Netarsudil Ophthalmic
Netarsudil is a rho kinase inhibitor eye drop used to lower elevated intraocular pressure in adults with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand
The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 1 clinical label set within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →
📖 Netarsudil Ophthalmic: Patient Information Guide
A plain-language walkthrough of Netarsudil Ophthalmic — what it treats, how it works, how it’s taken, side effects, warnings and interactions. Tap any section to expand it.
🎯What it's used for▾
Netarsudil ophthalmic solution is approved to lower elevated intraocular pressure (pressure inside the eye) in adults.
- Rhopressa (netarsudil 0.02% eye drops) is indicated for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma
- Rhopressa is also indicated for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with ocular hypertension (higher-than-normal eye pressure without glaucoma damage yet present)
⚙️How it works▾
Netarsudil is a rho kinase inhibitor — it blocks an enzyme called rho kinase inside the eye. Blocking this enzyme is believed to help the eye's natural drainage system (the trabecular meshwork) work more efficiently, allowing aqueous humor (the fluid inside the eye) to flow out more freely. Less fluid trapped inside the eye means lower intraocular pressure. The full details of this mechanism are still being studied.
When applied as an eye drop, netarsudil is broken down by natural enzymes in the eye itself (esterases), and very little of the drug is absorbed into the bloodstream.
💊How it's taken▾
Rhopressa comes as an eye drop solution and is used once every evening in the affected eye or eyes. Twice-daily dosing is not recommended and is not well tolerated.
- If you miss an evening dose, simply use your next dose the following evening — do not double up
- If you use other eye drops to lower eye pressure, separate each medication by at least 5 minutes
- Remove contact lenses before putting in Rhopressa, and wait at least 15 minutes before reinserting them
🤒Side effects — in detail▾
The most common side effect is eye redness — about half of patients experience it, and in some cases it leads to stopping the medication. Other frequently reported effects include:
- Corneal verticillata — a whorl-like deposit pattern on the cornea seen in about 1 in 5 patients, typically without any impact on vision; it usually resolves after stopping treatment
- Instillation site pain — discomfort when putting in the drops
- Conjunctival hemorrhage — small, harmless-looking burst blood vessels in the white of the eye
- Eyelid redness
- Blurred vision
- Increased tearing
- Minor reduction in visual sharpness
Contact your doctor promptly if you experience eye pain or a noticeable change in your vision, as this may signal a more serious reaction such as corneal edema.
⚠️Warnings & precautions▾
- Corneal edema (swelling of the cornea's surface): Some patients — particularly those with pre-existing corneal swelling or who have had certain eye procedures — have developed a honeycomb or blister-like corneal swelling. It typically resolves after stopping Rhopressa. Report eye pain or vision changes to your doctor right away.
- Risk of eye infection (bacterial keratitis): Multi-dose eye drop bottles can become contaminated if the tip touches the eye or another surface. This is especially a concern in patients who have corneal disease or a disruption to the eye's surface. Always avoid touching the dropper tip to anything.
- Contact lenses: Remove lenses before each dose and wait 15 minutes before putting them back in.
🔀What it interacts with▾
The FDA label for Rhopressa does not identify specific drug, food, or supplement interactions; however, if you use other eye drops for glaucoma or eye pressure, coordination is important.
- Other topical ophthalmic (eye drop) medications: Allow at least 5 minutes between Rhopressa and any other eye drop used to lower intraocular pressure, to avoid washing one medication out with another
This is not a complete list of interactions. Always talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
📋Before taking it▾
- Pre-existing corneal disease or recent eye surgery: These conditions may increase your risk of corneal edema with Rhopressa — tell your doctor before starting
- Contact lens wearers: Lenses must be removed before each dose and reinserted no sooner than 15 minutes afterward
- Pregnancy: There are no adequate studies in pregnant women. Animal studies at very high intravenous doses showed embryo/fetal harm, but the eye drop route results in very low systemic exposure. Discuss risks and benefits with your doctor.
- Breastfeeding: It is not known whether netarsudil passes into breast milk. Systemic absorption from eye drops is very low, but talk to your doctor before using Rhopressa while breastfeeding.
- Children under 18: Safety and effectiveness have not been established; Rhopressa is not approved for pediatric use.
- Older adults: No differences in safety or effectiveness have been observed compared to younger adults; no special precautions are needed based on age alone.
🔬Pharmacokinetics — how your body processes it▾
When applied as an eye drop, netarsudil stays mostly in the eye and very little enters the bloodstream. In a study of healthy adults using Rhopressa once daily for 8 days, blood concentrations of netarsudil were undetectable in virtually all cases. Only one participant had a trace measurable level of the active metabolite (AR-13503) at a single time point.
Inside the eye, netarsudil is broken down by enzymes called esterases into its active metabolite. This local metabolism means the drug acts where it is needed — in the eye — without significant whole-body effects.
📦How to store it▾
Store at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F) until opened. refrigerated at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F), then the product can be used until the expiration date stamped on the bottle.
📄 Written from Netarsudil Ophthalmic’s FDA-approved label information, summarized in plain language with AI, and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Every point is grounded in that labeling — nothing is invented. How we use AI →
🩺 Pharmacist Counseling Corner
Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Netarsudil Ophthalmic — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.
What exactly is Rhopressa supposed to do for my eyes? ▾
My eyes look really red since I started using these drops — is that normal? ▾
I noticed some unusual swirly marks in my vision — what could that be? ▾
Can I wear my contact lenses while using Rhopressa? ▾
Is it safe to use Rhopressa if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding? ▾
What should I watch for that means I need to call my doctor right away? ▾
Is Netarsudil Ophthalmic available over the counter? ▾
When was Netarsudil Ophthalmic first available? ▾
Who makes Netarsudil Ophthalmic? ▾
💬 Answers drafted from Netarsudil Ophthalmic’s FDA-approved label information, summarized in plain language with AI, and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Grounded in that labeling — nothing is made up. How we use AI →
🧰 Keep exploring
💊 How Netarsudil Ophthalmic comes
Netarsudil Ophthalmic is available in 1 form. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.
Eye drops
How this form is used
- Rhopressa is used to reduce elevated intraocular pressure in adults with open-angle glaucoma
- Rhopressa is used to reduce elevated intraocular pressure in adults with ocular hypertension
- Rhopressa: instill one drop into the affected eye(s) once daily in the evening
- Rhopressa: if using other eye drops to lower eye pressure, wait at least 5 minutes between each medication
- Rhopressa: remove contact lenses before instilling the drop and wait 15 minutes before reinserting them
- Rhopressa: if a dose is missed, resume with the next scheduled evening dose — do not use twice in one day
📊 Netarsudil Ophthalmic across the U.S. market
How Netarsudil Ophthalmic appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.
Share of FDA-listed product records by manufacturer — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.
📈 How widely Netarsudil Ophthalmic is used
A general measure of how commonly Netarsudil Ophthalmic is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.
Think of this as a proxy for how widely Netarsudil Ophthalmic is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.
How commonly is Netarsudil Ophthalmic prescribed? Of the 1,596 medications we measure, Netarsudil Ophthalmic ranks #769 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 52% of them.
Utilization by Netarsudil Ophthalmic product
Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.
netarsudil 0.2 MG/ML Ophthalmic Solution
Summed across the 1 of 2 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1992868
Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.
Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Netarsudil Ophthalmic, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 1 of 2 listed Netarsudil Ophthalmic NDCs with Medicaid activity.
🔍 Compare Netarsudil Ophthalmic products
A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Netarsudil Ophthalmic — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)
| Strength | Route | Manufacturer / Labeler | Category ⓘ | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 💊Eye drops | ||||
| 0.2 mg/mL | Ophthalmic; Topical | Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | NDA | View NDC → |
| 0.2 mg/mL | Ophthalmic, Topical | Alcon Laboratories, Inc. | NDA | View NDC → |
| 0.2 mg/mL | Ophthalmic; Topical | Alcon Laboratories, Inc. | NDA | View NDC → |
Showing 3 of 3 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 3 Netarsudil Ophthalmic NDCs →
📈 What people report — real-world data (FDA FAERS)
After a medicine reaches the market, patients, doctors and drugmakers can send the FDA reports of problems they think may be linked to it. Here’s what’s been reported for Netarsudil Ophthalmic — a signal of what to watch for, not proof the drug caused it.
Source: openFDA, from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). These are voluntary reports — they don’t prove the drug caused the effect, and counts reflect how often something was reported, not how often it actually happens. Reports also often name the very problem the medicine is taken for — a common reason to file one is that the drug didn’t help — so for a pain reliever you may see “pain” high on the list; that points to why the report was filed, not to the drug causing the symptom. This counts every report that lists Netarsudil Ophthalmic in any role, so the total runs higher than the FDA’s official dashboard, which counts only cases where the drug is the suspect. For the authoritative figures, see the FDA FAERS Public Dashboard. Always talk to your pharmacist or doctor.
🏛️ The road to your pharmacy
How Netarsudil Ophthalmic went from FDA review to the pharmacy shelf — the key milestones in its regulatory journey.
Source: Drugs@FDA.
🚨 Recall history
A recall is when a specific batch of a medicine is pulled from the market — usually a manufacturing issue, not a problem with the drug itself. Class I is most serious, Class III least.
Source: openFDA drug enforcement (recall) reports.
RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength
This page starts with one ingredient concept (IN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). Combination products remain separate concepts with their own pages.
RxCUI 1992864 1 dose form · 1 strength
-
Dose form (SCDF) Ophthalmic Solution RxCUI 1992867In current FDA listingsClinical drug / strength (SCD) 0.2 MG/MLRxCUI 1992868
Look up RxCUI 1992864 in the RxCUI Atlas →
RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.
📦 Supply & shortage status
Whether Netarsudil Ophthalmic is in short supply in the U.S. right now, plus any shortage history the FDA has on record. A shortage usually reflects a manufacturing or demand issue — not a safety problem with the drug.
Source: openFDA, from the FDA Drug Shortages database.
🏷️ Sold under these brand names
🏭 Manufacturers & labelers
RxNorm drug class
Netarsudil Ophthalmic belongs to the Rho Kinase Inhibitor class.
Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.
🔬 Where this comes from
Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.
How we combine label and product data
HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records; we don’t author the underlying clinical facts. We identified 1 FDA-filed SPL label set within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. The representative label is the starting point for the displayed reference monograph; the 12 largest stored in-scope SPL records, which may include that representative, are compared section by section, and the longest available version of each section is retained. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, product-listed strengths, and product-record counts are aggregated separately from ingredient-matched FDA NDC Directory records; package records listed above are associated with the linked SPL; and the normalized concept hierarchy comes from NLM RxNorm.
Where a section is identified as AI-written, its plain-language text is generated from bounded label evidence. New draft drug pages remain in the admin review queue before first publication. Alcon Laboratories, Inc. is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates; it is not the sole source used for the page.
This is general education, not medical advice — always consult your doctor or pharmacist about your medications and any medical condition. For the exact wording of the linked representative label, view that label on DailyMed; some displayed composite sections may come from other in-scope SPL labels. Learn how we use AI and our data sources & update cadence.