Common side effects include red eyes, blurry vision, eye pain, dry eyes, and change in color of the eyes.[4][5] Other significant side effects may include cataracts.[5] Use during pregnancy or breastfeeding is generally not recommended.[5] It is a prostaglandin analog and works by increasing the outflow of aqueous fluid from the eyes.[4]
Travoprost was approved for medical use in the United States and in the European Union in 2001.[4][3] It is available as a generic medication in the United Kingdom.[5] In 2020, it was the 304th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 1million prescriptions.[6][7]
Research suggests that wiping the eye with an absorbent pad after the administration of eye drops can result in shorter eyelashes and a lesser chance of hyperpigmentation in the eyelid, compared to not wiping off excess fluid.[9]
Like other analogs of prostaglandin F2α such as tafluprost and latanoprost, travoprost is an esterprodrug of the free acid, which acts as an agonist at the prostaglandin F receptor, increasing outflow of aqueous fluid from the eye and thus lowering intraocular pressure.[8]
Pharmacokinetics
Travoprost is absorbed through the cornea, where it is hydrolysed to the free travoprost acid. Highest concentrations of the acid in the eye are reached one to two hours after application, and its half-life in the aqueous fluid is 1.5 hours. Once it reaches the bloodstream, it is quickly metabolised, so that concentrations in the system do not exceed 25 pg/ml (compared to 20 ng/ml in the eye, which is higher by nearly a factor of 1000).[8]
Metabolites are formed by beta oxidation of the acidic chain (compare Tafluprost#Pharmacokinetics), oxidation of the OH-group in the other side chain, and reduction of the double bond next to this OH-group. Travoprost acid and its metabolites are mainly excreted via the kidney[8] with a terminal half-life of 45 minutes.[13]
Metabolism. From left to right: travoprost, travoprost acid (the active metabolite), 1,2-dinortravoprost acid, 1,2,3,4-tetranortravoprost acid. Below: reduction of the 13,14-double bond (red) and oxidation of the 15-hydroxy group (blue)[8]
^Alcon Laboratories, Inc. (September 2011). "Travatan - travoprost solution". DailyMed. Bethesda, MD: U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
^Alcon Laboratories, Inc. (September 2011). "Travatan Z (travoprost) solution". DailyMed. Bethesda, MD: U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
^AHFS Consumer Medication Information (1 January 2011). "Travoprost Ophthalmic". MedlinePlus. Bethesda, MD: U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 30 September 2011.