Drug promises fuller lashes, but at what cost?

You may have heard about the new drug Latisse that promises—for about $120 a month—“longer, fuller and darker” eyelashes. The Food and Drug Administration recently approved the drug to treat what the manufacturer, Allergan, calls “inadequate” eyelashes. Allergan expects yearly sales of more than $500 million. But sales numbers aside, according to our consultants, the drug may also carry some serious risks to your vision, in addition to some not-so-desirable cosmetic side effects.

For starters, Latisse, which is painted on the eyelid with a nail-brush-style applicator once a day, may potentially mask undiagnosed glaucoma. Latisse (chemical name is bimatoprost) began life as the glaucoma drug Lumigan. When Lumigan went through clinical trials, some peculiar side effects became apparent, including thicker eyelash growth. The drugmaker apparently knew it was on to something. The FDA approved Latisse with just one safety and efficacy trial, basing their approval largely on what is already known about Lumigan.

But the Latisse trial excluded patients who had glaucoma and other eye problems. Because bimatoprost lowers eye pressure in glaucoma patients using Lumigan, it could have the same effect on cosmetic users of Latisse. Our consultants are concerned that because of that potential effect, people who develop glaucoma or other eye problems may not be diagnosed if they are using Latisse, potentially delaying necessary treatments.

If you go to the Latisse Web site you’ll see an eye as blue as a tropical sea, surrounded by lush, palm-tree-like eyelashes. But that Caribbean-blue iris could change to dark brown in patients using the drug. Some people could see a permanent change in the color of their eyes, with lighter greens and blues turning to darker browns.

And then there’s the possibility of a permanently darkened eyelid. We are concerned that the Latisse trial included too few African-Americans, who may be especially prone to this side effect. And it can cause itchy, red eyes in a significant number of users.

We're also worried that the people using Latisse for cosmetic reasons could be less likely than users of Lumigan to use the medication as directed. Might some people apply more than necessary in an effort to get even longer eyelashes? If so, it might exacerbate some of the cosmetic side effects that appeared in the drug’s trials.

CR's Take: All drugs have risks that need to be weighed against their benefits. Those risks should be under greater scrutiny when the drug’s benefits are cosmetic. One expert we consulted said she’d require patients to undergo a full eye exam before prescribing Latisse. That’s not a bad idea for anyone considering using the drug, and patients who do use it should follow up with an annual eye exam to detect any changes in the eye.

—Kevin McCarthy, associate editor

Read more about glaucoma.

Comments

[gogirl]

The risk is the same as with all medications..if not used as directed then it may produced effects not wanted..If the patient uses "more than directed" it would be no different than if they choose to take additional blood pressure medication or an additional viagra...come on at some point we have to be responsible for how we take/use medications...people must be held responsible for their choices

[Reader]

.

the 'African-American' (AA) 'Ethnic' group is *not* the
same group as the’Black American' (BA) 'Race' group --
that the two (2) terms are *not* synonymous and that the
two (2) terms should *not* be used inter-changeably.

We are *not* speaking of ‘semantics’ here – but rather
– the BAs & AAs are two different groups of people.

The AAs are the (largely Mixed-Race) ETHNIC group.

The BAs are the (Mono-Raced) RACE group.

As confusing as it seems -- the U.S. government
[due to racism & wanting to stigmatize the part
of their lineage that was from Africa which, by
the way, is only one part of their lineage] ---

has labeled those individuals who are the known
"descendents of the survivors" of the system of
chattel-slavery found in the USA as being AAs
(the hyphen is used in reference to acknowledging
the fact that most of them are Mixed-Race,
with African & non-African blood lines)

AND

has labeled those people who are "volitional immigrants"
who are directly from places such as the continent of
African, the West Indies, etc. -- as being BAs
(with the word 'Black' used in reference to acknowledging
the fact that they are of a Mono-racial full-Black lineage).

In addition, it should also be remembered that – although
some AAs adhere to a socio-political ‘identity’ that is
often described by the slang term of “black”—the AAs
are actually *not* a "Race" group at all -- but rather
they *are* a largely Mixed-Race 'Ethnic' group
(and the socio-political ‘identity’ that a person chooses
*does not* change their racially-mixed ancestral lineage).

Most (+70%) of the people born to two (2) parents who
are of the AA ‘Ethnic’ group are are of a Multi-Racially
‘Mixed’ (MGM) lineage – while the people to two (2)
parents who are of the BA ‘Racial’ group – on the
other hand – are of a Mono-Racially ‘Black’ lineage.

There is a big difference between a largely Multi-racial
'Ethnic' group and between a Mono-racial 'Race group.

In addition, there is also a big difference between
one's socio-political 'identity' (ex. "black") and
one's ancestral racial 'lineage' (ex. 'Mixed').

Just because a person adheres to a given
socio-political 'identity' does *not* change
the composition of their ancestral 'lineage'.

Thus ...
Every 'Black' person is NOT an AA
And ...
Every AA person is NOT 'Black'.

The links below explain even better.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Al5eeK2CFwcv4rD5U5qzvEfty6IX?qid=20070527201834AAIhzhM&show=7#profile-info-CiC2JY9Maa

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AiebDu.tSshJzQ0wS5fMp7jty6IX?qid=20070623205206AANUzPN&show=7#profile-info-q1hdwifgaa

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AjwuxYj8agKY7yGgqaJ7i.Xty6IX?qid=20070704121228AA7ZMsA&show=7#profile-info-ezQwEaJLaa

.

[Organic Cosmetics]

This drug that promises “longer, fuller and darker” eyelashes would prove to be too tempting to the teenagers. However we should always be cautious of such cosmetic drugs as they can also have real harmful effects in the near future. :-(

[N Phair]

Regarding Revitalash as being a safer alternative: It is my understanding that Revitalash either contains the same drug or another type of prostaglandin analogue. So you have taking the same risks when using Revitalash. You may want to check out Paula Begoun's analysis of this controversy.

[Dorothy]

I have been using this drug for about a year for Glaucoma. I did experience some itching and reported it to my doctor. I was told to keep the medicine in the refrigerator and it worked, the itching stopped. I have noticed much improvement in my eyesight with hazy spots becoming clearer. As for the side effect of darkening of the eyecolor, I had hazel eyes (avocada,and brown)and I recently noticed that my eyes have started to turn a aquamarine blue with the brown flecks becoming smaller. Could this effect be an interaction of some sort?

[Tammie]

I have shopped here in the Tampa area and have found EVERY Dr.'s office who prescribes this is telling all their patients to reuse the brushes and each bottleor "kit" will actually get you 2 months of use. Excuse me, but the tiny amount in the bottle won't last 60 days if used as the directions advise. I don't think that is what Allergan intended, or is it? Isn't this an irresponsible way to sell this drug, against the package directions? I have shared my concerns with the company and they claim they have no idea why local reps. would be advising their Dr,'s to tell their patients to 'cheat'. Why don't they drop the "kit" price in half and instruct us according to the FDA guidelines?

[Sylvia]

I really hope ladies take some caution if they decide to use this product... in my opinion, the pros out weigh the cons. Side effects are dark circles, change in the color of your iris, red/itchy eyes... hmm, I would think that out weighs having more eyelashes. Not to mention, why go through the hassle of a prescription DRUG. I have been using a cosmetic called Revitalash for a while now and it does what latisse claims to do and I feel i don't need to worry!!