How does it work?

This medicine contains the active ingredient travoprost, which is a type of medicine called a prostaglandin analogue. It is used to lower pressure within the eyeball. The pressure within the eyeball is naturally maintained by a continuous flow of liquid called aqueous humour through the eyeball. Aqueous humour is produced by a part of the eye called the ciliary body, and it drains out of the eyeball through channels called the trabecular meshwork. If the outflow of aqueous humour is blocked, the aqueous humour builds up inside the eye, increasing the pressure within the eyeball. This pressure needs to be reduced, as otherwise it can damage the optic nerve and as a result impair vision. Travoprost reduces the pressure in the eye by mimicking the action of a naturally-occuring prostaglandin. Prostaglandins are a group of chemicals found in many places in the body. In the eye, they increase the drainage of the aqueous humour out of the eyeball. Travoprost is a synthetic prostaglandin and acts on the same receptors in the eye as the natural prostaglandins. It therefore causes an increase in the drainage of aqueous humour out of the eyeball, and this decreases the pressure within the eye. Travoprost is used to lower raised pressure in the eye, for example in glaucoma. It is used in people who cannot tolerate, or who are insufficiently responsive, to other pressure reducing medicines. The optimal pressure lowering effect is obtained if the drops are administered in the evening.

What is it used for?

Open angle glaucoma

Raised pressure in the eye (ocular hypertension)

Warning!

This medicine may be harmful to an unborn baby. Women of child-bearing age should use a reliable contraceptive method to prevent pregnancy while using this medicine.

This medicine may cause your vision to blur temporarily after you have applied it into your eye. Do not drive or operate machinery until this has worn off.

This medicine is not to be taken by mouth.

This medicine should discarded four weeks after opening. You may find it helpful to write the date of opening on the pack. Dispose of carefully.

This medicine is not recommended for children and adolescents under 18 years of age, as there is no information regarding its safety and efficacy in this age group.

If you are using more than one type of eye drop you should administer them at least five minutes apart, to prevent the second drop washing away the first. Use eye gels or ointments last.

These eye drops contain the preservative benzalkonium chloride, which can be absorbed by soft contact lenses. If you wear soft contact lenses, you should remove them before putting in these eye drops. You can put the contact lenses back in 15 minutes after using the drops.

It is recommended that you close the eyelid or press gently on the tear duct after putting the drop into the eye(s) to minimise the absorption of the medicine into the body. This decreases the risk of side effects on the rest of the body. Contact of the medicine with the skin should be avoided for the same reason.

This medicine can cause your eye colour to gradually change by increasing the amount of brown pigment in your iris. It predominately happens in people with green-brown, yellow-brown or blue/grey-brown eyes. If the drops are only used in one eye, this may cause your eyes to become different colours.

Use with caution in

Absence of the lens of the eye (aphakia)

Dry eyes

People with an artificial lens in the eye (pseudophakia)

Not to be used in

Known sensitivity or allergy to any ingredient

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

The safety of this medicine for use during pregnancy has not been established. It is not recommended for use in pregnancy unless considered essential by your doctor. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

This medicine may pass into breast milk. It is recommended to avoid the use of this medicine when breastfeeding. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Headache

Dislike of light (photophobia)

Low blood pressure (hypotension)

Inflammation of the lining of the eye, causing pain and redness (conjunctivitis)

Slow heart rate (bradycardia)

Itchiness of the eye

Inflammation of the eyelids (blepharitis)

Change in colour of the iris (the coloured part of the eye)

Darkening, thickening and lengthening of the eyelashes

Inflammation of the surface of the eye (keratitis)

Dry eyes

Red eye due to excess blood supply (hyperaemia)

Burning and stinging on instillation

Sensation of something in the eye

Pain in the eye

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

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