alrex
Alrex (Loteprednol Etabonate) is a corticosteroid used to treat Allergic Conjunctivitis, Bacterial Conjunctivitis, Viral Conjunctivitis, Edema.
Loteprednol Etabonate · by Bausch and Lomb
Available as a generic: Loteprednol Etabonate
Key facts
- Active ingredient
- Loteprednol Etabonate
- Drug class
- Corticosteroid
- Form
- Drops
- Strength
- Loteprednol Etabonate 0.2%
- Type
- Prescription (Rx)
- Brand or generic
- Brand-name
- Manufacturer
- Bausch and Lomb
- What the pharmacy pays
- ~$19.51 per ml — not your price
- FDA application
- NDA020803
What is Alrex?
From the FDA label:ALREX ® (loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspension, 0.2%) contains a sterile, topical anti-inflammatory corticosteroid for ophthalmic use. Loteprednol etabonate is a white to off-white powder. Loteprednol etabonate is represented by the following structural formula: Chemical Name: chloromethyl 17α-[(ethoxycarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-3-oxoandrosta-1,4-diene-17β-carboxylate Each mL contains: ACTIVE: Loteprednol Etabonate 2 mg (0.2%); INACTIVES: Edetate Disodium, Glycerin, Povidone, Purified Water and Tyloxapol. Hydrochloric Acid and/or Sodium Hydroxide may be added to adjust the pH. The suspension is essentially isotonic with a tonicity of 250 to 310 mOsmol/kg. PRESERVATIVE ADDED: Benzalkonium Chloride 0.01%. Alrex chemical formula
How to use
One drop instilled into the affected eye(s) four times daily.
Side effects
Reactions associated with ophthalmic steroids include elevated intraocular pressure, which may be associated with optic nerve damage, visual acuity and field defects, posterior subcapsular cataract formation, secondary ocular infection from pathogens including herpes simplex, and perforation of the globe where there is thinning of the cornea or sclera. Ocular adverse reactions occurring in 5-15% of patients treated with loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspension (0.2-0.5%) in clinical studies included abnormal vision/blurring, burning on instillation, chemosis, discharge, dry eyes, epiphora, foreign body sensation, itching, injection, and photophobia. Other ocular adverse reactions occurring in less than 5% of patients include conjunctivitis, corneal abnormalities, eyelid erythema, keratoconjunctivitis, ocular irritation/pain/discomfort, papillae, and uveitis. Some of these events were similar to the underlying ocular disease being studied. Non-ocular adverse reactions occurred in less than 15% of patients. These include headache, rhinitis and pharyngitis. In a summation of controlled, randomized studies of individuals treated for 28 days or longer with loteprednol etabonate, the incidence of significant elevation of intraocular pressure (≥10 mm Hg) was 2% (15/901) among patients receiving loteprednol etabonate, 7% (11/164) among patients receiving 1% prednisolone acetate and…
Warnings
Important safety information
Prolonged use of corticosteroids may result in glaucoma with damage to the optic nerve, defects in visual acuity and fields of vision, and in posterior subcapsular cataract formation. Steroids should be used with caution in the presence of glaucoma. Prolonged use of corticosteroids may suppress the host response and thus increase the hazard of secondary ocular infections. In those diseases causing thinning of the cornea or sclera, perforations have been known to occur with the use of topical steroids. In acute purulent conditions of the eye, steroids may mask infection or enhance existing infection. Use of ocular steroids may prolong the course and may exacerbate the severity of many viral infections of the eye (including herpes simplex). Employment of a corticosteroid medication in the treatment of patients with a history of herpes simplex requires great caution.
Who should not take Alrex
ALREX, as with other ophthalmic corticosteroids, is contraindicated in most viral diseases of the cornea and conjunctiva including epithelial herpes simplex keratitis (dendritic keratitis), vaccinia, and varicella, and also in mycobacterial infection of the eye and fungal diseases of ocular structures. ALREX is also contraindicated in individuals with known or suspected hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients of this preparation and to other corticosteroids.
Drug class
How this class works, per Corticosteroids - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf.
May treat (source: NIH RxClass)
See how Alrex ranks — best-rated corticosteroid for:
Dosage forms
Drops
The forms currently marketed in the U.S., per the FDA National Drug Code Directory.
Ways to save
Ask for the generic
Same active ingredient, far cheaper. Is there a generic? →
Request a 90-day supply
Bulk fills usually lower the per-dose price vs monthly refills.
Use copay cards
Manufacturer copay cards & patient-assistance programs — especially for brand drugs.
Compare alternatives
A same-class option may cost less. See alternatives →
Frequently asked questions
- What does Alrex treat?
- Alrex (Loteprednol Etabonate) may be used to treat allergic conjunctivitis, bacterial conjunctivitis, viral conjunctivitis, edema, inflammation, iritis, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.
- How does Alrex work?
- Alrex is a corticosteroid. Corticosteroids mimic the body's natural stress hormone cortisol: they enter cells and bind a glucocorticoid receptor that switches off genes for inflammatory chemicals, calming swelling, redness, and an overactive immune response.
- How much does Alrex cost?
- Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $19.51 per ml, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins. Pharmacies pay less for a same-class option, Pred Forte — about $0.60 on the same basis.
- Is there a coupon or discount for Alrex?
- pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Alrex. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.
- Who makes Alrex?
- Alrex is marketed by Bausch and Lomb. You can see Bausch and Lomb's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.
- Is Alrex a brand-name or generic drug?
- Alrex is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Loteprednol Etabonate. Lower-cost generic equivalents containing Loteprednol Etabonate are available — ask your pharmacist.
- Is Alrex available over the counter?
- No. Alrex is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.
- What forms does Alrex come in?
- Alrex is currently marketed as drops, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.
- What class of drug is Alrex?
- Alrex is classified as corticosteroid, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.
- Is Alrex FDA-registered?
- Alrex is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA020803. You can verify this on its official FDA label.
- Is Alrex safe?
- There's no single safe-or-not verdict, and we don't yet have a composite recall-safety score for Alrex. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings below, and always consult a licensed professional.
- What are the side effects of Alrex?
- Alrex's side effects are taken directly from its FDA label. From the label: Reactions associated with ophthalmic steroids include elevated intraocular pressure, which may be associated with optic nerve damage, visual acuity and field defects, posterior subcapsular cataract formation, secondary ocular infection from pathogens including herpes simplex,… Both common and serious reactions are documented in full on this page. This is general reference from the FDA, not medical advice — always consult a professional.
Clinical content sourced from the FDA label via openFDA (U.S. FDA). View the FDA label on DailyMed → Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.
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