Xelpros

Xelpros is a prescription medication used to treat open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Xelpros belongs to a group of drugs called prostaglandin F2α analogs. These medications to reduce the pressure inside the eyes by causing the fluid in the eye to be removed.

This medication comes as an eye drop and the recommended dosage is one drop in the affected eye(s) once daily in the evening. 

Common side effects include eye pain, stinging, redness, discharge, and eyelash changes. 

Xelpros is a prescription medication used to reduce the elevated intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with Xelpros. See the “Xelpros Precautions” section.

Common side effects of Xelpros include:

• Eye pain/stinging
• Ocular hyperemia (eye redness)
• Conjunctival hyperemia (eyelid redness)
• Eye discharge
• Growth of eyelashes
• Eyelash thickening
• Eye itching
• Visual acuity reduced
• Dry eye
• Foreign body sensation in eyes
• Punctate keratitis
• Eyelash discoloration
• Eyelid swelling
• Conjunctival edema

This is not a complete list of Xelpros side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• Other topical ophthalmic drug products to lower intraocular pressure such as:

  • Bimatoprost
  • Travoprost
  • Tafluprost

• Other prostaglandins or prostaglandin analogs

  • Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents (NSAIDs) such as:

  • Ibuprofen
  • Naproxen sodium
  • Celecoxib
  • Meloxicam

This is not a complete list of Xelpros drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.   

Serious side effects have been reported with Xelpros including:

• Changes to pigmented tissues. The most frequently reported changes are increased pigmentation of the iris, periorbital tissue (eyelid), and eyelashes. Pigmentation is expected to increase as long as Xelpros is administered. After discontinuation of Xelpros, iris pigmentation is likely to be permanent. Patients who receive treatment should be informed of the possibility of increased pigmentation. The long-term effects of increased pigmentation are not known.
• Eyelash Changes: Xelpros may gradually change eyelashes and vellus hair in the treated eye, including increased length, thickness, pigmentation, and number of lashes. The changes are usually reversible upon discontinuation of treatment.
• Intraocular Inflammation: Xelpros should be used with caution in patients with a history of intraocular inflammation (iritis/uveitis) and should generally not be used in patients with active intraocular inflammation.
• Macular Edema: Xelpros should be used with caution in aphakic patients, in pseudophakic patients with a torn posterior lens capsule, or in patients with known risk factors for macular edema.
• Herpetic Keratitis: Xelpros should be used with caution in patients with a history of herpetic keratitis. Xelpros should be avoided in cases of active herpes simplex keratitis because inflammation may be exacerbated.
• Bacterial Keratitis: There have been reports of bacterial keratitis associated with the use of multiple-dose containers of topical ophthalmic products.
• Use with Contact Lenses: Contact lenses should be removed prior to administration of Xelpros and may be reinserted 15 minutes following administration.

Do not take Xelpros if you are allergic or sensitive to latanoprost, benzalkonium chloride, or any component of the formulation.

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Xelpros, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking Xelpros, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• Are allergic to Xelpros or to any of its ingredients
• Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

There are no well controlled studies that have been done in pregnant women. Xelpros should be used during pregnancy only if the possible benefit outweighs the possible risk to the unborn baby.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if Xelpros crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with the use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using Xelpros.

Administer Xelpros exactly as prescribed.

Xelpros comes as an ophthalmic emulsion (eye drop) form and is used once a day.

If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Xelpros at the same time.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The recommended dose of Xelpros for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension is one drop in the affected eye(s) once a day in the evening. Do not exceed the once daily dosage as this may decrease the intraocular pressure lowering effect.

If you use too much Xelpros, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

Xelpros can be stored in refrigerator or at room temperature (36ºF to 77ºF [2ºC to 25ºC]). Protect from light. After opening, Xelpros can be used until the expiration date stamped on bottle and then discarded. Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.

This page was written by Lynda Palacios, PharmD Candidate 2020 | UT Austin College of Pharmacy