Skip to main content

Lotemax

Generic name: loteprednol etabonate
Brand names: Lotemax, Lotemax SM
Dosage form: eye gel, eye ointment, eye (suspension) drops
Drug class: Ophthalmic steroids

Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on Apr 4, 2023.

What is Lotemax?

Lotemax and Lotemax SM (loteprednol etabonate) are corticosteroid medications used to help treat swelling (edema) and inflammation of the eyes.

They works by blocking your body's inflammatory response, which helps reduce symptoms such as pain, swelling and redness.

Lotemax comes as an eye gel, eye ointment and eye drops.

Lotemax SM also comes as an eye gel, but it contains extra ingredients that help to stabilize particles smaller than a micron - submicron (SM) particles. This helps you to absorb more of the medication because Lotemax SM is made to spread better and stay on your eyes for longer.

What is Lotemax used for?

Lotemax eye drops are used to decrease swelling and inflammation caused by conditions such as allergic conjunctivitis, acne rosacea, superficial punctate keratitis, herpes zoster keratitis, iritis, cyclitis and selected infective conjunctivitides.

Lotemax eye drops are also used to treat post-operative inflammation after ocular surgery.

Lotemax gel and ointment, and Lotemax SM are also used to treat post-operative inflammation and pain after ocular surgery.

Important information

Lotemax and Lotemax SM may cause serious side effects.

Contact lenses should not be worn when the eyes are inflamed.

Who should not use Lotemax?

Do not use Lotemax or Lotemax SM if you are allergic to loteprednol etabonate or any of the ingredients in Lotemax or Lotemax SM. See below for a complete list of ingredients in Lotemax and Lotemax SM.

What should I tell my doctor before using Lotemax?

Before using Lotemax or Lotemax SM, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if your have or had:

How should I use Lotemax?

Wash your hands before applying Lotemax and Lotemax SM

Use Lotemax and Lotemax SM exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to.

What should I avoid while using Lotemax?

What are the side effects of Lotemax?

Adverse reactions associated with ophthalmic steroids include elevated IOP, which may be associated with infrequent optic nerve damage, visual acuity and field defects, posterior subcapsular cataract formation, delayed wound healing and secondary ocular infection from pathogens including herpes simplex, and perforation of the globe where there is thinning of the cornea or sclera.

Interactions

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines that you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Lotemax and Lotemax SM should only be used during pregnancy if the benefit outweighs the risk to the fetus.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Lotemax and Lotemax SM passes into your breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you use Lotemax or Lotemax SM.

Storage

What are the ingredients in Lotemax and Lotemax SM?

Active ingredients: loteprednol etabonate

Inactive ingredients:

Lotemax eye gel: boric acid, edetate disodium, glycerin, polycarbophil, propylene glycol, sodium chloride, tyloxapol, water, sodium hydroxide, benzalkonium chloride

Lotemax eye ointment: mineral oil, petrolatum

Lotemax eye drops: benzalkonium chloride, edetate disodium, glycerin, water, tyloxapol, hydrochloride acid, sodium hydroxide, unspecified povidone

Lotemax SM: boric acid, edetate disodium, glycerin, unspecified hypromellose, poloxamer 407, polycarbophil, propylene glycol, sodium chloride, water, sodium hydroxide, benzalkonium chloride

Lotemax and Lotemax SM are manufactured by Bausch & Lomb Incorporated Tampa, FL 33637 USA.

Popular FAQ

Yes, the generic for Lotemax is available under the name loteprednol etabonate. Lotemax SM does not yet have a generic.

It may take up to 2 days for Lotemax to start reducing symptoms. If signs and symptoms have not improved after 2 days, talk with your health care provider.

Lotemax is approved to treat the swelling and inflammation from certain types of infectious and seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye. It may be used in combination with other eye drops as well. Lotemax SM is only approved for use after eye surgery.

Lotemax is typically used 4 times a day. The dosage is as follows:

  • To treat diseases of the eye, apply 1 to 2 drops of Lotemax into the affected eye 4 times daily. During the first week of treatment, up to 1 drop every hour may be applied.
  • To reduce swelling after eye surgery, apply 1 to 2 drops of Lotemax into the affected eye 4 times daily starting 24 hours after surgery. Continue to use the drops for 2 weeks.

The dosage of Lotemax SM after eye surgery is 1 drop 3 times daily starting the day after surgery. Continue to use the drops for 2 weeks.

Yes, Lotemax may increase eye pressure. This is more likely to happen if you use Lotemax for longer than 10 days.

It may depend on what type of eye drop you are using. Ask your health care provider. He or she may recommend waiting 3 to 5 minutes before applying a second type of eye drop.

More FAQ

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.