Xdemvy: Cost, side effects, uses, interactions, and more

Xdemvy is available only as a brand-name medication that contains the active ingredient lotilaner. It’s not currently available in generic form.

A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs.

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to use the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Xdemvy is an ophthalmic solution used as eye drops. It’s packaged in a bottle that you use for multiple doses. Xdemvy comes in one strength of 2.5 milligrams per milliliter (2.5 mg/mL), which is a 0.25% solution.

The typical dosage of Xdemvy for Demodex blepharitis is 1 drop in each eye twice daily (every 12 hours) for 6 weeks.

You should use Xdemvy eye drops according to your doctor’s instructions. You can also refer to these step-by-step instructions for using eye drops.

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling Xdemvy. If you wear contact lenses, you should remove them before using Xdemvy. You can reinsert your contact lenses 15 minutes after using Xdemvy.

Instill Xdemvy into your eyes. To avoid contamination of the drug, you should not let the tip of the bottle touch your eyes, fingers, or any other surface.

If you’re using other eye drops with Xdemvy, wait at least 5 minutes between using Xdemvy and any other eye drops.

Xdemvy can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while using Xdemvy. These lists do not include all possible side effects.

For more information about the possible side effects of this drug, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to manage any side effects that may be concerning or bothersome.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while using Xdemvy and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Here is a partial list of mild side effects of Xdemvy. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or view the drug’s prescribing information.

Most of these side effects may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. However, if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects from Xdemvy weren’t reported in the drug’s studies. However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t possible.

Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects while using Xdemvy. Call 911 or your local emergency phone number if your symptoms feel life threatening or you’re having a medical emergency.

For some people, Xdemvy can cause an allergic reaction, but it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in the drug’s studies.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep using the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Xdemvy, your doctor may recommend a different medication instead.

The FDA has approved Xdemvy to treat Demodex blepharitis in adults.

Doctors prescribe Xdemvy to treat Demodex blepharitis, a condition characterized by inflammation around your eyelids. Demodex blepharitis can cause symptoms such as itchy, red, irritated, and watery eyes. You may also have flaking or crusting around the base of your eyelashes. For most people, symptoms are worse in the morning.

Xdemvy contains the active drug lotilaner. It works by blocking a protein in the nervous system of Demodex mites, paralyzing and killing the mites that are causing your symptoms. For more information, see “How Xdemvy works.”

The FDA has not approved Xdemvy for use in children. If your child is experiencing symptoms of Demodex blepharitis, talk with your child’s doctor. They can prescribe a medication that’s suitable for children.

Xdemvy is not known to interact with other medications, herbs, supplements, foods, or alcohol. The manufacturer did not list any interactions in the drug’s prescribing information.

However, this doesn’t mean that interactions won’t be recognized in the future. For example, new drugs could be approved that interact with Xdemvy.

Before starting Xdemvy treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you take. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

As with all medications, the cost of Xdemvy can vary. The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use. Note that Xdemvy is only available at select pharmacies. For details, see “Is Xdemvy available at any pharmacy?” in the “Common questions about Xdemvy” section.

Financial and insurance assistance: If you need financial support to pay for Xdemvy or help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available. A program called Xdemvy Savings Program is available for Xdemvy. For more information and to find out if you’re eligible for support, call 866-846-3092 or visit the program website.

Generic version: Xdemvy is not available in a generic form. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

Xdemvy is the only drug that is currently FDA approved and available to treat Demodex blepharitis.

Other drugs are available that can treat symptoms of blepharitis. Some may be a better fit for you than others. If you’re interested in finding an alternative to Xdemvy, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you.

Some of the drugs listed below are used off-label to treat blepharitis symptoms. Off-label use is when doctors prescribe a drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved for.

If you can become pregnant, consider the following information about pregnancy, birth control, and breastfeeding.

It’s not known whether Xdemvy should be used during pregnancy. Because Xdemvy is used in the eye, it isn’t expected to reach high levels in the bloodstream. This means it’s unlikely that a developing fetus would be exposed to the drug.

Additionally, in animal studies, Xdemvy was not shown to cause any harm to developing offspring. However, keep in mind that animal studies don’t always predict what will happen in people.

If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before using Xdemvy.

It’s not known whether Xdemvy is safe to use during pregnancy. If you’re sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your birth control options while you’re using Xdemvy.

It’s not known whether Xdemvy should be used while breastfeeding. It’s unknown if Xdemvy will pass into breast milk or what effects Xdemvy may have on a child who is breastfed.

If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before using this medication.

Xdemvy is approved to treat Demodex blepharitis. With this condition, tiny parasites cause inflammation around the base of the eyelashes.

Xdemvy contains the active drug lotilaner and belongs to a class of drugs called antiparasitics. It works by blocking a protein in the parasite’s nervous system. This helps paralyze and kill the parasite, clearing up symptoms of blepharitis.

The typical length of treatment with Xdemvy is 6 weeks. However, this can vary depending on the severity of your condition. Talk with your eye doctor about what results to expect with Xdemvy. You can also see Xdemvy before and after photos on the drug manufacturer’s website.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Xdemvy.

No, Xdemvy is not a steroid. It’s an antiparasitic drug that works by killing Demodex mites that cause blepharitis.

If you have questions about whether Xdemvy is right for you, talk with your doctor.

Yes, but you should remove your contact lenses before using Xdemvy. You can reinsert your contact lenses 15 minutes after using Xdemvy.

Note: Xdemvy contains potassium sorbate as an inactive ingredient. This ingredient can discolor soft contact lenses. Talk with your doctor if you have questions about Xdemvy use while wearing contact lenses.

No, Xdemvy is only available by prescription through select pharmacies that have a partnership with the manufacturer.

If you’re interested in starting Xdemvy treatment, talk with your doctor. If it’s safe for you to start treatment, they’ll send your prescription to a participating Xdemvy pharmacy. The pharmacy will call you to confirm your prescription.

You can also talk about the cost and savings options with the pharmacy. If you have insurance, you should call your insurance plan provider to determine what you’ll pay for the medication. (See the “Xdemvy cost and savings” section for more information.)

Before starting Xdemvy treatment, discuss your health history with your doctor. Xdemvy may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

Note: For more information about the potential negative effects of Xdemvy, see the “Xdemvy side effects” section.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.