LOTEMAX loteprednol etabonate 5 mg/mL Suspension/ Drops
🆔 Identity & classification
Where does this data come from?
🏭 Manufacturer & labeler
Where does this data come from?
🩺 Clinical
Ophthalmic loteprednol products are used to treat different eye conditions: Loteprednol (Inveltys, Lotemax, Lotemax SM) is used to treat swelling and pain after cataract surgery (procedure to treat clouding of the lens in the eye). Loteprednol (Alrex) is used to reduce eye redness, itching, and swelling caused by seasonal allergies. Loteprednol (Lotemax) is used to reduce eye swelling caused by allergies, certain eye infections, ocular rosacea (condition that can cause swelling, redness, and itching of the eye), herpes zoster (shingles; a rash that can occur in people who have had chickenp...
Read the full MedlinePlus article ↗- It depends on which product you've been given. Some versions — like Alrex — treat seasonal eye allergies. Eysuvis is used short-term for dry eye disease. Others, like Inveltys and...
- What is loteprednol etabonate actually used for?
- Always wash your hands before touching your eyes or the bottle. Shake the bottle as directed — the shaking instructions are slightly different for each product, so check your label...
- That depends on your condition and which product you're using. For post-surgical use, most products are used for the first two weeks after surgery. Eysuvis for dry eye is approved...
Patient education
Supplement & herbal interactions
Where does this data come from?
Ask a licensed pharmacist directly — free, answered by our team.
🧪 Inactive Ingredients / Excipients
Inactive ingredients, also called excipients, are components of the drug product other than the active ingredient. They may include fillers, dyes, coatings, preservatives, flavors, or other formulation ingredients.
💡 Tap an ingredient (hover on desktop) to see what it is and why it’s used.
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0.1 mg / 1 mL
UNII F5UM2KM3W7
Benzalkonium chloride is a chemical compound that works as a preservative and antimicrobial agent in medications. It prevents bacterial and fungal growth in liquid formulations to keep the product safe during storage and use.
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UNII 7FLD91C86K
Edetate disodium is a chemical compound that binds and removes certain metal ions. In medicines, it acts as a preservative and stabilizer by preventing metals like calcium from interfering with the product's shelf life and consistency.
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UNII PDC6A3C0OX
Glycerin is a clear, thick liquid derived from plant oils or fats. It acts as a humectant to retain moisture, a sweetener, and a solvent in medications.
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UNII QTT17582CB
A strong acid used to adjust and maintain the proper pH level in liquid medicines, ensuring stability and preventing breakdown of active ingredients.
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UNII FZ989GH94E
Povidone is a synthetic polymer made from a plastic-like material. It acts as a binder to hold tablet ingredients together and as a disintegrant to help the tablet break apart in your stomach so the medicine can be absorbed.
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UNII 55X04QC32I
A strong alkaline chemical used to adjust and maintain the pH balance of liquid medicines. It helps keep the medicine stable and ensures it stays effective during storage.
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UNII Y27PUL9H56
Tyloxapol is a synthetic detergent and surfactant used in medications as a solubilizer and emulsifier. It helps dissolve or blend ingredients that don't naturally mix well, improving how the medicine disperses in liquid formulations.
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UNII 059QF0KO0R
Water is a liquid solvent that dissolves and mixes ingredients together in liquid medicines, syrups, and injections. It helps distribute the active drug evenly throughout the product.
8 inactive ingredients listed in the exact product block matched to this NDC.
Where does this data come from?
ingredient classCode="IACT" elements from the exact product block matched by this NDC. Label-section narrative from DailyMed / the openFDA label index is shown separately when available.Inactive ingredient FAQ
Are inactive ingredients the same for every manufacturer?
Why might an inactive ingredient be missing?
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💲 Pricing
A drug doesn't have one price. Each row is a different public payment system, and none is what you'd pay at the counter — that depends on your insurance. The ⓘ on each row explains what it measures.
| Price system | Per mL | Per package |
|---|---|---|
| Retail pharmacies payNADAC · weekly | $61.976 | $309.88 / 5 ml |
| Medicaid paysCMS SDUD · 12 mo | $62.91 | $314.56 / 5 ml |
| Medicare drug plans payPart D · Q2 2026 | $65.67 | $328.34 / 5 ml |
Where does this data come from?
🔁 Therapeutic equivalents
| Product | Labeler | Pack | NADAC/unit | TE | Status | Price vs. this |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loteprednol Etabonate 5 mg/mL 00574-4135-05 | Padagis | 1 bottle | $10.532 | AB | Availability likely | save 83% |
| Loteprednol Etabonate 5 mg/mL 60219-1362-01 | Amneal | 1 bottle | $10.532 | AB | Availability likely | save 83% |
| Loteprednol Etabonate 5 mg/mL 70244-0034-01 | Sentiss | 1 bottle | $10.532 | AB | Availability likely | save 83% |
| loteprednol etabonate 5 mg/mL 70748-0300-01 | Lupin | 1 bottle | $10.532 | AB | Availability likely | save 83% |
| Loteprednol Etabonate 5 mg/mL 72485-0665-05 | ARMAS | 1 bottle | $10.532 | AB | Availability likely | save 83% |
| Loteprednol Etabonate 5 mg/mL 72603-0324-01 | NorthStar | 1 bottle | $10.532 | AB | Availability likely | save 83% |
| Loteprednol Etabonate 5 mg/mL 82260-0299-05 | Bausch | 1 bottle | $10.532 | AB | Availability likely | save 83% |
| Loteprednol Etabonate 5 mg/mL 62756-0232-55 | Sun | 1 bottle | $21.819 | AB | Availability likely | save 65% |
| Lotemax 5 mg/mLthis 24208-0299-05 | Bausch | 1 bottle | $61.976 | AB | FDA listed | — |
Where does this data come from?
⏳ Availability & generic status
FDA-approved generic versions are listed, and recent pricing/market data suggests they may be available — see Therapeutic equivalents.
Where does this data come from?
🗺️ Medicaid utilization & spend
💊 Medicaid utilization by pack size
📊 Medicare Part D spend CMS · PART D · 2026 (Q1)
📦 Packaging — all sizes for this product
| Package NDC | Description | Per unit | Per pack | Marketing start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24208-0299-01 | 1 BOTTLE in 1 CARTON (24208-299-01) / 1 mL in 1 BOTTLE | — | — | 2020-12-15 | Active |
| 24208-0299-05 You're viewing this | 1 BOTTLE in 1 CARTON (24208-299-05) / 5 mL in 1 BOTTLE | $61.98 / mL | $309.88 | 1998-09-03 | Active |
| 24208-0299-10 | 1 BOTTLE in 1 CARTON (24208-299-10) / 10 mL in 1 BOTTLE | $61.77 / mL | $617.67 | 1998-09-03 | Active |
| 24208-0299-15 | 1 BOTTLE in 1 CARTON (24208-299-15) / 15 mL in 1 BOTTLE | — | — | 1998-09-03 | Active |
This pack effectively ties for the lowest per-mL cost of the 2 priced pack sizes ($61.98 NADAC).
In Medicaid, this is the most-dispensed pack of this product — about 94% of fills over the last four reported quarters. See all packs ↓
Pack size FAQ
What quantity is in NDC 24208-0299-05?
What NDC number is used to bill for this package of LOTEMAX loteprednol etabonate 5 mg/mL Suspension/ Drops?
Prices are the latest CMS NADAC pharmacy acquisition cost per NDC; per-pack figures are per-unit × pack quantity, shown only when the pack is denominated in the same measure NADAC prices.
📄 Full prescribing information FDA SPL
🎯 Indications and Usage ▾
INDICATIONS AND USAGE LOTEMAX is indicated for the treatment of steroid-responsive inflammatory conditions of the palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva, cornea and anterior segment of the globe such as allergic conjunctivitis, acne rosacea, superficial punctate keratitis, herpes zoster keratitis, iritis, cyclitis, selected infective conjunctivitides, when the inherent hazard of steroid use is accepted to obtain an advisable diminution in edema and inflammation. LOTEMAX is less effective than prednisolone acetate 1% in two 28-day controlled clinical studies in acute anterior uveitis, where 72% of patients treated with LOTEMAX experienced resolution of anterior chamber cells, compared to 87% of patients treated with prednisolone acetate 1%.
The incidence of patients with clinically significant increases in IOP (≥10 mmHg) was 1% with LOTEMAX and 6% with prednisolone acetate 1%. LOTEMAX should not be used in patients who require a more potent corticosteroid for this indication. LOTEMAX is also indicated for the treatment of post-operative inflammation following ocular surgery.
⏱️ Dosage and Administration ▾
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION SHAKE VIGOROUSLY BEFORE USING. Steroid-Responsive Disease Treatment: Apply one to two drops of LOTEMAX suspension into the conjunctival sac of the affected eye four times daily. During the initial treatment within the first week, the dosing may be increased, up to 1 drop every hour, if necessary.
Care should be taken not to discontinue therapy prematurely. If signs and symptoms fail to improve after two days, the patient should be re-evaluated (see PRECAUTIONS ). Post-Operative Inflammation: Apply one to two drops of LOTEMAX suspension into the conjunctival sac of the operated eye four times daily beginning 24 hours after surgery and continuing throughout the first 2 weeks of the post-operative period.
⛔ Contraindications ▾
CONTRAINDICATIONS LOTEMAX, as with other ophthalmic corticosteroids, is contraindicated in most viral diseases of the cornea and conjunctiva including epithelial herpes simplex keratitis (dendritic keratitis), vaccinia, and varicella, and also in mycobacterial infection of the eye and fungal diseases of ocular structures. LOTEMAX is also contraindicated in individuals with known or suspected hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients of this preparation and to other corticosteroids.
⚠️ Warnings ▾
WARNINGS Prolonged use of corticosteroids may result in glaucoma with damage to the optic nerve, defects in visual acuity and fields of vision, and in posterior subcapsular cataract formation. Steroids should be used with caution in the presence of glaucoma. Prolonged use of corticosteroids may suppress the host response and thus increase the hazard of secondary ocular infections.
In those diseases causing thinning of the cornea or sclera, perforations have been known to occur with the use of topical steroids. In acute purulent conditions of the eye, steroids may mask infection or enhance existing infection. Use of ocular steroids may prolong the course and may exacerbate the severity of many viral infections of the eye (including herpes simplex).
Employment of a corticosteroid medication in the treatment of patients with a history of herpes simplex requires great caution. The use of steroids after cataract surgery may delay healing and increase the incidence of bleb formation.
🤒 Adverse Reactions ▾
ADVERSE REACTIONS Reactions associated with ophthalmic steroids include elevated intraocular pressure, which may be associated with optic nerve damage, visual acuity and field defects, posterior subcapsular cataract formation, secondary ocular infection from pathogens including herpes simplex, and perforation of the globe where there is thinning of the cornea or sclera. Ocular adverse reactions occurring in 5%-15% of patients treated with loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspension (0.2%-0.5%) in clinical studies included abnormal vision/blurring, burning on instillation, chemosis, discharge, dry eyes, epiphora, foreign body sensation, itching, injection, and photophobia.
Other ocular adverse reactions occurring in less than 5% of patients include conjunctivitis, corneal abnormalities, eyelid erythema, keratoconjunctivitis, ocular irritation/pain/discomfort, papillae, and uveitis. Some of these events were similar to the underlying ocular disease being studied. Non-ocular adverse reactions occurred in less than 15% of patients.
These include headache, rhinitis and pharyngitis. In a summation of controlled, randomized studies of individuals treated for 28 days or longer with loteprednol etabonate, the incidence of significant elevation of intraocular pressure (≥10 mmHg) was 2% (15/901) among patients receiving loteprednol etabonate, 7% (11/164) among patients receiving 1% prednisolone acetate and 0.5% (3/583) among patients receiving placebo. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Bausch & Lomb Incorporated at 1-800-553-5340 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
🤰 Pregnancy ▾
Pregnancy Teratogenic effects Loteprednol etabonate has been shown to be embryotoxic (delayed ossification) and teratogenic (increased incidence of meningocele, abnormal left common carotid artery, and limb flexures) when administered orally to rabbits during organogenesis at a dose of 3 mg/kg/day (35 times the maximum daily clinical dose), a dose which caused no maternal toxicity. The no-observed-effect-level (NOEL) for these effects was 0.5 mg/kg/day (6 times the maximum daily clinical dose). Oral treatment of rats during organogenesis resulted in teratogenicity (absent innominate artery at ≥5 mg/kg/day doses, and cleft palate and umbilical hernia at ≥50 mg/kg/day) and embryotoxicity (increased post-implantation losses at 100 mg/kg/day and decreased fetal body weight and skeletal ossification with ≥50 mg/kg/day).
Treatment of rats with 0.5 mg/kg/day (6 times the maximum clinical dose) during organogenesis did not result in any reproductive toxicity. Loteprednol etabonate was maternally toxic (significantly reduced body weight gain during treatment) when administered to pregnant rats during organogenesis at doses of ≥5 mg/kg/day. Oral exposure of female rats to 50 mg/kg/day of loteprednol etabonate from the start of the fetal period through the end of lactation, a maternally toxic treatment regimen (significantly decreased body weight gain), gave rise to decreased growth and survival, and retarded development in the offspring during lactation; the NOEL for these effects was 5 mg/kg/day.
Loteprednol etabonate had no effect on the duration of gestation or parturition when administered orally to pregnant rats at doses up to 50 mg/kg/day during the fetal period.
🧒 Pediatric Use ▾
Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.
🧬 Clinical Pharmacology ▾
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY Corticosteroids inhibit the inflammatory response to a variety of inciting agents and probably delay or slow healing. They inhibit the edema, fibrin deposition, capillary dilation, leukocyte migration, capillary proliferation, fibroblast proliferation, deposition of collagen, and scar formation associated with inflammation. There is no generally accepted explanation for the mechanism of action of ocular corticosteroids.
However, corticosteroids are thought to act by the induction of phospholipase A 2 inhibitory proteins, collectively called lipocortins. It is postulated that these proteins control the biosynthesis of potent mediators of inflammation such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes by inhibiting the release of their common precursor arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid is released from membrane phospholipids by phospholipase A 2 .
Corticosteroids are capable of producing a rise in intraocular pressure (IOP). Loteprednol etabonate is structurally similar to other corticosteroids. However, the number 20 position ketone group is absent.
It is highly lipid soluble which enhances its penetration into cells. Loteprednol etabonate is synthesized through structural modifications of prednisolone-related compounds so that it will undergo a predictable transformation to an inactive metabolite. Based upon in vivo and in vitro preclinical metabolism studies, loteprednol etabonate undergoes extensive metabolism to inactive carboxylic acid metabolites.
Results from a bioavailability study in normal volunteers established that plasma levels of loteprednol etabonate and Δ 1 cortienic acid etabonate (PJ 91), its primary, inactive metabolite, were below the limit of quantitation (1 ng/mL) at all sampling times. The results were obtained following the ocular administration of one drop in each eye of 0.5% loteprednol etabonate 8 times daily for 2 days or 4 times daily for 42 days. This study suggests that limited (<1 ng/mL) systemic absorption occurs with LOTEMAX.
Clinical Studies Post-Operative Inflammation: Placebo-controlled clinical studies demonstrated that LOTEMAX is effective for the treatment of anterior chamber inflammation as measured by cell and flare. Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis: Placebo-controlled clinical studies demonstrated that LOTEMAX was effective in reducing the signs and symptoms of giant papillary conjunctivitis after 1 week of treatment and continuing for up to 6 weeks while on treatment. Seasonal Allergic Conjunctivitis: A placebo-controlled clinical study demonstrated that LOTEMAX was effective in reducing the signs and symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis during peak periods of pollen exposure.
Uveitis: Controlled clinical studies of patients with uveitis demonstrated that LOTEMAX was less effective than prednisolone acetate 1%. Overall, 72% of patients treated with LOTEMAX experienced resolution of anterior chamber cell by day 28, compared to 87% of patients treated with 1% prednisolone acetate. The incidence of patients with clinically significant increases in IOP (≥10 mmHg) was 1% with LOTEMAX and 6% with prednisolone acetate 1%.
📦 How Supplied / Storage and Handling ▾
HOW SUPPLIED LOTEMAX ® (loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspension) is supplied in a plastic bottle with a controlled drop tip in the following sizes: NDC 24208-299-05 5 mL NDC 24208-299-10 10 mL NDC 24208-299-15 15 mL Storage: Store upright between 15°C to 25°C (59°F to 77°F). DO NOT FREEZE Keep out of reach of children. Distributed by: Bausch & Lomb Americas Inc.
Bridgewater, NJ 08807 USA Manufactured by: Bausch & Lomb Incorporated Tampa, FL 33637 USA LOTEMAX is a trademark of Bausch & Lomb Incorporated or its affiliates. © 2023 Bausch & Lomb Incorporated or its affiliates Revised: April 2023 9007808 (Folded) 9005908 (Flat) DoNotUSe
📋 Description ▾
DESCRIPTION LOTEMAX ® (loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspension) contains a sterile, topical anti-inflammatory corticosteroid for ophthalmic use. Loteprednol etabonate is a white to off-white powder. Loteprednol etabonate is represented by the following structural formula: Chemical Name: chloromethyl 17α-[(ethoxycarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-3-oxoandrosta-1,4-diene-17β-carboxylate Each mL contains: Active: Loteprednol Etabonate 5 mg (0.5%) Inactives: Edetate Disodium, Glycerin, Povidone, Purified Water and Tyloxapol.
Hydrochloric Acid and/or Sodium Hydroxide may be added to adjust the pH. The suspension is essentially isotonic with a tonicity of 250 to 310 mOsmol/kg. Preservative: Benzalkonium Chloride 0.01% ChemStructure
💬 Information for Patients ▾
Information for Patients This product is sterile when packaged. Patients should be advised not to allow the dropper tip to touch any surface, as this may contaminate the suspension. If pain develops, redness, itching or inflammation becomes aggravated, the patient should be advised to consult a physician.
As with all ophthalmic preparations containing benzalkonium chloride, patients should be advised not to wear soft contact lenses when using LOTEMAX suspension.