Latanoprost ophthalmic and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Mai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 2, 2020

For Glaucoma, Open Angle "Ended up at Ophthalmologist with high eye pressure and prescribed latanoprost. First night, I had a fast heartbeat. I have been fighting a strange tiredness that I can barely do anything during the day. No motivation for projects or general chores. I feel anxious most times and never did before. I have trouble catching my breath and had small trouble before but nothing like this (not a smoker). Coughing all the time. Why would an eye drop to lower pressure cause all these problems with general overall well-being? I am not myself and cannot live in this state of unrest and sickness. Why does it affect all these other aspects of my health? Eyes are important, but so is staying healthy and being happy. I feel I will have to get off of it now to save myself from these issues."

• jaz...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 27, 2020

For Glaucoma, Open Angle "I was prescribed this a few months ago and have been experiencing terrible side effects. First, my vision seems to be strange, not focusing right. I had a small amount of floaters, and now they are so many and much more often. My eyes sting and are red, even was brownish in the corner one morning, that scared me. I have coughing, shortness of breath, overall tiredness, and lack of motivation. I feel anxious all the time, never felt like this before unless I was ill. I am quitting this drug and taking my chances on high pressure instead. I can't believe they prescribe this to small animals that can't tell you how horrible they must feel since many are only 12 pounds, whereas a person is 150 or so. They will push these drugs on anyone and anything to make a buck."

• Mom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 31, 2019

For Intraocular Hypertension "These drops caused TERRIBLE heart palpitations and anxiety that kept me awake at night and jittery all day long. The doctors could not figure out what was wrong and put me through numerous tests for my heart. Thinking that it could be the drops, I was prescribed a new medication. After being off this medication for a couple of weeks, the palpitations stopped and I began feeling like myself again. So thankful that this toxic medication is finally out of my body."

• Ann...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 12, 2018

For Glaucoma, Open Angle "No two generics are alike. I was on the Sandoz/CibaVision brand for 8 months. No side effects. Felt fine. My pharmacy changed the brand to Rising Pharma. Within 4 weeks, I realized this drug was making me physically ill. Fatigue, joint pain, nausea, headaches, pressure behind my eyes, sinus problems, anxiety, blurred vision, dry eye. Everything on the list of side effects. I stopped taking the drops & within days the side effects greatly subsided. A medication should not do this to a person just because it's from a different pharmaceutical company. FDA should track this information. Anyway, my doctor took me off these eye drops. Considering Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT)."

• Sta...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 16, 2021

For Glaucoma, Open Angle "I have been prescribed latanoprost and received the Greenstone brand. This was to replace the Dorzolamide HCl and Timolol Maleate, which caused a severe drop in O2 and wheezing. I wound up in the hospital (I have ongoing lung issues and should never have been prescribed that). The new Dr. prescribed latanoprost. At first, I thought it was okay. But I developed pretty severe night sweats about the same time. I didn't put it together at first... but just looked it up, and sure enough (buried in the literature). I've also had lower O2, just not as bad as the Timolol, and sinus issues, chills, jaw pain, and anxiety. PAY ATTENTION! It's hard to believe that eye drops can affect so many things, but they have a direct pathway into your body. They are DESIGNED to lower 'pressure,' so that should be a clue. It's interesting to note the differences between manufacturers. It seems that medicines are not as regulated as they should be, I wish that we made our own medicines in this country!"

• Des...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 15, 2024

For Intraocular Hypertension "I do not like this drug because it causes me depression and anxiety (and palpitations). I am either dizzy or crying or have an upset stomach. I am so afraid because this is supposed to be the best glaucoma med, top of the top with the least side effects, and I have partial vision loss in my left eye already. I can't even imagine inferior glaucoma drugs with more severe side effects. After suffering for a month, I decided to try pinching my nose by tear ducts for 2-3 minutes after applying drops to prevent spreading systemically, but I still seem to struggle. I'm 69 years old and use levothyroxine for Hashimoto's Hypothyroid, so maybe I'm more sensitive. It did lower my IOP but I want to try preservative-free latanoprost first before switching to a different kind."

• cgr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 6, 2021

For Glaucoma, Open Angle "I've been using Lumigan and dorzolamide for 5 years with no problem, but the Dr. wanted less pressure for my right eye, so prescribed Rocklatan, which is half latanoprost: only one drop of Rocklatan in one eye per day and only for the past 5 days. Such a tiny amount, but it has had a huge effect! I am a healthy and active 70-year-old -- swim every other day for 30 laps. Today I thought I had COVID (I've been vaccinated). Yesterday and today, I had an episode of a retching dry cough until I had to sit down. Today it was kind of scary -- it was hard to catch my breath because I was coughing so hard. This was after a swim. Latanoprost increases cough sensitivity -- look it up. I rarely have anxiety -- but I've had a dread kind of anxiety for 3 days. This morning when I woke up and tried to look at the weather report on my tablet in bed, I could not read it -- vision too blurry! I have put four freaking drops in one eye -- that is all. This medication is too strong for me."

• Dav...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 17, 2022

For Glaucoma, Open Angle "I was diagnosed with a retinal occlusion, which is a swollen vein in my retina due to pressure. If not cared for, I could go blind. The doctor prescribed latanoprost drops. Very early, only been taking them for 2 weeks. But I have been nervous and anxious with shakes. I also feel pressure pain in my eyes. Will return to the doctor in two weeks for a follow-up. I do not care for the anxiety and nervous feelings all day. I am curious to see if the drops helped with my eye pressure."

• Vit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 21, 2022

For Intraocular Hypertension "I have been on latanoprost for just over a week. I'm experiencing anxiety, lack of focus, mild palpitations, and some kind of dizziness. I have trouble focusing and have been feeling fatigued throughout all this time. My doctor says to use it for another week and then stop a week before I visit him again. This way, he reckons he'll be able to tell whether or not to take me off it completely or change the drop."