Prescription medication · Prostaglandin Analog (Ophthalmic)
tafluprost
Also sold as Zioptan. Tafluprost eye drops are used to lower high pressure inside your eye.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 2,845
- FDA reportsLightly reported
- 60% less
- Generic vs brandBig savings
- $8.51
- Brand price (NADAC)
What the data shows
tafluprost (Zioptan) is a prescription Prostaglandin Analog (Ophthalmic), among the least-reported drugs the FDA tracks (2,845 FDA reports), whose generic runs roughly half the brand price or less (60% 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.
tafluprost (Zioptan) is a prescription Prostaglandin Analog (Ophthalmic). Tafluprost eye drops are used to lower high pressure inside your eye.
Tafluprost 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
$8.51/unit
Generic Price
$3.38/unit
Generic Savings
60%
Generic Available
Yes (3 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Tafluprost eye drops are used to lower high pressure inside your eye.
Common side effects
Redness of the eye, Eye stinging or irritation, Eye itching
Key warnings
Tafluprost can cause changes in the color of your iris (the colored part of your eye), eyelid, and eyelashes.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from tafluprost's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Tafluprost is similar to a natural substance in your body called prostaglandin. It works by increasing the flow of fluid out of your eye. This helps to lower the pressure inside your eye.
How to Take It
Use one drop of tafluprost in the affected eye(s) once a day, in the evening. Do not use it more than once a day. Using it more often may make it less effective. If you are using other eye drops, wait at least 5 minutes before using tafluprost. Use the solution right after opening the single-use container and throw away any remaining solution.
This is a plain-language summary of tafluprost's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tafluprost may harm an unborn baby. Women who could become pregnant should use birth control while using this medicine. It is not known if tafluprost passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
This is a plain-language summary of tafluprost's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
This is a plain-language summary of tafluprost's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store unopened pouches in the refrigerator. Once opened, store pouches at room temperature for up to 30 days.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 2,845 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for tafluprost, by number of reports
- Eye redness
Eye redness
459 reports
- Eye irritation
Eye irritation
416 reports
- Eye pain
Eye pain
288 reports
- Eye itching
Eye itching
227 reports
- Death
Death
197 reports
- Blurred vision 167
Blurred vision
167 reports
- Headache 164
Headache
164 reports
- Eye swelling 122
Eye swelling
122 reports
- Dry eye 107
Dry eye
107 reports
- Increased eye pressure 95
Increased eye pressure
95 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 tafluprost 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 tafluprost sits
tafluprost has more FDA adverse-event reports than 17% 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 tafluprost; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 2,845 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2010–2025.
Total Reports
2,845
Reports Mentioning Death
326
11.5% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
275
Top Indication
Glaucoma
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OCULAR HYPERAEMIA | 459 |
| 2 | EYE IRRITATION | 416 |
| 3 | EYE PAIN | 288 |
| 4 | EYE PRURITUS | 227 |
| 6 | DEATH | 197 |
| 7 | VISION BLURRED | 167 |
| 8 | HEADACHE | 164 |
| 9 | EYE SWELLING | 122 |
| 10 | DRY EYE | 107 |
| 11 | INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE INCREASED | 95 |
| 12 | PHOTOPHOBIA | 85 |
| 13 | LACRIMATION INCREASED | 74 |
| 14 | DIZZINESS | 69 |
| 15 | DYSPNOEA | 69 |
| 16 | HYPERSENSITIVITY | 64 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Tafluprost can cause changes in the color of your iris (the colored part of your eye), eyelid, and eyelashes. The iris color change may be permanent. Eyelash changes, like increased length or thickness, are usually reversible when you stop using the medicine. Use with caution if you have active inflammation inside your eye, as it may worsen. Tafluprost may cause swelling in the back of the eye, especially if you have had cataract surgery or have other risk factors.
Common Questions
Can I use tafluprost more than once a day to lower my eye pressure faster?
What should I do if I wear contact lenses?
How long does it take for tafluprost to start working?
Can I use tafluprost with other eye drops?
What should I do if I experience eye irritation after using tafluprost?
Will tafluprost change my eye color?
Can tafluprost affect my eyelashes?
How should I store tafluprost?
What happens if tafluprost is exposed to high temperatures?
Is it safe to use tafluprost if I am pregnant?
What are the common side effects of tafluprost?
What drug class is tafluprost?
Is there a generic version of tafluprost?
Is tafluprost safe during pregnancy?
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bimatoprost
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What the FDA Data Shows for tafluprost
The FDA label for tafluprost (sold under brand names such as Zioptan) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Prostaglandin Analog (Ophthalmic) class. Tafluprost eye drops are used to lower high pressure inside your eye. Official labeling lists 13 commonly reported side effects, including Redness of the eye, Eye stinging or irritation, Eye itching.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 2,845 voluntary reports. Interaction data is drawn directly from FDA-approved prescribing information. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $3.38 versus $8.51 for the brand - a 60% 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: December 4, 2024
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 and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
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