Bimatoprost: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Bimatoprost is a prostaglandin analog sold in the U.S. under 3 brand and generic names, for open-angle glaucoma. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Drug class
- Prostaglandin Analog
- Treats (across its forms)
- Open-Angle Glaucoma
- Available as
- Implant · Drops
- Sold as
- 3 products — Durysta, Latisse and Lumigan
- Prescription?
- Prescription only
- Generic available?
- Not in our catalog
- What the pharmacy pays
- about $8 per ml — not your price
How Durysta is dosed
From the FDA label for Durysta (application NDA211911). Other bimatoprost products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
For ophthalmic intracameral administration. ( 2.1 ) The intracameral administration should be carried out under standard aseptic conditions. ( 2.2 ) Figure 1 Figure 2 2. 1 General Information DURYSTA is an ophthalmic drug delivery system for a single intracameral administration of a biodegradable implant. DURYSTA should not be readministered to an eye that received a prior DURYSTA. 2.2 Administration The intracameral injection procedure must be performed under magnification that allows clear visualization of the anterior chamber structures and should be carried out using standard aseptic conditions for intracameral procedures, with the patient’s head in a stabilized position. The eye should not be dilated prior to the procedure. Remove the foil pouch from the carton and examine for damage. Then, open the foil pouch over a sterile field and gently drop the applicator on a sterile tray. Once the foil pouch is opened, use the applicator promptly. Figure 1 Perform a detailed visual inspection of the applicator, including ensuring that the actuator button has not been depressed, and the safety tab is in place. Carefully remove the plastic safety cap taking care to avoid contacting the needle tip. Inspect the needle tip for damage under magnification prior to use; the implant retention plug may be visible in the bevel and should not be removed. Prior to use, remove the safety tab by…
Everything below is the FDA label for Durysta (implant). Bimatoprost is also sold as drops, and those are different medicines to take — follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Durysta side effects
The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in labeling: Implant migration [see Contraindications ( 4.4 )] Hypersensitivity [ see Contraindications ( 4.5 ) ] Corneal adverse reactions [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 ) ] Macular edema [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 ) ] Intraocular inflammation [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 ) ] Pigmentation [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 ) ] Endophthalmitis [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 ) ] In controlled studies, the most common ocular adverse reaction reported by 27% of patients was conjunctival hyperemia. Other common adverse reactions reported in 5-10% of patients were foreign body sensation, eye pain, photophobia, conjunctival hemorrhage, dry eye, eye irritation, intraocular pressure increased, corneal endothelial cell loss, vision blurred, iritis, and headache. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact AbbVie at 1-800-678-1605 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. The most common ocular adverse reaction observed in two randomized, active-controlled clinical…
Who shouldn’t take Durysta
Ocular or periocular infections ( 4.1 ) Corneal endothelial cell dystrophy ( 4.2 ) Prior corneal transplantation ( 4.3 ) Absent or ruptured posterior lens capsule ( 4.4 ) Hypersensitivity ( 4.5 ) 4.1 Ocular or Periocular Infections DURYSTA is contraindicated in patients with active or suspected ocular or periocular infections. 4.2 Corneal Endothelial Cell Dystrophy DURYSTA is contraindicated in patients with corneal endothelial cell dystrophy (e.g., Fuchs’ Dystrophy) [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 ) ] . 4.3 Prior Corneal Transplantation DURYSTA is contraindicated in patients with prior corneal transplantation, or endothelial cell transplants [e.g., Descemet’s Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK)]. 4.4 Absent or Ruptured Posterior Lens Capsule DURYSTA is contraindicated in patients whose posterior lens capsule is absent or ruptured, due to the risk of implant migration into the posterior segment. Laser posterior capsulotomy in pseudophakic patients is not a contraindication for DURYSTA use if the intraocular lens fully covers the opening in the posterior capsule. 4.5 Hypersensitivity DURYSTA is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to bimatoprost or to any other components of the product [ see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 ) ] .
Every bimatoprost product we track (3)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 72/100 | Prescription | Implant | Generic | $8 | View → | |
| 2 | 72/100 | Prescription | Drops | Generic | $8 | View → | |
| 3 | 70/100 | Prescription | Drops | Generic | $8 | View → |
Bimatoprost recalls
From the FDA Enforcement database. A recall covers specific lots — not the drug as a whole.
How long bimatoprost keeps
The date on a sealed pack is not the only one: some bimatoprost labels start a second clock once the product is opened or mixed, as short as 14 days.
Does bimatoprost expire? The in-use limits and storage rules from its labelsBimatoprost and breastfeeding
From LactMed, the US National Library of Medicine’s Drugs and Lactation Database — quoted, not rewritten.
Full LactMed record for bimatoprost: levels in milk, effects in breastfed infants, and the drugs it would consider insteadNo information is available on the use of bimatoprost during breastfeeding. Because of its short half-life it is not likely to reach the bloodstream of the infant or cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants. To substantially diminish the amount of drug that reaches the breastmilk after using eye drops, place pressure over the tear duct by the corner of the eye for 1 minute or more, then remove the excess solution with an absorbent tissue. With the implant, plasma levels are usually undetectable, so the amount in milk is likely to be negligible.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, record revised December 15, 2024. LactMed states its information is not a substitute for professional judgement.
What people report to the FDA about bimatoprost
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 3,129 reports naming bimatoprost, and the FDA flagged 75% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- ocular hyperaemia118 reports
- intraocular pressure increased110 reports
- diarrhoea109 reports
- dyspnoea109 reports
- fatigue104 reports
- fall100 reports
- nausea95 reports
- eye irritation90 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean bimatoprost caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved July 25, 2026.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
What is Durysta?
DURYSTA is a sterile intracameral implant containing 10 mcg of bimatoprost, a prostaglandin analog, in a solid polymer sustained-release drug delivery system (DDS). The drug delivery system consists of poly (D,L-lactide), poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide), poly (D,L-lactide) acid end, and polyethylene glycol 3350. DURYSTA is preloaded into a single-use, DDS applicator to facilitate injection of the rod-shaped implant directly into the anterior chamber of the eye.
What kind of drug is bimatoprost?
The FDA classifies bimatoprost as a prostaglandin analog. Prostaglandin analogs (used as eye drops for glaucoma) activate FP receptors that relax the eye's drainage tissues, helping fluid flow out more easily. This lowers the pressure inside the eye and protects the optic nerve. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take bimatoprost with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run bimatoprost against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is bimatoprost sold under?
We track 3 bimatoprost-containing products in the U.S.: Durysta, Latisse and Lumigan. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does bimatoprost come in?
Across the brands we track, bimatoprost is currently marketed as implant and drops, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic bimatoprost?
We do not currently list a generic-labelled bimatoprost product. That does not always mean none exists — it means none appears under a generic name in the FDA data we track. Ask your pharmacist.
Has bimatoprost been recalled?
The FDA's Enforcement database lists 2 recall records whose product description mentions bimatoprost. The most recent: Bimatoprost powder (Mar 31, 2025). A recall applies to specific lots, not to the drug as a whole — check the record for the affected lot numbers.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Bimatoprost: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/bimatoprost
- MLA
- “Bimatoprost: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/bimatoprost.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for bimatoprost on DailyMed (NIH) ↗.