Bimatoprost is a Prostaglandin analog that effectively treats eye conditions such as Glaucoma and Intraocular Hypertension.
The FDA has also approved Bimatoprost as a prescribed medication to treat Hypotrichosis for eyelashes.
Although Bimatoprost is highly effective, you should be more cautious while using it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
This is because Bimatoprost or other medications may cause health issues for the mother and child.
Hence, many pregnant and breastfeeding women question, “Can Bimatoprost ophthalmic solution be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding?”.
This article will highlight the safety and efficacy of Bimatoprost during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
We will also talk about some necessary precautions to be taken while using Bimatoprost.
Can Bimatoprost be used in pregnancy or breastfeeding
Bimatoprost is a safe medication used to treat Glaucoma and promote eyelash growth.
However, its use during pregnancy or breastfeeding may be limited.
Hence, it is always advisable to use Bimatoprost under your doctor’s guidance if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Are you considering using Careprost to treat Glaucoma? Read our article: What are the Benefits of Careprost? A Closer Look, to know its benefits.
Intraocular Hypertension is an eye condition characterized by elevated eye pressure, damaging the optic nerve and thus leading to vision loss.
Hypotrichosis of eyelashes leads to an insufficient amount of eyelashes.
Prostaglandin analogs are a family of medications that bind to prostaglandin receptors and aid in reducing eye pressure.
Bimatoprost use during pregnancy
During pregnancy, the pressure inside the eyes (intraocular pressure) normally decreases.Â
However, many Glaucoma patients continue to require medical therapy for the condition.Â
Some may experience intraocular pressure elevation during pregnancy despite having managed Glaucoma before conception.
Hence, Glaucoma patients are required to maintain therapy throughout pregnancy.
Although no severe side effects have been found in pregnant ladies using Bimatoprost, consulting a doctor before using the medication is still advised.
This is because Bimatoprost and other eye drop medications can get absorbed into the blood in small amounts after being administered.Â
Theoretically, Glaucoma eye drops might harm a fetus; however, at regular doses, they might not have a significant clinical impact.
Also no topical antiglaucoma agents have good evidence supporting their safety for fetuses based on human research.
The FDA classifies medications into A, B, C, D, and X depending on their suitability for use during pregnancy.Â
Bimatoprost belongs to class C.Â
Animal studies reported premature delivery or abortion after taking Bimatoprost and other prostaglandin analog.Â
However, there is no well-established human research on the subject.Â
As a result, you must remember to take the medication only after consulting your doctor.
Bimatoprost use during breastfeeding
There is no information available on using Bimatoprost eye drops during breastfeeding.
However, Bimatoprost is considered to be safe for use while breastfeeding when used appropriately under a doctor’s guidance.
This is because, due to its brief half-life, it is unlikely to enter the infant’s circulation or have any negative effects on breastfed babies.
After applying eye drops, apply pressure on the tear duct near the corner of the eye for one minute or more.
Then wipe away any extra solution with an absorbent tissue to significantly reduce the quantity of medication that enters breastmilk.
Wondering if women can use Careprost or not? Read our article: Exploring: Is Careprost Suitable for Both Men and Women?, to know if Careprost is suitable for you.
How to use Bimatoprost safely
Generally, Bimatoprost is considered safe to use during pregnancy or breastfeeding when used appropriately.
However, the following safety precautions should be taken to reduce the risk of any side effects to you and your child:
- Take the medication as directed every day at the same time
- If you have an allergy to Bimatoprost or any of the medication’s ingredients, avoid using it
- Before using Bimatoprost, talk to your doctor if you take any other medications like Latanoprost, as the two may interact and cause side effects
- Bimatoprost usage should not be stopped without talking to a doctor as stopping the eye drops might reverse its effect
- Benzalkonium Chloride in Bimatoprost can be absorbed by soft contact lenses
- Hence if you use contact lenses, remove them before using Bimatoprost and put them back only after 15 minutes
- The medication should be instilled only into the affected eye or eyes once in the evening
Conclusion
For every mother, their child’s health is important.
Hence, each medication should be used very cautiously while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Most women who wish to grow eyelashes or have Glaucoma wonder if Bimatoprost ophthalmic solution can be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding or not.
Despite a lack of well-controlled research, Bimatoprost is usually regarded as safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
However, it is always recommended to follow some safety measures and use Bimatoprost only after consulting a certified healthcare professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use Bimatoprost while breastfeeding?
Yes, Bimatoprost is safe to use while breastfeeding.Â
Due to its brief half-life, it is unlikely to enter the infant’s blood circulation or have any negative effects on breastfed babies.
Can I use Bimatoprost while pregnant?
Yes, Bimatoprost can be used during pregnancy.
Only a small amount of it enters your blood after being administered to your eye.Â
Hence, it may not cause any harm to your baby. However, more research is needed on this.
What eye drops are safe while breastfeeding?
While breastfeeding, you can use Sodium Cromoglicate eye drops.Â
It’s possible that only very small amounts will enter your breast milk; thus, it is unlikely to harm your infant.
What pregnancy category is Bimatoprost?
The FDA has divided medications into five different categories: A, B, C, D, and X, based on their safety to use during pregnancy.Â
Bimatoprost belongs to the C category.
How long after eye drops can I breastfeed?
There is no need to wait to breastfeed after using Bimatoprost.
However, there isn’t much information about its use during nursing, but very little of it is probably going to enter the milk.Â
This is because of the way Bimatoprost functions and the fact that it is applied topically rather than being injected or swallowed.
When referencing outside resources, GoodrxMedicine always provides full citations. To learn more about the measures we use to maintain the quality of our content, please review our Content Information Policy.