Eysuvis (loteprednol)

Eysuvis generic

Eysuvis is available only as a brand-name medication. It’s not currently available in generic form.

A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs.

Eysuvis price

As with all medications, the cost of Eysuvis can vary. The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use.

Keep in mind that you may be able to get a 90-day supply of Eysuvis. If approved by your insurance company, getting a 90-day supply of the drug could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost. If you’re interested in this option, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance company.

Before approving coverage for Eysuvis, your insurance company may require you to get prior authorization. This means your doctor and insurance company will need to communicate about your prescription before the insurance company will cover the drug. The insurance company will review the prior authorization request and decide if the drug will be covered.

If you’re not sure whether you’ll need to get prior authorization for Eysuvis, contact your insurance company.

Financial and insurance assistance

If you need financial support to pay for Eysuvis, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available.

Several Patient Affordability Programs are available from the drug’s manufacturer. These include the Alcon Patient Access Program for copay assistance and AlconCares for people with limited or no insurance coverage. For more information and to find out whether you’re eligible for support, call 800-757-9195 or visit the program website.

To learn more about saving money on prescriptions, check out this article.

Mail-order pharmacies

Eysuvis may be available through a mail-order pharmacy. Using this service may help lower the drug’s cost and allow you to get your medication without leaving home.

If recommended by your doctor, you may be able to receive a 90-day supply of Eysuvis, so there’s less concern about running out of the medication. If you’re interested in this option, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance company. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order medications.

If you don’t have insurance, you can ask your doctor or pharmacist about online pharmacy options.

Generic version

Eysuvis is not available in a generic form. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

Eysuvis side effects

Eysuvis eye drops can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Eysuvis. These lists do not include all possible side effects.

For more information about the possible side effects of Eysuvis, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to manage any side effects that may be concerning or bothersome.

Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tracks side effects of drugs it has approved. If you would like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Eysuvis, you can do so through MedWatch.

Mild side effects

Mild side effects* of Eysuvis can include:

• eye pain when using Eysuvis†
• eye infection†

Most of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. However, if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* This is a partial list of mild side effects from Eysuvis. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or view the Eysuvis prescribing information.
† For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect details” below.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Eysuvis aren’t common, but they can occur. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.

Serious side effects and their symptoms can include:

• Cataracts. Symptoms can include:
  • cloudy vision
  • double vision
  • difficulty seeing at night
• Increased eye pressure (known as intraocular pressure). Symptoms can include:
  • eye pain
  • nausea
  • vomiting
• Slower healing, or thinning or tearing of your eye. Symptoms can include:
  • blurry vision
  • cloudy or worsening vision
  • light sensitivity
• Allergic reaction.*

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect details” below.

Side effect details

Here’s some detail on certain side effects this drug may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Eysuvis.

Eye pain when using Eysuvis

It’s possible to have eye pain while using Eysuvis. Specifically, eye pain can occur when you are putting Eysuvis eye drops in your eye.

Eye pain was the most common side effect reported in clinical trials of Eysuvis.

What you can do

If you experience eye pain from using Eysuvis, talk with your doctor. They may be able to recommend ways to decrease the eye pain. In some cases, if your eye pain is severe or bothersome to you, your doctor may recommend a different treatment option for your dry eye disease.

Eye infection

You may develop eye infections from using Eysuvis. However, this side effect wasn’t common in clinical trials of Eysuvis.

It’s possible to develop bacterial eye infections, fungal eye infections, or viral eye infections during Eysuvis treatment. In some cases, this drug may cause eye infections to come back or worsen. For example, if you have herpes simplex virus, using Eysuvis can cause a herpes simplex eye infection to worsen or last longer.

If you have symptoms of an eye infection, see your doctor right away. Symptoms may include:

• yellow or green discharge from the eye
• redness or swelling of the eye
• eye pain
• itchy eyes
• changes in vision

What you can do

If you have an eye infection, your doctor will recommend treating the infection before starting Eysuvis. This is because Eysuvis can make your infection worse.

To lower your risk of eye infection while using Eysuvis, be sure to keep the tip of the Eysuvis bottle from touching any surface, including your fingers. If the tip of the dropper bottle touches a surface, it could become contaminated with germs, increasing your risk of an eye infection.

If you notice symptoms of eye infection during your treatment with Eysuvis, see your doctor right away. In rare cases, infections may be serious. Your doctor will be able to determine if you have an eye infection and the best ways to treat it. They’ll also likely recommend you stop using Eysuvis until the infection is managed.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after taking Eysuvis. It’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in the drug’s clinical trials, but they can still occur.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing

A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include:

• swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
• swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat
• trouble breathing

Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Eysuvis, as the reaction could become severe. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.

Eysuvis dosage

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Eysuvis drug form and strength

Eysuvis comes as a liquid suspension eye drop. It comes in a strength of 0.25%. This medication comes in a bottle containing 8.3 milliliters (mL) of Eysuvis.

Eysuvis dosing for dry eye

The recommended dosage of Eysuvis for dry eye disease is one to two drops into each eye four times per day. (You and your doctor will determine whether you use one or two drops per dose.) You should use this medication for up to 2 weeks of treatment.

Your doctor will not prescribe using Eysuvis until they’ve examined your eyes and measured your eye pressure.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss your dose of Eysuvis, administer your dose as soon as you remember.

To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or using a timer. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.

Will I need to use this drug long term?

Eysuvis is not meant to be used as a long-term treatment. In fact, this medication is only recommended to be used for up to 2 weeks of treatment.

Common questions about Eysuvis

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Eysuvis.

How does Eysuvis compare with Lotemax?

Both Eysuvis and Lotemax are corticosteroid eye drops. Both drugs contain the same active ingredient, loteprednol, and are used to treat swelling in the eye. However, Eysuvis is approved to treat dry eye disease.

In comparison, Lotemax eye drops are approved to treat swelling of the eye that may be caused by other conditions, including allergies, eye infections, and ocular rosacea.

There are two other forms of Lotemax available: Lotemax ointment and Lotemax SM gel. Lotemax ointment and Lotemax SM gel can be used to treat swelling of the eye that can occur after eye surgery.

So, depending on which condition you have, your doctor can recommend either Eysuvis or a form of Lotemax. In addition, the strengths of each medication are different. Eysuvis comes in a strength of loteprednol 0.25%. Lotemax eye drops and ointment come in a strength of loteprednol 0.5%. Lotemax SM gel comes in a strength of loteprednol 0.38%.

As these medications have the same active ingredients, their side effects are likely to be similar. However, talk with your doctor to learn which form of loteprednol — Eysuvis or Lotemax — may be the best treatment option for your condition.

Is Eysuvis a steroid?

Yes, Eysuvis is a corticosteroid eye drop. It works to decrease the swelling in the eye that people with dry eye disease can experience. Decreasing this swelling will typically reduce your symptoms of dry eye, including redness, a burning or scratchy feeling, or blurry vision.

If you have questions or concerns about using Eysuvis, talk with your doctor.

Can I use Eysuvis if I wear contacts?

Yes, you can use Eysuvis if you wear contact lenses. However, you’ll need to take the contact lenses out before using your dose of Eysuvis. This is because the drug can actually be absorbed into the contact lenses. Due to this risk, you should take your contacts out before using your dose. Then, wait 15 minutes after your dose before reinserting your contact lenses.

If you have additional questions about how to use Eysuvis with contact lenses, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Alternatives to Eysuvis

Other drugs are available that can treat dry eye disease. Some may be a better fit for you than others. If you’re interested in finding an alternative to Eysuvis, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you.

Alternatives for dry eye

Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat dry eye include:

• cyclosporine (Restasis, Cequa)
• lifitegrast (Xiidra)
• artificial tears (Visine, Isopto Tears, Thera Tears)
• hydroxypropyl cellulose (Lacrisert)
• pilocarpine (Isopto Carpine, Vuity)

Note: Some of the drugs listed here are prescribed off-label to treat these specific conditions. Off-label drug use is when a drug that’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is prescribed for a purpose other than what it’s approved for.

Eysuvis uses

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Eysuvis to treat certain conditions.

Eysuvis for dry eye

Eysuvis is approved for short-term treatment of dry eye disease symptoms. It should only be used for up to 2 weeks of treatment when you are experiencing symptoms.

Dry eye explained

Dry eye disease occurs when your eyes don’t make enough tears and become too dry. Sometimes, you may make enough tears, but they may be of low quality, which can also cause dry eye disease. You need quality tears in your eyes to be able to see clearly and keep your eyes healthy. Symptoms of dry eye disease may include:

• a burning or scratchy feeling in your eye
• redness
• blurry vision
• light sensitivity
• difficulty seeing at night

Dry eye disease can be caused by many different factors, including:

• age (dry eye disease is more common with age)
• medications that dry your eyes out
• other medical conditions, such as diabetes or thyroid problems
• allergies or other environmental factors such as smoke or wind

Effectiveness for dry eye

Eysuvis is an effective treatment option for people with dry eye disease. In fact, corticosteroid eye drops such as Eysuvis are recommended as a treatment option for dry eye disease by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. For more information on how the drug performed in clinical studies, see Eysuvis’s prescribing information.

Eysuvis and children

At this time, Eysuvis is not approved for use in children. It’s not known whether the drug may be a safe or effective treatment option for children with dry eye disease.

Eysuvis use with other drugs

In some cases, your doctor may recommend using Eysuvis in combination with other eye drops for your dry eye disease. For example, they may recommend using over-the-counter eye drops such as artificial tears to help ease your symptoms. Examples of these medications include Visine, Isopto Tears, and Thera Tears.

It’s important to note that if you are using Eysuvis in combination with other eye drops, you should separate your eye drop doses by at least 5 minutes. This is recommended so your eye has time to absorb the first medication before you use the next drug. If you don’t wait 5 minutes between doses, you might wash out your first medication with the second medication.

Eysuvis and alcohol

There are no known interactions between Eysuvis and alcohol.

If you drink alcohol and have questions about drinking it while using Eysuvis, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Eysuvis interactions

Eysuvis is not known to interact with other medications, supplements, or foods. However, it’s still important to speak with your doctor about any other medications you take before using Eysuvis.

Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works. Other interactions can increase side effects or make them more severe.

Eysuvis and other medications

Eysuvis is not known to interact with other medications.

Before using Eysuvis, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

If you are using other eye drops in combination with Eysuvis, your doctor will recommend separating your eye drop doses by at least 5 minutes. You should do this so your eye has time to absorb the first medication before you use the next drug. If you don’t wait 5 minutes between doses, you might wash out your first medication with the second medication.

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Eysuvis and herbs and supplements

There aren’t any herbs or supplements that have been specifically reported to interact with Eysuvis. However, you should still check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any of these products while taking Eysuvis.

Eysuvis and foods

There aren’t any foods that have been specifically reported to interact with Eysuvis. If you have any questions about eating certain foods with Eysuvis, talk with your doctor.

How to use Eysuvis

You should use Eysuvis according to the instructions your doctor gives you.

Before you start treatment with Eysuvis, your doctor or pharmacist can show you how to use the eye drops. Be sure to wash your hands and take out your contact lenses before putting your Eysuvis drops in your eyes. Shake the bottle for 2–3 seconds before using your dose. Then, hold the bottle up to the affected eye and place 1–2 drops.

Be sure not to touch the tip of the eyedropper to your eye, your fingers, or anything else. Touching the tip of the eyedropper can contaminate it, which may lead to an eye infection. Use your dose of Eysuvis four times per day or as directed by your doctor.

If you would like more information on how to use your eye drops, read the instructions for use.

When to take

Your doctor will recommend using your Eysuvis eye drops four times per day for up to 2 weeks. Using the medication at around the same times each day helps keep a steady level of the drug in your body. This helps Eysuvis work effectively.

To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or using a timer. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.

Accessible labels and containers

Some pharmacies offer labels that have large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist may be able to direct you to one that does.

How Eysuvis works

Eysuvis is approved for short-term (up to 2 weeks) treatment of dry eye disease symptoms. Dry eye disease occurs when your eyes don’t make enough tears and become too dry. Sometimes, you may make enough tears, but they may be of low quality, which can also cause dry eye disease. You need quality tears in your eyes to be able to see clearly and keep your eyes healthy.

Inflammation or swelling in your eye can cause symptoms of dry eye disease. Symptoms of dry eye disease may include:

• a burning or scratchy feeling in your eye
• redness
• blurry vision
• light sensitivity
• difficulty seeing at night
• tearing

Eysuvis is a corticosteroid eye drop. It works to decrease the swelling in your eye if you have dry eye disease. Decreasing this swelling will typically reduce your symptoms of dry eye, including redness, a burning or scratchy feeling, or blurry vision.

How long does it take to work?

Eysuvis will begin working to treat your dry eye disease flare-up as soon as you take your first dose. In clinical trials, some people using Eysuvis noticed a significant reduction in their symptoms of dry eye disease after using Eysuvis for 4 days. However, it could take up to 14 days before you notice a reduction in symptoms.

Eysuvis and pregnancy

It’s not known whether Eysuvisis is safe to use during pregnancy. Eysuvis hasn’t been studied specifically in pregnant people.

Animal studies show that when the drug is given by mouth, it may increase the risk of congenital anomalies (commonly known as birth defects) or pregnancy loss. However, Eysuvis is given as an eye drop rather than taken by mouth. So, the drug may not be absorbed by the rest of your body. If the drug stays in your eye after a dose, it isn’t likely to affect a pregnancy. And it’s important to note that animal studies do not always predict what may happen in humans.

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor before starting Eysuvis. They can help you determine the best treatment plan for your dry eye disease during pregnancy.

Eysuvis and birth control

It’s not known whether Eysuvis is safe to use during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or you or your partner can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your birth control needs while you’re using Eysuvis.

For more information about taking Eysuvis during pregnancy, see the “Eysuvis and pregnancy” section above.

Eysuvis and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether it’s safe to breastfeed while you are using Eysuvis. At this time, it’s unknown if the drug can pass into breast milk. It’s also not known if the drug may affect breastmilk production.

If you are breastfeeding, talk with your doctor before starting treatment with Eysuvis. They can help you determine if this medication is safe for you to use while you are breastfeeding.

Eysuvis precautions

This drug comes with several precautions. Before taking Eysuvis, talk with your doctor about your health history. Eysuvis may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. These include:

• Glaucoma. Eysuvis can increase your eye pressure, which may increase your risk of developing glaucoma. If you already have glaucoma, it’s possible that Eysuvis may make your condition worse. Talk with your doctor about what medication may be the best treatment option for your dry eye disease if you have glaucoma.
• Cataracts. Using steroid medications such as Eysuvis may increase your risk of developing cataracts. If you already have cataracts, using Eysuvis may make your condition worse. In this case, your doctor may recommend a different treatment option for your dry eye disease.
• Eye infection. If you have an eye infection, your doctor will recommend treating the infection before starting Eysuvis. This medication can cause your eye infection to become worse. Tell your doctor about any eye infections you have before you start treatment with Eysuvis.
• Pregnancy. It’s not known whether Eysuvis may be safe to use during pregnancy. For more information, see the “Eysuvis and pregnancy” section above.
• Breastfeeding. It’s not known whether Eysuvis may be safe to use while you are breastfeeding. For more information, see the “Eysuvis and breastfeeding” section above.
• Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Eysuvis or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Eysuvis. Ask your doctor what other medications are better options for you.

Note: For more information about the potential negative effects of Eysuvis, see the “Eysuvis side effects” section above.

Eysuvis overdose

Do not use more Eysuvis than your doctor recommends. For some drugs, doing so may lead to unwanted side effects or overdose.

What to do in case you take too much Eysuvis

If you think you’ve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor. You can also call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. But if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room right away.