loteprednol ophthalmic
Brand names: Lotemax
Lotemax SM is an eye gel that contains a steroid medicine. It is used to treat inflammation and pain after eye surgery.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$60.85/unit
Generic Price
$17.91/unit
Generic Savings
71%
Generic Available
Yes (10 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Lotemax SM treats inflammation and pain in your eye after surgery.
Common side effects
No common side effects listed.
Key warnings
Using steroid eye drops for a long time may cause glaucoma.
How It Works
Lotemax SM contains loteprednol etabonate, a corticosteroid. Corticosteroids reduce inflammation in the body. By reducing inflammation in the eye, Lotemax SM helps relieve pain and swelling after surgery.
How to Take It
Shake the closed bottle once before using. Put one drop of Lotemax SM in the affected eye three times a day. Start the day after your surgery. Continue for the first 2 weeks after surgery.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
It is not known if Lotemax SM can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if Lotemax SM passes into breast milk.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. Then, continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store Lotemax SM upright at room temperature, between 59°F and 77°F.
Serious Warnings
Using steroid eye drops for a long time may cause glaucoma. This can damage your optic nerve and cause vision problems. Steroid eye drops can also cause cataracts. Steroids may also slow healing after cataract surgery. If you use this medicine for 10 days or longer, your eye pressure should be checked.
Common Questions
What is Lotemax SM used for?
How often should I use Lotemax SM?
When should I start using Lotemax SM?
How long should I use Lotemax SM?
Can Lotemax SM cause any serious side effects?
What should I do if I experience vision changes?
Is Lotemax SM safe to use during pregnancy?
How should I store Lotemax SM?
Can I use Lotemax SM if I have a viral infection in my eye?
What should I do if I miss a dose?
What drug class is loteprednol ophthalmic?
Is there a generic version of loteprednol ophthalmic?
Is loteprednol ophthalmic safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Corticosteroid (Ophthalmic)
Other drugs grouped near loteprednol ophthalmic — same-class peers and common alternatives.
aflibercept
Eylea
AHZANTIVE is a medicine used to treat certain eye problems.
Compare with loteprednol ophthalmic →
artificial tears
Refresh, Systane
Artificial tears are eye drops that lubricate your eyes.
Compare with loteprednol ophthalmic →
bevacizumab (ophthalmic)
Avastin
Avastin is a medicine that blocks a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).
Compare with loteprednol ophthalmic →
bimatoprost
Lumigan
Bimatoprost eye drops help lower pressure in the eye.
Compare with loteprednol ophthalmic →
brimonidine ophthalmic
Alphagan P
Alphagan P eye drops help lower pressure in the eye.
Compare with loteprednol ophthalmic →
Compare loteprednol ophthalmic vs aflibercept side-by-side →
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
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Related Health & Safety Data
🩺 Find a Doctor
Search prescribers for Corticosteroid (Ophthalmic)
🏨 Hospital Quality
CMS hospital ratings, safety scores & patient outcomes
💊 Supplement Data
NIH DSLD — check supplement ingredients & label claims
🍽️ Food Safety Alerts
FDA recalls, inspections & outbreak investigations
⚠️ Product Recalls
FDA, CPSC & NHTSA recall search
💉 Procedure Costs
Medicare procedure pricing for 9,297 procedures
Save on loteprednol ophthalmic
Compare prices and find discounts at pharmacies near you. Free coupons can save up to 80% on prescriptions.
Disclosure: This link may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. See our terms.
What the FDA Data Shows for loteprednol ophthalmic
The FDA label for loteprednol ophthalmic (sold under brand names such as Lotemax) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Corticosteroid (Ophthalmic) class. Lotemax SM treats inflammation and pain in your eye after surgery. Labeling covers dosing, contraindications, and monitoring requirements derived from clinical trials.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. Voluntary reports accumulate over the lifetime of a drug and reflect wide-ranging clinical use. Interaction data is drawn directly from FDA-approved prescribing information. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $17.91 versus $60.85 for the brand — a 71% 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 further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
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. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: March 17, 2023
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
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