Rocklatan is a brand-name prescription medication. It’s FDA-approved to treat increased eye pressure in adults with either:

  • ocular hypertension (high pressure in the eye caused by fluid buildup)
  • open-angle glaucoma, the most common type of glaucoma (an eye disease that’s usually caused by increased pressure inside the eye)

Rocklatan is a liquid solution that contains two active drugs: netarsudil and latanoprost. Netarsudil belongs to a group of medications called Rho kinase inhibitors. Latanoprost belongs to a group of medications called prostaglandin analogs. Together, these medications decrease eye pressure and reduce complications that may occur because of increased eye pressure.

Rocklatan eye drops are available in a multi-use dropper bottle that comes in one strength: 0.02% netarsudil/0.005% latanoprost. The bottle has a tip that you’ll use to drop the solution into your eye.

FDA approval

Rocklatan was approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March 2019. It’s the only combination eye drop that contains both a Rho kinase inhibitor and a prostaglandin analog to treat increased eye pressure.

Effectiveness

For information on the effectiveness of Rocklatan, see the “Rocklatan uses” section below.

Rocklatan 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.

Rocklatan contains the active drugs netarsudil and latanoprost.

Rocklatan can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Rocklatan. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.

For more information on the possible side effects of Rocklatan, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to deal with any side effects that may be 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 Rocklatan, you can do so through MedWatch.

Mild side effects

Mild side effects of Rocklatan can include:*

Most of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. But 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 Rocklatan. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or view Rocklatan’s prescribing information.
† For more information on these side effects, see “Side effect details” below.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Rocklatan 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:

  • Seeing less clearly. Symptoms can include:
    • blurry vision
    • trouble reading
  • Macular edema (buildup of fluid in part of your eye). Symptoms can include:
    • blurry vision
    • changes in the way you see color
    • vision loss
  • Changes in the color of your iris (the colored part of your eye). For example, your iris may become more brown.
  • Eyelash changes. This could include your lashes becoming thicker and longer, which is usually (but not always) reversible.
  • Allergic reaction.*
  • Deposits in the eye.*

* For more information on these side effects, see “Side effect details” below.

Side effect details

You may wonder how often certain side effects occur with this drug. Here’s some detail on certain side effects this drug may cause.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after taking Rocklatan. Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

  • skin rash
  • itchiness
  • flushing (warmth, swelling, or redness in your skin)

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

It’s not known how often allergic reaction may have occurred in clinical studies.

Call your doctor right away if you have a severe allergic reaction to Rocklatan. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.

Red eyes

A common side effect of Rocklatan is red eyes. In clinical studies:

  • 59% of people using Rocklatan experienced red eyes
  • 5% of people using Rocklatan stopped treatment because of their red eyes

These studies didn’t compare Rocklatan with any other treatments.

If you develop red eyes during your Rocklatan treatment that are severe or bothersome to you, talk with your doctor. They may be able to recommend ways to relieve this side effect, or they may recommend a different drug to treat your condition.

Bleeding in the eye

Some people may develop bleeding in the eye while using Rocklatan. This is called conjunctival hemorrhage.

The clear covering on the surface of your eye is called the conjunctiva. It contains many tiny blood vessels. When you use Rocklatan, it’s possible for these small blood vessels to break. This could cause bleeding in the eye, and the white part of your eye may become red.

In clinical studies, 11% of people experienced conjunctival hemorrhage. These studies didn’t compare Rocklatan with any other treatments.

If you have bleeding in your eye that doesn’t go away or is bothersome to you, talk with your doctor. They may recommend a different medication to treat your increased eye pressure.

Eye pain

Some people may develop eye pain while using Rocklatan. In clinical studies, eye pain occurred in some people when they used the Rocklatan eye drops.

The studies showed that 20% of people using Rocklatan experienced pain when they put their eye drops in. These studies didn’t compare Rocklatan with any other treatments.

If you experience eye pain that bothers you, talk with your doctor. They may recommend ways to relieve this side effect, or they may switch you to a different medication to treat your condition.

Deposits in the eye

Some people using Rocklatan may develop a buildup of medication in the eye. This can occur if the drug attaches to fat in your eye and forms deposits. These deposits are often brown or gray in color. Usually, these deposits don’t affect your vision. However, in some cases, it may affect your vision. These deposits may go away after you stop using Rocklatan.

In clinical studies, 15% of people using Rocklatan developed deposits in their eye. It’s not known what percentage of people may have had their vision affected by these deposits.

These studies didn’t compare Rocklatan with any other treatments.

If you develop gray or brown deposits in your eye, talk with your doctor. They will likely switch you to a different medication to treat your increased eye pressure.

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

Before approving coverage for Rocklatan, your insurance company may require you to get prior authorization. This means that 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 if you’ll need to get prior authorization for Rocklatan, contact your insurance company.

Financial and insurance assistance

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

Aerie, the manufacturer of Rocklatan, offers the Rocklatan Savings Card. For more information and to find out if you’re eligible for support, call 844-807-9706 or visit the program website.

Generic version

Rocklatan isn’t 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.

When you get Rocklatan from the pharmacy, the pharmacist will add an expiration date to the label on the box. This date is typically 1 year from the date they dispensed the medication.

The expiration date helps guarantee that the medication is effective during this time. The current stance of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is to avoid using expired medications. If you have unused medication that has gone past the expiration date, talk with your pharmacist about whether you might still be able to use it.

Storage

How long a medication remains good can depend on many factors, including how and where you store the medication.

Rocklatan eye drops should be kept in the refrigerator at a temperature of 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C) until the bottle is opened. Once the bottle has been opened, the drug can be kept at a temperature of 36°F to 77°F (2°C to 25°C) for up to 6 weeks.

If the eye drops are kept refrigerated after opening, you can continue to use the eye drops until the expiration date on the bottle.

Rocklatan should be protected from light.

Disposal

If you no longer need to take Rocklatan and have leftover medication, it’s important to dispose of it safely. This helps prevent others, including children and pets, from taking the drug by accident. It also helps keep the drug from harming the environment.

This article provides several useful tips on medication disposal. You can also ask your pharmacist for information on how to dispose of your medication.

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

Alternatives for increased eye pressure

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

  • latanoprost (Xalatan)
  • netarsudil (Rhopressa)
  • bimatoprost (Lumigan)
  • brimonidine (Alphagan-P)
  • latanoprostene bunod (Vyzulta)
  • brinzolamide (Azopt)
  • dorzolamide (Trusopt)
  • dorzolamide/timolol(Cosopt)
  • brimonidine/timolol (Combigan)
  • timolol (Timoptic, Timoptic in Ocudose, Timoptic-XE)
  • travoprost (Travatan-Z)
  • betaxolol (Betoptic)
  • carteolol

You may wonder how Rocklatan compares with other medications that are prescribed for similar uses. Here we look at how Rocklatan and Rhopressa are alike and different.

Ingredients

The active drug ingredients in Rocklatan are netarsudil and latanoprost. The active drug ingredient in Rhopressa is netarsudil. This means that one of the active drugs in Rocklatan is also the drug that Rhopressa contains.

Uses

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Rocklatan and Rhopressa to treat increased eye pressure in adults with:

  • ocular hypertension (high pressure in the eye caused by fluid buildup)
  • open-angle glaucoma, the most common type of glaucoma (an eye disease that’s usually caused by increased pressure inside the eye)

Drug forms and administration

Rocklatan and Rhopressa both come as liquid solutions in multi-use dropper bottles. Both drugs are given as one eye drop into the affected eye or eyes once per day, in the evening.

Side effects and risks

Rocklatan and Rhopressa have some similar side effects and others that vary. Below are examples of these side effects.

Mild side effects

These lists contain up to 10 of the most common mild side effects that can occur with each drug, or with both Rocklatan and Rhopressa (when taken individually).

  • Can occur with Rocklatan:
    • discomfort or itchiness in your eye
  • Can occur with Rhopressa:
    • no unique mild side effects
  • Can occur with both Rocklatan and Rhopressa:
    • eye pain
    • bleeding in the eye

Serious side effects

These lists contain examples of serious side effects that can occur with Rocklatan, with Rhopressa, or with both drugs (when taken individually).

  • Can occur with Rocklatan:
    • seeing less clearly
    • changes in the color of your iris (the colored part of your eye)
    • eyelash changes (such as lashes becoming thicker and longer)
  • Can occur with Rhopressa:
    • no unique serious side effects
  • Can occur with both Rocklatan and Rhopressa:
    • deposits in the eye

Effectiveness

A 3-month clinical study has directly compared Rocklatan and Rhopressa in treating increased eye pressure in adults. Pressure in people’s eyes was measured to assess how well each treatment worked.

Pressure in the eye is often reported in units of mm Hg (millimeters of mercury). Normal pressure in the eye is about 12 mm Hg to 22 mm Hg.

During the study, eye pressure was measured at 8 a.m. The results showed that, over the 3 months:

  • eye pressure decreased from an average of 24.69 mm Hg to an average of 16.45 mm Hg in adults using Rocklatan
  • eye pressure decreased from an average of 24.66 mm Hg to an average of 19.72 mm Hg in adults using Rhopressa

In other clinical studies, eye pressure was decreased by an average of 1 mm Hg to 3 mm Hg more in people taking Rocklatan than in people taking Rhopressa.

Costs

Rocklatan and Rhopressa generally cost about the same. The actual price you’ll pay for either drug depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use.

Rocklatan and Rhopressa are both brand-name drugs. There are currently no generic forms of either drug. Brand-name medications usually cost more than generics.

Rocklatan and Vyzulta are prescribed for similar uses. Here we look at how these drugs are alike and different.

Ingredients

The active drugs in Rocklatan are netarsudil and latanoprost. The active drug in Vyzulta is latanoprostene bunod.

Latanoprostene bunod is very similar to latanoprost (which Rocklatan contains). The difference is that latanoprostene bunod is chemically changed so that it decreases eye pressure more than latanoprost does.

Uses

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Rocklatan and Vyzulta to treat increased eye pressure in adults with:

  • ocular hypertension (high pressure in the eye caused by fluid buildup)
  • open-angle glaucoma, the most common type of glaucoma (an eye disease that’s usually caused by increased pressure inside the eye)

Drug forms and administration

Rocklatan and Vyzulta both come as liquid solutions. Both medications are used once per day, in the evening.

Side effects and risks

Rocklatan and Vyzulta have some similar side effects and others that vary. Below are examples of these side effects.

Mild side effects

These lists contain up to 10 of the most common mild side effects that can occur with each drug, or with both Rocklatan and Vyzulta (when taken individually).

  • Can occur with Rocklatan:
    • bleeding in the eye
  • Can occur with Vyzulta:
    • no unique mild side effects
  • Can occur with both Rocklatan and Vyzulta:
    • eye pain
    • discomfort or itchiness in your eye

Serious side effects

These lists contain examples of serious side effects that can occur with Rocklatan, with Vyzulta, or with both drugs (when taken individually).

  • Can occur with Rocklatan:
    • seeing less clearly
    • deposits in the eye
  • Can occur with Vyzulta:
    • no unique serious side effects
  • Can occur with both Rocklatan and Vyzulta:
    • changes in the color of your iris (the colored part of your eye)
    • eyelash changes (such as lashes becoming thicker and longer)

Effectiveness

These drugs haven’t been directly compared in clinical studies. However, studies have found both Rocklatan and Vyzulta to be effective for treating increased eye pressure.

Costs

Rocklatan costs more than Vyzulta. The actual price you’ll pay for either drug depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use.

Rocklatan and Vyzulta are both brand-name drugs. There are currently no generic forms of either drug. Brand-name medications usually cost more than generics.

The Rocklatan dosage your doctor prescribes may depend on several factors. These may include:

  • other medical conditions you may have
  • other eye drops or medications that you are using to treat your condition

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.

Drug forms and strengths

Rocklatan comes as a liquid solution in a multi-use dropper bottle. The bottle has a tip that you’ll use to drop the solution into your eye. Rocklatan comes in one strength: 0.02% netarsudil/0.005% latanoprost.

Dosage for increased eye pressure in glaucoma or ocular hypertension

The usual dose of Rocklatan to treat increased eye pressure is one drop into the affected eye or eyes once per day, in the evening.

What if I miss a dose?

If you forget to take a dose of Rocklatan, just skip the missed dose. Then take your dose the next evening as usual. You shouldn’t take two doses at once to make up for a missed dose. This could raise your risk for side effects from the drug.

To help make sure you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm on your phone or downloading a reminder app. A kitchen timer can work, too.

Will I need to use this drug long term?

Rocklatan is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Rocklatan is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.

There are no known interactions between Rocklatan and alcohol. If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe for you to drink while taking Rocklatan.

Rocklatan can interact with several other medications. It isn’t known to interact with supplements or foods.

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.

Rocklatan and other medications

Below are some of the medications that can interact with Rocklatan. This section doesn’t contain all drugs that may interact with Rocklatan.

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

Rocklatan and eye drops containing thimerosal

Some eye drops contain a preservative called thimerosal, which helps stop the growth of bacteria in the solution. Rocklatan doesn’t contain thimerosal, and Rocklatan shouldn’t be used at the same time as eye drops that contain this preservative. That’s because mixing Rocklatan with eye drops that contain thimerosal can cause a precipitate (solid mass) to form in your eye.

If a solid mass does form, your eye won’t be able to absorb Rocklatan. Therefore, the medication may be less effective. The mass may cause irritation in your eye, but it shouldn’t cause any damage.

If you develop a solid mass in your eye, talk with your doctor. They may recommend spacing out your eyedrop doses even more. They can also recommend ways to decrease any irritation you may have from the solid mass.

Many eye drops contain other preservatives instead of thimerosal. However, an example of an eye drop that does contain thimerosal is colistin/neomycin/thonzonium/hydrocortisone eye drops (Cortisporin TC).

During your Rocklatan treatment, you don’t have to avoid vaccines or other drugs (besides eye drops) that contain thimerosal. There is only an interaction between Rocklatan and eye drops that contain thimerosal.

If you use eye drops that contain thimerosal, use them at least 5 minutes before or 5 minutes after using Rocklatan. In fact, even if your other eye drops don’t contain thimerosal, you should space them out from Rocklatan by 5 minutes. This helps you avoid washing one eye drop out of your eye with the other one. By separating the drops by at least 5 minutes, you give your eye time to absorb both medications.

If you’ll be using other eye drops with Rocklatan, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can determine if the other eye drops have thimerosal in them.

Rocklatan and other eye drops containing prostaglandins or prostaglandin analogs

Rocklatan contains two active drug ingredients: netarsudil and latanoprost. Latanoprost belongs to a group of medications called prostaglandin analogs.

Prostaglandin analogs are very similar to another kind of drug called prostaglandins. Both types of drugs decrease eye pressure by reducing the amount of fluid in your eye.

However, using another prostaglandin or prostaglandin analog eye drop with Rocklatan may cause Rocklatan to be less effective. This means that it may not work as well to lower your eye pressure. Using eye drops that contain prostaglandin analogs (such as Rocklatan) with eye drops that contain prostaglandin or prostaglandin analogs can also increase your eye pressure. This could make your condition worse.

Examples of prostaglandins or prostaglandin analogs include:

  • latanoprost (Xalatan)
  • bimatoprost (Lumigan)
  • travoprost (Travatan Z)
  • latanoprostene bunod (Vyzulta)

If you’re using other eye drops to treat increased eye pressure, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can determine if you can use your eye drops the same day as Rocklatan.

Rocklatan and herbs and supplements

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

Rocklatan and foods

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

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Rocklatan to treat certain conditions. Rocklatan may also be used off-label for other conditions. Off-label use is when a drug that’s approved to treat one condition is used to treat a different condition.

Rocklatan for increased eye pressure in glaucoma or ocular hypertension

Rocklatan is FDA-approved to treat increased eye pressure in adults with either:

  • ocular hypertension (high pressure in the eye caused by fluid buildup)
  • open-angle glaucoma, the most common type of glaucoma (an eye disease that’s usually caused by increased pressure inside the eye)

Glaucoma is an eye disease that’s typically caused by too much pressure in the eye. Glaucoma can cause damage to the optic nerve. This nerve collects information from your eyes and sends it to your brain. Over time, optic nerve damage can lead to vision loss or blindness. The only symptom of open-angle glaucoma is gradual vision loss.

Rocklatan helps decrease pressure in your eye by reducing the amount of fluid the eye naturally produces.

Effectiveness for increased eye pressure in glaucoma or ocular hypertension

Rocklatan contains two active drugs: netarsudil and latanoprost. In 3-month clinical studies, Rocklatan was compared with either netarsudil or latanoprost used alone. Pressure in people’s eyes was measured to assess how well each treatment worked.

Pressure in the eye is often reported in units of mm Hg (millimeters of mercury). Normal pressure in the eye is about 12 mm Hg to 22 mm Hg.

In these studies, people using Rocklatan had their eye pressure decrease an average of 1 mm Hg to 3 mm Hg more than people using either netarsudil or latanoprost alone.

Rocklatan may be used with other eye drops to treat increased eye pressure. You may use more than one eye drop to treat your condition if your eye pressure doesn’t decrease enough with just one eye drop.

If you do use more than one eye drop to treat your condition, use them at least 5 minutes apart. This helps you avoid washing one eye drop out of your eye with the other one. By separating the drops by at least 5 minutes, you give your eye time to absorb both medications.

Spacing out your doses of different eye drops may also help prevent interactions between the drugs. See the “Rocklatan interactions” section above for more information about drugs that may interact with Rocklatan.

You should take Rocklatan according to your doctor’s or healthcare professional’s instructions.

When you use Rocklatan, make sure that you don’t touch the tip of the eyedrop bottle to your eye. You also shouldn’t touch the tip of the eyedrop bottle with your fingers. Doing this can cause bacteria to grow on the tip of the container or in the eyedrop solution itself. Then, next time you use the bottle, you may develop an eye infection from the bacteria.

Some eye infections can be serious, and in rare cases, an infection may even lead to vision loss.

When to take

You should use Rocklatan once per day, in the evening.

To help make sure you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm on your phone or downloading a reminder app. A kitchen timer can work, too.

Rocklatan is FDA-approved to treat increased eye pressure in adults with ocular hypertension (high pressure in the eye caused by fluid buildup) or open-angle glaucoma.

About ocular hypertension and open-angle glaucoma

With ocular hypertension, the pressure in your eye is higher than it should be. This can lead to glaucoma, a type of eye disease.

Open-angle glaucoma is a condition that occurs when your eye can’t properly drain fluid. This can cause fluid to build up, which increases the pressure in your eye. Over time, increased pressure may lead to serious side effects such as blindness. The only symptom of open-angle glaucoma is gradual vision loss.

What Rocklatan does

Rocklatan helps decrease the pressure in your eye. It does this by helping your eyes get rid of aqueous humor, a fluid your eyes naturally produce. When this fluid builds up, it can increase the pressure in your eye. Reducing the amount of this fluid your eye makes, or helping your eye get rid of this fluid, decreases eye pressure.

Rocklatan contains two active drugs: netarsudil and latanoprost. Both of these drugs help your eye get rid of aqueous humor more easily, which helps lower the pressure in your eye.

How long does it take to work?

Rocklatan begins working after your first dose to decrease your eye pressure. To keep your eye pressure under control, you should keep using Rocklatan for as long as your doctor prescribes it.

It’s unknown whether Rocklatan is safe to use while pregnant. This is because use of the drug hasn’t been studied during pregnancy. Therefore, it’s recommended that you only use Rocklatan during pregnancy if the benefits of using the drug are greater than the risk to the fetus.

Rocklatan is made up of two drugs: netarsudil and latanoprost. Studies have shown that netarsudil mostly affects your eye, and the drug is absorbed in the rest of your body at a low level. Because only a small amount is absorbed into your body, a fetus would only potentially be exposed to low levels of the drug, if exposed at all.

In animal studies, netarsudil given intravenously (through a vein) caused no issues in some fetuses. However, in other cases it caused low birth weight, birth defects, or miscarriage (loss of pregnancy). It’s important to note that Rocklatan isn’t given through a vein in humans. Instead, it comes in the form of an eye drop. In addition, the drug was given in much higher doses in animal studies than the doses used to treat increased eye pressure in humans.

Animal studies have also shown that latanoprost can be harmful to a fetus. Latanoprost may have caused miscarriage when animals were given latanoprost during pregnancy (at much higher doses than what’s used in humans). However, it’s important to note that animal studies don’t always predict what will happen in humans.

If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor before starting Rocklatan. They may recommend a different medication to decrease your eye pressure.

It’s not known if Rocklatan is safe to take during pregnancy. If you’re sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your birth control needs while you’re using Rocklatan.

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

It’s not known if Rocklatan is safe to use while breastfeeding, or whether this drug passes into breastmilk. There haven’t been any studies done in people who were breastfeeding while using Rocklatan.

If you are currently breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of using Rocklatan.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Rocklatan.

Will Rocklatan cure my condition?

No, Rocklatan won’t cure your condition. However, Rocklatan can decrease the pressure in your eye. It’s used in people with increased eye pressure caused by either intraocular hypertension (high pressure in the eye caused by fluid buildup) or open-angle glaucoma.

Increased eye pressure over time can lead to serious side effects, such as blindness. So although Rocklatan will not cure your condition, it can help prevent it from getting worse.

There are currently no cures for intraocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma. The best way to treat these conditions is to decrease your eye pressure with medications such as Rocklatan.

Can I use Rocklatan while wearing contacts?

No. You shouldn’t use Rocklatan while wearing contacts. Rocklatan contains a preservative called benzalkonium chloride. It helps prevent bacteria from growing in the Rocklatan solution. However, the preservative can also be absorbed into your contact lenses.

You should take out your contact lenses before using Rocklatan. You can put your contacts back in 15 minutes after using your Rocklatan eye drops.

Can I use Rocklatan with other eye drops or eye ointments?

Yes, you can use Rocklatan with other eye drops or eye ointments. In some cases, you may need more than one type of eye drop to reduce your eye pressure enough. You may also need to use other eye drops if you have other eye conditions or if you develop an eye infection.

If you need to use more than one eye drop or eye ointment, wait at least 5 minutes between each treatment. This helps you avoid washing one eye drop or ointment out of your eye with the other one. By separating your treatments by at least 5 minutes, you give your eye time to absorb each medication.

Will Rocklatan lower my blood pressure?

No, Rocklatan won’t lower your blood pressure. Although Rocklatan decreases the pressure in your eye, it doesn’t decrease your blood pressure.

Rocklatan works by reducing the amount of fluid, called aqueous humor, that the eye naturally produces. When this fluid is reduced, it decreases the pressure in your eye. However, this doesn’t affect your blood pressure.

In comparison, some other medications that are used to decrease eye pressure, such as timolol (Timoptic), may also lower your blood pressure.

If you have questions about lowering your blood pressure, talk with your doctor.

Will Rocklatan cause any changes to my eyes, eyelids, or eyelashes?

It’s possible that using Rocklatan may cause changes to your eyes, eyelids, or eyelashes. In clinical studies, some people using Rocklatan experienced changes in eye pigmentation (eye color). Changes in eye color happens slowly over time. You may not notice a change in your eye color for months or even years after starting treatment.

If a change in your eye color occurs, your iris may become more brown. Usually, this change in eye color is permanent and doesn’t go away after stopping Rocklatan.

Rocklatan may also cause darkening of your eyelids or eyelashes. The color of your eyelids or eyelashes may continue to be darker until you stop using the medication. However, once you stop using Rocklatan, the color of your eyelids or eyelashes may return to the color they were before treatment.

Rocklatan may also cause your eyelashes to increase in length, thickness, and number. Usually, when you stop using Rocklatan, your eyelashes will go back to the way they were before you started using the drug.

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

  • Swelling of the eye. You should not use Rocklatan if you have inflammation in your eye. This is because latanoprost (one of the drugs in Rocklatan) can make swelling in your eye even worse. If you have a history of swelling in the eye, your doctor may monitor you more often during your Rocklatan treatment to make sure swelling doesn’t occur.
  • Certain problems with your eye lens. People who have certain issues with their eye lens should be monitored more often when using Rocklatan. These issues include not having a lens, having a torn lens, or having an artificial lens. Latanoprost (one of the drugs in Rocklatan) may cause macular edema. These eye lens issues can also put you at risk for developing macular edema. If you have any of these conditions or have been told you’re at risk for macular edema, your doctor may check your eyes more often during treatment. This is to make sure you aren’t developing macular edema.
  • Herpetic keratitis. You shouldn’t use Rocklatan if you have herpetic keratitis (herpes infection in your eye). This is because Rocklatan can cause your eye to become more swollen, which may make your infection worse. If you don’t have herpetic keratitis now but have had it in the past, your doctor may need to monitor you more closely during your treatment. This is because latanoprost (one of the drugs in Rocklatan) may cause the infection to come back.
  • Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Rocklatan or any of its ingredients, you shouldn’t take Rocklatan. Ask your doctor about other medications that may be better options for you.
  • Pregnancy. It’s unknown if Rocklatan is safe to use during pregnancy. For more information, see the “Rocklatan and pregnancy” section above.
  • Breastfeeding. It’s not known whether Rocklatan is safe to take while breastfeeding. For more information, see the “Rocklatan and breastfeeding” section above.

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

Do not use more Rocklatan 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 Rocklatan

If you think you’ve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor. They may recommend you flush out your eye with water to try to remove the excess Rocklatan from your eye.

You can also call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 800-222-1222 or use their online tool. But if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

The following information is provided for clinicians and other healthcare professionals.

Indications

Rocklatan is FDA-approved to reduce intraocular eye pressure in adults with:

Administration

Rocklatan is an eye drop that is used once daily in the evening. It should be separated from other eye drops by at least 5 minutes. This reduces the risk of washing one eye drop out with the other.

Mechanism of action

Rocklatan contains the active drug ingredients netarsudil and latanoprost. The drugs work together to decrease intraocular pressure by reducing the amount of aqueous humor in the eye. This is believed to occur by increasing the drainage of aqueous humor out of the eye.

Increased intraocular pressure raises the risk of permanent damage to the optic nerve and vision loss, so it is important to control intraocular pressure.

Pharmacokinetics and metabolism

Rocklatan contains two active drug ingredients: netarsudil and latanoprost. In a clinical trial, netarsudil was not absorbed systemically in 18 participants on day 1 of treatment. Participants were also tested again on day 8 of treatment. At this time, one participant had a blood concentration of 0.11 ng/mL. However, no one else had plasma concentrations greater than 0.1 ng/mL.

Latanoprost can be absorbed through the cornea once it is hydrolyzed to the active form of the drug. The active form of latanoprost can be detected in aqueous humor for 4 hours after a dose is given. It can only be detected in the plasma for the first hour after a dose is given.

Netarsudil is metabolized to its active form, AR-13503, by esterases. Latanoprost is also metabolized by esterases to its active form. The remaining active form of latanoprost may reach the systemic system, where it will be broken down by fatty acid beta-oxidation in the liver. Latanoprost is then eliminated through the kidneys.

Latanoprost is eliminated quickly from the body through intravenous or topical use. The half-life of the drug is about 17 minutes.

Contraindications

There are no contraindications to using Rocklatan.

Storage

Rocklatan should be refrigerated at a temperature of 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C) until the bottle is opened. Once the bottle is opened, it can be kept at 36°F and 77°F (2°C to 25°C) for a maximum of 6 weeks.

If the eye drops are kept refrigerated at a temperature of 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C) after opening, the eye drops can be used until the expiration date on the bottle.

Rocklatan should be protected from light.

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.

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