptan (tafluprost) works
Zioptan (tafluprost) is a prostaglandin eye drop. It helps fluid drain from inside the eye. When there is less fluid inside the eye, the eye pressure goes down.
Drug facts
Side effects of Zioptan (tafluprost)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Eye redness (4-20%)
- Eye stinging or irritation (7%)
- Headache (6%)
- Eye itching or redness due to allergy (5%)
- Common cold (4%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Cataract (cloudy lens of the eye)
- Dry eye
- Eye pain
- Blurry vision
- Eye inflammation
- Darker eyelashes
- Thicker eyelashes
- Darker eyelid or eye color (iris)
- Cough
- Asthma attack or shortness of breath
- Urinary tract infection
Zioptan (tafluprost) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Allergic reactions
- Eye swelling or change in vision
The following Zioptan (tafluprost) side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Headache
stinging or irritation of the eye
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Pros and cons of Zioptan (tafluprost)
Pros
- Good at treating high eye pressure
- Only used once a day and comes in single-use containers
- Is preservative-free, which may be less irritating to the eye
Cons
- Can permanently change the color of your eyes
- Doses inside a foil pouch must be used within 30 days after the pouch is opened.
- Only available as a brand medication, so it can be more expensive than alternatives
Pharmacist tips for Zioptan (tafluprost)
- Make sure to keep track of when you open a foil pouch (there's a spot for you to write it on the pouch), since the doses inside are only good for 30 days afterwards. Only take out one dose at a time, and keep unused containers inside the opened foil pouch at room temperature. Store unused pouches of Zioptan (tafluprost) in the refrigerator in an area where it won't get wet or spilled on.
- Each container of Zioptan (tafluprost) is single-use only with enough medication for at least 2 drops (1 drop per eye, if both eyes are affected). After taking your dose, throw away the container, even if there's leftover medication inside. Unlike some bottled eye drop medications, Zioptan (tafluprost) doesn't contain preservatives, which makes it more likely to become contaminated with germs and cause infections if you re-use the container at a later time.
- Wash your hands before putting Zioptan (tafluprost) drops in your eyes. Don't touch the dropper tip with your eye, hands, or any other surface. This will help you avoid eye infections by preventing the spread of germs and bacteria to the solution.
- After placing a drop in the eye, close your eye and press one finger to the inner corner of your eye by the nose for 1 minute. This helps make sure your eye absorbs the drop.
- If you are using Zioptan (tafluprost) at the same time as other eye medications, wait 5 minutes between each drop to give your eyes time to absorb each medication.
- It's not easy to tell if your eye pressure is improving at home. Make sure to use this medication as prescribed, even if you don't notice any difference in your symptoms or vision right away.
- Don't take more Zioptan (tafluprost) than prescribed. Taking this medication more than once daily can actually make it not work as well.
- The makers of Zioptan (tafluprost) don't require that you remove your contact lenses before using this medication, but it is a good habit to avoid possible damage. If you remove your contacts, make sure to wait 15 minutes after using the eye drops to put them back in.
Common questions about Zioptan (tafluprost)
Zioptan (tafluprost) must be refrigerated until the foil pouch is ready to be opened. The original carton or package can be out of the refrigerator for no more than 2 days. If you get the medication by mail-order and it takes over 2 days to arrive, check with the pharmacy about whether it is still good to use. After opening the pouch, you can keep it at room temperature, and the doses inside are good for 30 days.
Zioptan (tafluprost) is preservative-free. This is helpful, since it can be given to people who have allergies to preservatives like benzalkonium chloride, and it is less likely to cause damage to contact lenses.
Currently, there is no generic form of Zioptan (tafluprost). Some other alternatives, such as latanoprost (Xalatan) and bimatoprost (Lumigan), are available as generic medications.
Zioptan (tafluprost) takes about 2 to 4 hours to kick in and 12 hours to reach maximum effect. Your eye pressure is best controlled if you use this medication once a day in the evening consistently (without missing a dose). Your provider will re-check your eye pressure after you have been using Zioptan (tafluprost) for several weeks to make sure it is working properly for you.
Zioptan (tafluprost) can make you grow more eyelashes or cause your current eyelashes to become longer and thicker. This is a known side effect of all prostaglandin eye drops, including latanoprost (Xalatan) and bimatoprost (Lumigan). The eyelash effects usually go away after you stop using Zioptan (tafluprost).
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Risks and warnings for Zioptan (tafluprost)
Zioptan (tafluprost) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
DARKER EYES, EYELIDS, OR EYELASHES
- Risk factors: Long-term use of Zioptan (tafluprost)
Prostaglandin eye drops like Zioptan (tafluprost) can darken the color of your eyes, eyelids, and eyelashes. The darker brown color of the eye is usually more noticeable after a few months or years of using Zioptan (tafluprost) and can be permanent. These side effects are not known to be harmful, but it's best to check in with your provider regularly so they can make sure your eyes stay healthy.
THICKER EYELASHES
Zioptan (tafluprost) can make your eyelashes grow longer and thicker. These changes usually go away after you stop using Zioptan (tafluprost).
EYE INFLAMMATION AND SWELLING
- Risk factors: Eye inflammation, such as with iritis or uveitis | Missing or injured eye lens
Prostaglandins like Zioptan (tafluprost) can cause or worsen eye inflammation. Zioptan (tafluprost) can also cause swelling of the macula (macular edema), a part of the eye that's important for clear vision. Both of these problems are more likely to happen if you already have eye inflammation or if the lens of your eye is damaged or missing. Talk to your provider right away if you notice eye discomfort or changes in your vision while using Zioptan (tafluprost).
Zioptan (tafluprost) dosage
Carton| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 single-use containers of 0.0015% | 1 carton | $61.44 | $61.44 |
Typical dosage for Zioptan (tafluprost)
The typical dose is 1 drop in the affected eye(s) once daily in the evening.
Interactions between Zioptan (tafluprost) and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
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