Two medicines, side by side
Bimatoprost vs travoprost
Bimatoprost and travoprost are both labeled for glaucoma. Drugs@FDA records approvals of bimatoprost since 2001 and of travoprost since 2001. Pharmacies paid $6.97 per mL (Bimatoprost 0.03% eye drops) and $9.07 per mL (Travoprost 0.004% eye drop) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. How each works, in its label's words: Bimatoprost, “Bimatoprost, a prostaglandin analog, is a synthetic structural analog of prostaglandin with ocular hypotensive activity.”; Travoprost, “Travoprost free acid, a prostaglandin analog is a selective FP prostanoid receptor agonist, which is believed to reduce IOP by increasing uveoscleral outflow.”
Check it at the source: the bimatoprost FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 22, 2024); the travoprost FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 31, 2025).
Highlights of the bimatoprost record
Bimatoprost (Lumigan) · label of June 22, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsLUMIGAN ® (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.01% is indicated for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. LUMIGAN ® 0.01% is a prostaglandin analog indicated for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- March 16, 2001
- Generic labelers
- 13 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $6.97 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 5
Highlights of the travoprost record
Travoprost (Travatan) · label of January 31, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsTRAVATAN Z ® (travoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.004% is indicated for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. TRAVATAN Z is a prostaglandin analog indicated for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- March 16, 2001
- Generic labelers
- 11 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $9.07 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 3
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Bimatoprost label of June 22, 2024, Travoprost label of January 31, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do bimatoprost and travoprost differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Bimatoprost, “Bimatoprost, a prostaglandin analog, is a synthetic structural analog of prostaglandin with ocular hypotensive activity.”; Travoprost, “Travoprost free acid, a prostaglandin analog is a selective FP prostanoid receptor agonist, which is believed to reduce IOP by increasing uveoscleral outflow.”
Both are in FDA's class prostaglandin analogs.
Half-life, in each label's words: Bimatoprost, “cretion Following an intravenous dose of radiolabeled bimatoprost (3.12 mcg/kg) to six healthy subjects, the maximum …”; Travoprost, “From these studies, travoprost is estimated to have a plasma half-life of 45 minutes.”
Generics: bimatoprost since 2014; travoprost since 2013 (Drugs@FDA).
| Bimatoprost | Travoprost | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Glaucoma | Glaucoma |
| Pharmacologic class | Prostaglandin Analog | Prostaglandin Analog |
| How it works (label) | Bimatoprost, a prostaglandin analog, is a synthetic structural analog of prostaglandin with ocular hypotensive activity. It selectively mimics the effects of naturally occurring substances, prostamides. | Travoprost free acid, a prostaglandin analog is a selective FP prostanoid receptor agonist, which is believed to reduce IOP by increasing uveoscleral outflow. The exact mechanism of action is unknown at this time. |
| Half-life (label) | cretion Following an intravenous dose of radiolabeled bimatoprost (3.12 mcg/kg) to six healthy subjects, the maximum blood concentration of unchanged drug was 12.2 ng/mL and decreased rapidly with an elimination … | From these studies, travoprost is estimated to have a plasma half-life of 45 minutes. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | March 16, 2001 | March 16, 2001 |
| First generic approved | December 1, 2014 | March 1, 2013 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 13 labelers | 11 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $6.97 per mL (Bimatoprost 0.03% eye drops) | $9.07 per mL (Travoprost 0.004% eye drop) |
| 12-month price change | -45% | -17% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 5 | 3 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 28,651 | 8,609 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to bimatoprost
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions