Lotemax (loteprednol) is a brand-name drug that’s prescribed for inflammation in the eye in adults and some children. Lotemax comes as eye drops, eye ointment, and gel eye drops. The dosage can vary.
All forms of Lotemax and Lotemax SM are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat pain and inflammation after eye surgery. Lotemax eye drops are also approved to treat other conditions that involve inflammation in the eye.
Lotemax belongs to a drug class called corticosteroids. Lotemax eye drops and Lotemax gel eye drops are available as generic versions. Lotemax eye ointment and Lotemax SM gel eye drops aren’t available as generics.
Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Lotemax and Lotemax SM, including its strengths and how to use the medication. For a comprehensive look at Lotemax and Lotemax SM, see this article.
Note: This article describes typical dosages for Lotemax provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Lotemax, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.
Below is information about Lotemax’s forms, strengths, and dosages.
Lotemax forms
Lotemax comes in three forms:
- Lotemax ophthalmic suspension (eye drops)
- Lotemax ophthalmic ointment (eye ointment)
- Lotemax ophthalmic gel (gel eye drops)
Lotemax strengths
Lotemax comes in two strengths: 0.5% and 0.38%.
Lotemax eye drops, eye ointment, and gel eye drops come with a strength of 0.5%, while Lotemax SM ophthalmic gel comes with a strength of 0.38%.
Typical dosages
The following information describes dosages that are commonly prescribed 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.
Dosage for pain and inflammation after eye surgery
Doctors may prescribe Lotemax or Lotemax SM to treat pain and inflammation after eye surgery. All forms of Lotemax and Lotemax SM are approved to treat these conditions.
The table below shows the usual recommended dosages of the medication when used after eye surgery.
| Drug and form | Dose | Dose frequency |
| Lotemax eye drops | one or two drops in the affected eye | four times per day for 2 weeks, starting 24 hours after surgery |
| Lotemax eye ointment | about a half-inch ribbon of ointment in the affected eye | four times per day for 2 weeks, starting 24 hours after surgery |
| Lotemax gel eye drops | one or two drops in the affected eye | four times per day for 2 weeks, starting 24 hours after surgery |
| Lotemax SM gel eye drops | one drop in the affected eye | three times per day for 2 weeks, starting 24 hours after surgery |
For more information about your specific dosage, talk with your doctor.
Dosage for certain eye conditions
Doctors may also prescribe Lotemax eye drops to treat certain other eye conditions that involve inflammation of the eye. These may include:
- allergic conjunctivitis (inflammation in the eye caused by allergies)
- certain types of infective conjunctivitis (pink eye)
- rosacea that affects the eye
- superficial punctate keratitis (inflammation of the cornea)
- herpes zoster keratitis (inflammation in the eye caused by shingles)
- iritis (inflammation of the colored parts of your eye)
- cyclitis (inflammation of the ciliary body, or ring of tissue on the inner wall of the eyeball)
The recommended dosage for these conditions is one or two drops in the affected eye four times daily. During the first week of using Lotemax, your doctor may recommend you use the drops as often as one drop every hour if needed.
For more information about your specific dosage, talk with your doctor.
Children’s dosage
Lotemax gel eye drops are approved to treat pain and inflammation after eye surgery in children from birth to less than 11 years of age.
The typical recommended dosage is one or two drops in the affected eye four times per day for 2 weeks. Your child will start this dosage 24 hours after the surgery.
Talk with your child’s doctor if you have questions about their dosage.
Note: Only Lotemax gel eye drops are approved in children.
Long-term treatment
Lotemax is used short term to treat pain and inflammation after eye surgery. Doctors may also prescribe Lotemax eye drops to treat certain other conditions that involve inflammation of the eye. Doctors typically won’t prescribe Lotemax or Lotemax SM for longer than 2 weeks.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about how long you can expect to use Lotemax or Lotemax SM.
The Lotemax dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:
- the type and severity of the condition you’re using Lotemax or Lotemax SM to treat
- the form of Lotemax or Lotemax SM you use
Use Lotemax or Lotemax SM as instructed by your doctor. Your doctor or pharmacist can show you how to correctly use the form of Lotemax or Lotemax SM you’re prescribed.
You’ll use Lotemax or Lotemax SM in the eye where you’ve had surgery. Lotemax eye drops are the only form approved to treat other conditions that involve inflammation in the eye.
If you’re using Lotemax eye drops, shake the bottle well before administering. For Lotemax gel eye drops or Lotemax SM, you need to invert the bottle and shake it once to make sure there’s enough medication in the applicator tip.
If you’re using Lotemax or Lotemax SM at the same time as other eye drops, the doses should be separated by at least 5 minutes. This allows the eye to better absorb each of the medications.
It’s important to wash your hands before using Lotemax or Lotemax SM. When you place a drop in your eye, be sure to avoid touching the tip of the bottle to your eye. This prevents injury to the eye. It also prevents bacteria on the tip of the bottle from getting into your eye, which can lead to eye infections.
Make sure to put the bottle’s cap back on right after using Lotemax or Lotemax SM.
If you wear soft contact lenses, don’t wear them when using Lotemax eye drops. This is because the eye drops contains a preservative. In general, don’t wear contacts when you have inflammation in your eyes. Talk with your doctor about wearing contacts during treatment with Lotemax or Lotemax SM.
If you have questions about how to use Lotemax or Lotemax SM, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERSSome pharmacies offer labels with 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 might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.
If you’re having trouble opening medication bottles, ask your pharmacist about putting Lotemax in an easy-open container. They also may recommend tools that can make it easier to open bottles.
If you miss a dose of Lotemax, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next scheduled dose. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed one. If you’re not sure whether you should take a missed dose or skip it, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your bathroom mirror or bedside table. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.
It’s important that you don’t use more Lotemax or Lotemax SM than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to harmful effects or overdose.
If you take more than the recommended amount of Lotemax
Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve used too much Lotemax. Another option is to call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
Below are some frequently asked questions about Lotemax.
Can Lotemax be used for dry eye? If so, what’s the dosage?
No, Lotemax and Lotemax SM aren’t approved for treating dry eye.
Because Lotemax and Lotemax SM aren’t used for dry eye, the drug’s manufacturer doesn’t provide recommended dosages for this use.
However, Eysuvis is a drug approved for dry eyes. It has the same active ingredient as Lotemax (loteprednol) but is a lower strength. If you have questions about managing dry eye, talk with your doctor. They can recommend treatment options for you.
How long does it take for Lotemax to start working?
Lotemax starts to work after your first dose. Symptoms should decrease within a couple days. If your symptoms don’t get better or they worsen within this time, talk with your doctor right away.
The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Lotemax or Lotemax SM for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes.
As with any drug, never change your dosage of Lotemax or Lotemax SM without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Lotemax that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.
Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Lotemax or Lotemax SM. These additional articles might be helpful:
- More about Lotemax: For information about other aspects of Lotemax, refer to this article.
- Side effects: To learn about side effects of Lotemax, see this article.
- Details about your condition: For details about eye health or related conditions, see our eye health hub.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.