first drug to promote long lashes approved by FDA

[Liberal_in_LA]

http://www.webmd.com/skin-beauty/news/20081226/fda-oks-first-eyelash-drug-latisse

FDA OKs 1st Eyelash Drug Latisse
Latisse Promotes Longer, Darker, Thicker Lashes; Glaucoma Drug Inspired It
By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Health NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDDec. 26, 2008 -- The FDA has approved Latisse, the first drug to promote eyelash growth, according to Allergan, the company that makes Latisse.

Latisse, which will be available by prescription starting in the first quarter of 2009, contains the active ingredient of the glaucoma drug Lumigan, which is also made by Allergan.

Eyelash growth is a known side effect of Lumigan. But Lumigan and Latisse are used differently. Lumigan is an eyedrop, and Latisse gets dabbed along the lash line on the upper eyelids to promote longer, thicker, darker lashes.

Allergan states that "Latisse users can expect to experience longer, fuller, and darker eyelashes in as little as eight weeks, with full results in 16 weeks." If Latisse is stopped, eyelashes will gradually return to their previous appearance as new eyelashes grow in.

Allergan also notes that Latisse may cause darkening of the eyelid skin, which may be reversible, and it "may also cause increased brown pigmentation of the colored part of the eye, which is likely to be permanent."

Picture that has nothing to do with article:

[jmowreader]

1. A DRUG for longer, thicker, darker lashes?

Isn't that what mascara is for?

[Ian David]

2. beta interferon also causes long eyelashes, IIRC. n/t

[LeftyMom]

3. A tube of good mascara is like $9 and lasts for ages.

:shrug:

[tammywammy]

5. You should replace your mascara every 3 months

The bacteria from your eye will build up in the tube. After 3 months even though there's some left in the tube, you should junk it.

[LeftyMom]

6. I don't think I even use my mascara every three months.

I fail at makeup.

[tammywammy]

9. LOL! Then it's okay after 3 months I'd say

:)

[burythehatchet]

4. I'm just worried how my eyelash growth medicine will interact with my restless leg syndrome meds

[TZ]

7. Stupid. I hate this kind of stuff.

I'm glad my company does actual biomedical research and none of this cosmetic junk.
This is what I hate about my industry..to much money spent on stupid shit like this and not enough on disease research (particularly rare or orphan diseases)

[anigbrowl]

19. This grew out of an existing drug for a medical condition

It just happened to have a convenient side effect for cosmetic purposes. If it does no harm, why not.

[Posteritatis]

25. But - but - but - we need our kneejerk squick reactions! (nt)

[ikojo]

8. Have we really become such a vain society that

we will take drugs to affect the size of our EYELASHES?

How sick!!!!

[Deja Q]

11. Yes

[kimmerspixelated]

14. Sick and Stupid!

Our society has been brainwashed into thinking that there is always a solution to any and every silly little problem and that solution is a drug! It's insulting to think Big Pharma believes we are all that desperate! But really, they came out with the notion that a woman shouldn't have to be bothered with those pesky little periods every single month, via a dangerous pill, so why not an eyelash lengthener? Hell, why not have lipstick in a drug, too? Eyeshadow? I know!!Iknow!!! Haircolor!

[Deja Q]

10. On the plus side, at least the drug was not imported from Singapore

And to think of all the new businesses that would spring up!



:hide:

[gollygee]

12. It changes your eye color?

I'd be worried it could have a side effect of doing bad things to your vision. Bad idea. A prescription drug for eyelashes? The world is a crazy place.

[Bigmack]

13. I can't wait to hear the TV ads...

for this shit.

"In some cases, this product may cause flaming diarrhea or blood in the urine. Tell your doctor if you lose your vision for more than 4 hours."

[Shiver]

15. Sweet Viking Jesus, FINALLY!

My ongoing nightmare of weak lashes is FINALLY OVER!

[Ocracoker16]

16. Maybe they can find better drugs for cancer

Then my mother wouldn't have to worry about her eyelashes falling out from the chemo she is on. There are lots of cheaper over the counter products that help with this problem. Insurance companies never want to pay for cosmetic treatments for obvious reasons. They also will not like the price tag and it will not end up in the list of medicines covered by their plans.

[FloridaJudy]

17. Great. Botox, and now this.

Explain to us again why we have to pay outrageous amounts for prescription drugs because you drug companies have to finance your "research". Is there no one among us who hasn't lost a loved one to the tragedy of short eyelashes?

[LeftyMom]

18. They're both alternate uses for drugs developed for actual problems.

Botox is useful for people who have muscles that won't unclench for some reason (it's used to treat torticollis, which causes the neck to permanently turn some odd direction, by causing the muscles doing the pulling to relax) or for people with really overactive sweat glands (I know a girl in high school who had injections in her hands because they would sweat constantly.) The paralyzing muscles that cause wrinkles thing was actually an afterthought.

Same thing here. It's a glaucoma drug. The eyelash thing was a side effect so they found a way to use it primarily for that purpose. Silly, but not really a huge outlay of cash to repurpose an existing drug.

[jmowreader]

20. Sildafenal was originally developed as a hypertension drug

As was minoxidil.

They became what they are today when it turned out they had desirable side effects.

Still, it's strange to me that someone would use a drug with potentially undesirable side effects in place of a product that works fine without side effects.

[FloridaJudy]

21. And Viagra was originally developed as a drug for heart disease

It didn't do squat for its intended purpose, but a researcher got curious about why so many men kept asking for more pills once the research studies were finished. The rest is pharmaceutical history. Similar story with Rogaine: it's a drug used to treat high blood pressure that has the side effect of promoting hair growth.

I was being mildly sarcastic. I would be embarrassed to waste my doctor's time by asking her for a prescription for something to make my eyelashes more luxuriant, but obviously many people wouldn't be.

[aikoaiko]

22. I was hoping this was about SMBD when I read the title.

but oh well.

[NaturalHigh]

23. Well, I'm glad we finally got that taken care of!

Honestly, how many billions were spent on this? Are eyelashes really such a pressing issue?

[fishnfla]

24. You guys that are attacking this drug have no idea what you are talking about

shut the fuck up if you dont know what you are talking about, really.

In the first place, there is a medical condition, madarosis, which is loss of the eyelashes of the human eye. It is very common, especially with aging. The human eyelashes are more then just cosmetic. Without lashes, people are bothered by chronic debillitating conditions: meibomianitis, blepharitis, and the worst which is dry eye syndrome. Ask anyone with DES how much they love life. They dont.

Secondly, this drug, lumigan and the entire class it comes from were a godsend to glaucoma. Safe, hugely effective, less expensive and easy to use. You really dont know. The older drugs used to treat glaucoma caused many more problems than they solved. Serious problems too. People would not take the drops and go blind because of the side effects.

The only side effects this drug has were long lashes&change eye color. Anyone upthread who thinks it can harm hyour vision is a stupid idiot. I love it because you can just look at a person and tell 2 things: they are taking lumigan& and their pressure is under control.

[tammywammy]

26. Thanks for the info.

Many drugs are originally intended for one purpose and the side effect is so beneficial that it also gets prescribed for that as well.