Prescription medication · Prostaglandin Analog (Ophthalmic)
bimatoprost
Also sold as Lumigan. This medicine treats high pressure inside your eye.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 28,128
- FDA reportsModerately reported
- 89% less
- Generic vs brandHuge savings
- $96.35
- Brand price (NADAC)
What the data shows
bimatoprost (Lumigan) is a prescription Prostaglandin Analog (Ophthalmic), reported at a middle-of-the-pack volume (28,128 FDA reports), whose generic runs roughly half the brand price or less (89% less).
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
bimatoprost (Lumigan) is a prescription Prostaglandin Analog (Ophthalmic). This medicine treats high pressure inside your eye.
Bimatoprost eye drops help lower pressure in the eye. It is used for people with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$96.35/unit
Generic Price
$10.55/unit
Generic Savings
89%
Generic Available
Yes (9 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
NADAC price trail: BIMATOPROST 0.03% EYE DROPS
Same CMS presentation as the headline generic unit price above (2 effective dates). Adjacent % compares consecutive NADAC releases for this description only, not a patient out-of-pocket quote. Latest step: +13.5% vs prior release.
| Effective | NADAC / unit | vs prior | NDCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 17, 2024 | $13.49/ML | - | 1 |
| December 18, 2024 | $15.31/ML | +13.5% | 17 |
What it does
This medicine treats high pressure inside your eye.
Common side effects
Redness of the eye (conjunctival hyperemia), Increased eyelash growth, Eye itching (ocular pruritus)
Key warnings
Bimatoprost can cause increased brown pigmentation of the iris, which is likely to be permanent.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from bimatoprost's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Bimatoprost is like a natural substance in your body. It works by helping fluid drain better from inside your eye. This lowers the pressure in your eye.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 28,128 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for bimatoprost, by number of reports
- Treatment Failure
Treatment Failure
3,077 reports
- Ocular Hyperaemia
Ocular Hyperaemia
2,333 reports
- Eye Irritation
Eye Irritation
1,841 reports
- Madarosis
Madarosis
1,386 reports
- Eye Pruritus
Eye Pruritus
1,320 reports
- Erythema Of Eyelid 1,012
Erythema Of Eyelid
1,012 reports
- Eye Pain 937
Eye Pain
937 reports
- Hypersensitivity 851
Hypersensitivity
851 reports
- Vision Blurred 834
Vision Blurred
834 reports
- Intraocular Pressure Increased 715
Intraocular Pressure Increased
715 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for bimatoprost each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where bimatoprost sits
bimatoprost has more FDA adverse-event reports than 62% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is bimatoprost; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 28,128 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
28,128
Reports Mentioning Death
761
2.7% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
3,060
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | TREATMENT FAILURE | 3,077 |
| 3 | OCULAR HYPERAEMIA | 2,333 |
| 4 | EYE IRRITATION | 1,841 |
| 5 | MADAROSIS | 1,386 |
| 6 | EYE PRURITUS | 1,320 |
| 7 | ERYTHEMA OF EYELID | 1,012 |
| 8 | EYE PAIN | 937 |
| 9 | HYPERSENSITIVITY | 851 |
| 10 | VISION BLURRED | 834 |
| 11 | INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE INCREASED | 715 |
| 12 | FATIGUE | 705 |
| 14 | HEADACHE | 673 |
| 15 | DRY EYE | 647 |
| 16 | EYE SWELLING | 646 |
| 18 | DYSPNOEA | 543 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Bimatoprost can cause increased brown pigmentation of the iris, which is likely to be permanent. It can also cause your eyelashes to get longer, thicker, and more numerous. These eyelash changes are usually reversible when you stop using the medicine. This medicine may also cause inflammation inside the eye. Use caution if you have active inflammation in the eye. Macular edema has been reported with bimatoprost. Use with caution if you have risk factors for macular edema.
Common Questions
Can bimatoprost change my eye color?
Will my eyelashes grow longer with this medicine?
What if my eyes get red after using the drops?
Can I use bimatoprost with my contact lenses?
What should I do if I experience eye pain?
How long does it take for bimatoprost to start working?
Can I use bimatoprost more than once a day to lower my eye pressure faster?
Can children use bimatoprost?
What ingredients are in bimatoprost eye drops?
What are the common side effects of bimatoprost?
What drug class is bimatoprost?
Is there a generic version of bimatoprost?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for bimatoprost?
Related Medications in Prostaglandin Analog (Ophthalmic)
Other drugs grouped near bimatoprost - same-class peers and common alternatives.
aflibercept
Eylea
AHZANTIVE is a medicine used to treat certain eye problems.
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artificial tears
Refresh, Systane
Artificial tears are eye drops that lubricate your eyes.
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bevacizumab (ophthalmic)
Avastin
Avastin is a medicine that blocks a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).
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brimonidine ophthalmic
Alphagan P
Alphagan P eye drops help lower pressure in the eye.
Compare with bimatoprost →
brimonidine/timolol
Combigan
Combigan eye drops contain two medicines that lower pressure in the eye.
Compare with bimatoprost →
Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for bimatoprost: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 28,128.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 2.71%.
- inclisiran Δ 0.01 pts · 6,989 reports · PCSK9 siRNA 2.72%death share
- lurasidone Δ 0.04 pts · 20,544 reports · Atypical Antipsychotic 2.75%death share
- phenelzine Δ 0.06 pts · 1,551 reports · Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI) 2.64%death share
- fexofenadine Δ 0.06 pts · 19,831 reports · Second-Generation Antihistamine 2.77%death share
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for bimatoprost
The FDA label for bimatoprost (sold under brand names such as Lumigan) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Prostaglandin Analog (Ophthalmic) class. This medicine treats high pressure inside your eye. Official labeling lists 3 commonly reported side effects, including Redness of the eye (conjunctival hyperemia), Increased eyelash growth, Eye itching (ocular pruritus).
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 28,128 voluntary reports. Interaction data is drawn directly from FDA-approved prescribing information. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $10.55 versus $96.35 for the brand - a 89% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: July 17, 2023
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages