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Lotemax SM

Generic: loteprednol etabonate

Verified·Apr 23, 2026
Manufacturer
Bausch Lomb
NDC
24208-507
RxCUI
2118537
Route
OPHTHALMIC
ICD-10 indication
H59.09

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About Lotemax SM

What is this medication? Lotemax SM is a prescription corticosteroid ophthalmic gel used to treat inflammation and pain following eye surgery. It contains the active ingredient loteprednol etabonate in a submicron formulation, which helps the medication reach the targeted tissues more effectively than standard formulations. By suppressing the body's inflammatory response, it reduces common post-operative symptoms such as redness, swelling, and soreness, helping to ensure a smoother recovery process after procedures like cataract removal.

This medication is typically used for a short period as directed by an ophthalmologist, starting immediately after surgery. Patients are advised to follow the specific dosing schedule provided by their doctor and to report any unusual symptoms, such as blurred vision or increased eye pressure, during the course of treatment. Since it is a steroid, it is important to use it only as long as necessary to avoid potential side effects like the development of cataracts or secondary infections.

Copay & patient assistance

  • Patient Copay Amount: As little as $0 for Xiidra and Miebo; as little as $35 for Vyzulta, Lotemax, Zylet, Prolensa, Zirgan, Besivance, and Timoptic in Ocudose. Patients may pay as little as $25 at Walgreens and other participating independent pharmacies. For "Not Covered" claims (where a Prior Authorization is denied), patients may pay $79.
  • Maximum Annual Benefit Limit: Valid for up to 12 fills per patient in a 12-month period for Xiidra, Miebo, Vyzulta, and Timoptic in Ocudose. Valid for up to 6 fills per product per patient in a 12-month period for all other brands. Specific annual dollar reimbursement limits are Not Publicly Available.
  • Core Eligibility Restrictions: Offer is valid only for patients with commercial insurance. Patients eligible for government-funded programs (including Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, VA, or DoD coverage) are not eligible. Patients must be 18 years of age or older and residents of the United States or its territories. Not valid in California or Massachusetts for any product with a therapeutically equivalent generic available.
  • RxBIN, PCN, and Group numbers: Not Publicly Available

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Prescribing information

From the FDA-approved label for Lotemax SM. Official source: DailyMed (NLM) · Label effective Mar 31, 2026

Indications and usage
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE LOTEMAX ® SM (loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic gel) 0.38% is a corticosteroid indicated for the treatment of post-operative inflammation and pain following ocular surgery. LOTEMAX ® SM is a corticosteroid indicated for the treatment of post-operative inflammation and pain following ocular surgery. ( 1 )
Dosage and administration
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Invert closed bottle and shake once to fill tip before instilling drops. Apply one drop of LOTEMAX ® SM into the conjunctival sac of the affected eye three times daily beginning the day after surgery and continuing throughout the first 2 weeks of the post-operative period. Invert closed bottle and shake once to fill tip before instilling drops. ( 2 ) Apply one drop of LOTEMAX ® SM into the conjunctival sac of the affected eye three times daily beginning the day after surgery and continuing throughout the first 2 weeks of the post-operative period. ( 2 )
Contraindications
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS LOTEMAX ® SM, 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, in mycobacterial infection of the eye and fungal diseases of ocular structures. LOTEMAX ® SM, 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. ( 4 )
Warnings and precautions
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Intraocular pressure (IOP) increase - Prolonged use of corticosteroids may result in glaucoma with damage to the optic nerve, defects in visual acuity and fields of vision. If this product is used for 10 days or longer, IOP should be monitored. () Cataracts - Use of corticosteroids may result in posterior subcapsular cataract formation. ( 5.2 ) Delayed healing – The use of steroids after cataract surgery may delay healing and increase the incidence of bleb formation. In those diseases causing thinning of the cornea or sclera, perforations have been known to occur with the use of topical steroids. The initial prescription and renewal of the medication order should be made by a physician only after examination of the patient with the aid of magnification such as slit lamp biomicroscopy and, where appropriate, fluorescein staining. ( 5.3 ) Bacterial infections – Prolonged use of corticosteroids may suppress the host response and thus increase the hazard of secondary ocular infections. In acute purulent conditions, steroids may mask infection or enhance existing infection. ( 5.4 ) Viral infections – Employment of a corticosteroid medication in the treatment of patients with a history of herpes simplex requires great caution. Use of ocular steroids may prolong the course and may exacerbate the severity of many viral infections of the eye (including herpes simplex). ( 5.5 ) Fungal infections – Fungal infections of the cornea are particularly prone to develop coincidentally with long-term local steroid application. Fungus invasion must be considered in any persistent corneal ulceration where a steroid has been used or is in use. ( 5.6 ) 5.1 Intraocular Pressure (IOP) Increase Prolonged use of corticosteroids may result in glaucoma with damage to the optic nerve, defects in visual acuity and fields of vision. Steroids should be used with caution in the presence of glaucoma. If this product is used for 10 days or longer, intraocular pressure should be monitored. 5.2 Cataracts Use of corticosteroids may result in posterior subcapsular cataract formation. 5.3 Delayed Healing The use of steroids after cataract surgery may delay healing and increase the incidence of bleb formation. In those diseases causing thinning of the cornea or sclera, perforations have been known to occur with the use of topical steroids. The initial prescription and renewal of the medication order should be made by a physician only after examination of the patient with the aid of magnification such as slit lamp biomicroscopy and, where appropriate, fluorescein staining. 5.4 Bacterial Infections Prolonged use of corticosteroids may suppress the host response and thus increase the hazard of secondary ocular infections. In acute purulent conditions of the eye, steroids may mask infection or enhance existing infection. 5.5 Viral Infections Employment of a corticosteroid medication in the treatment of patients with a history of herpes simplex requires great caution. Use of ocular steroids may prolong the course and may exacerbate the severity of many viral infections of the eye (including herpes simplex). 5.6 Fungal Infections Fungal infections of the cornea are particularly prone to develop coincidentally with long-term local steroid application. Fungus invasion must be considered in any persistent corneal ulceration where a steroid has been used or is in use. Fungal cultures should be taken when appropriate. 5.7 Contact Lens Wear Contact lenses should not be worn when the eyes are inflamed.
Adverse reactions
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Adverse reactions associated with ophthalmic steroids include elevated intraocular pressure, 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. There were no treatment-emergent adverse drug reactions that occurred in more than 1% of subjects in the three times daily group compared to vehicle. There were no treatment-emergent adverse drug reactions that occurred in more than 1% of subjects in the three times daily group compared to vehicle. ( 6 ) 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.
Use in pregnancy
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary There are no adequate and well controlled studies with loteprednol etabonate in pregnant women. Loteprednol etabonate produced teratogenicity at clinically relevant doses in the rabbit and rat when administered orally during pregnancy. Loteprednol etabonate produced malformations when administered orally to pregnant rabbits at doses 4.2 times the recommended human ophthalmic dose (RHOD) and to pregnant rats at doses 106 times the RHOD. In pregnant rats receiving oral doses of loteprednol etabonate during the period equivalent to the last trimester of pregnancy through lactation in humans, survival of offspring was reduced at doses 10.6 times the RHOD. Maternal toxicity was observed in rats at doses 1066 times the RHOD, and a maternal no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) was established at 106 times the RHOD. The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. However, the background risk in the U.S. general population of major birth defects is 2 to 4%, and of miscarriage is 15 to 20%, of clinically recognized pregnancies. Data Animal Data Embryofetal studies were conducted in pregnant rabbits administered loteprednol etabonate by oral gavage on gestation days 6 to 18, to target the period of organogenesis. Loteprednol etabonate produced fetal malformations at 0.1 mg/kg (4.2 times the recommended human ophthalmic dose (RHOD) based on body surface area, assuming 100% absorption). Spina bifida (including meningocele) was observed at 0.1 mg/kg, and exencephaly and craniofacial malformations were observed at 0.4 mg/kg (17 times the RHOD). At 3 mg/kg (128 times the RHOD), loteprednol etabonate was associated with increased incidences of abnormal left common carotid artery, limb flexures, umbilical hernia, scoliosis, and delayed ossification. Abortion and embryofetal lethality (resorption) occurred at 6 mg/kg (256 times the RHOD). A NOAEL for developmental toxicity was not established in this study. The NOAEL for maternal toxicity in rabbits was 3 mg/kg/day. Embryofetal studies were conducted in pregnant rats administered loteprednol etabonate by oral gavage on gestation days 6 to 15, to target the period of organogenesis. Loteprednol etabonate produced fetal malformations, including absent innominate artery at 5 mg/kg (106 times the RHOD); and cleft palate, agnathia, cardiovascular defects, umbilical hernia, decreased fetal body weight and decreased skeletal ossification at 50 mg/kg (1066 times the RHOD). Embryofetal lethality (resorption) was observed at 100 mg/kg (2133 times the RHOD). The NOAEL for developmental toxicity in rats was 0.5 mg/kg (10.6 times the RHOD). Loteprednol etabonate was maternally toxic (reduced body weight gain) at 50 mg/kg/day. The NOAEL for maternal toxicity was 5 mg/kg. A peri-/postnatal study was conducted in rats administered loteprednol etabonate by oral gavage from gestation day 15 (start of fetal period) to postnatal day 21 (the end of lactation period). At 0.5 mg/kg (10.6 times the clinical dose), reduced survival was observed in live-born offspring. Doses ≥ 5 mg/kg (106 times the RHOD) caused umbilical hernia/incomplete gastrointestinal tract. Doses ≥ 50 mg/kg (1066 times the RHOD) produced maternal toxicity (reduced body weight gain, death), decreased number of live-born offspring, decreased birth weight, and delays in postnatal development. A developmental NOAEL was not established in this study. The NOAEL for maternal toxicity was 5 mg/kg.

Label text is reproduced as-is from the FDA-approved label. We do not paraphrase, summarize, or omit. Content above is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your prescribing clinician or pharmacist before making decisions about your medication.

Conditions we've indexed resources for

Click a condition to see copay cards, grants, and PA rules specific to it. For the full list of FDA-approved indications, see Prescribing information above.

Medicare Part D coverage

How Lotemax SM appears across Medicare Part D plan formularies nationally. Source: CMS monthly Prescription Drug Plan file (2026-04-30).

Covered by plans

56%

3,061 of 5,509 plans

Most common tier

Tier 3

On 42% of covering formularies

Prior authorization required

0%

of covering formularies

TierFormularies on this tierShare
Tier 1 (preferred generic)15
14%
Tier 2 (generic)5
5%
Tier 3 (preferred brand)45
42%
Tier 4 (non-preferred brand)41
39%

Step therapy: 0% of formularies

Quantity limits: 64% of formularies

Coverage breadth: 106 of 65 formularies

How to read this:plans on the same formulary share tier + PA rules. Your specific plan's copay depends on (a) the tier above, (b) your plan's cost-share for that tier, (c) whether you're in the initial coverage phase or past the 2026 $2,000 out-of-pocket cap. For your exact plan, check its Summary of Benefits or log in to your Medicare.gov account. Copay cards don't apply to Medicare (federal law).

Prior authorization & coverage

PayerPAStep therapyCopay tier

Medicare Part D

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How this page is sourced

  • Drug identity verified against openFDA NDC Directory.
  • Label text (when shown) originates from NLM DailyMed.
  • Copay and assistance URLs verified periodically; if you hit a broken link, tell us.