Cheaper, generic drug alternatives toLatisse are beginning to pop up all over the internet, offering all the benefits of the pricey lash-growth drug at just a fraction of the price.

The problem is, they may not be safe, or even legal.

For those unfamiliar with the lash-lengthening obsession du jour, Latisse's lash-growing eye drops are the first FDA-approved drug to grow and thicken lashes. They sprung from the glaucoma treatment Lumigen after patients noticed that their lashes grew dramatically during treatment, and hit the market about a year ago.

But at around $120 for a 30 day supply and with a prescription required, the much-praised miracle worker remains out of the financial reach of many women looking to get a Betty Boop lash fix.

So, naturally, they seek alternatives. The lash-hungry gather online, on the message boards ofMakeup Alley andReal Self trading tips about where to buy the latest off-label versions, and reporting back on how they're working. There are also popular Youtube videos of women documenting their personal fringe fests.

One drug that's rapidly gaining attention isCareprost , a generic version of Latisse that contains bimatoprost -- the substance originally used to treat glaucoma that's now the active ingredient in Latisse -- in an identical .03% potency.United Pharmacies touts the drug as "the same as Latisse," on their e-commerce website, claiming it "increases the length, thickness and color of eyelashes." The company also advertises it to treat glaucoma.

Careprost costs just $20 on the United Pharmacies website.

Yet dermatologistDr. Tina Alster , Director of the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery, warns consumers to never make assumptions based on just one ingredient found in a product.

"It looks like the same thing, but it may not be. There's more to ophthalmic solutions than the active ingredient. As such, I don't advise anyone using a product that is not specifically FDA-approved - particularly around the eyes - regardless of cost savings," says Dr. Alster.

Meanwhile, opthamologistDr. Jeffrey Whitman of the Key-Whitman Eye Center in Dallas, Texas, says that buying off-label bimatoprost online isn't as benign as it sounds, and should be approached with caution.

"There is no generic bimatoprost available in the United States. Marketers of Careprost are from other countries and buying these drugs is illegal in the U.S. However,Lumigan .03% is the same medicine as Latisse, but with an indication for the treatment of glaucoma. A patient would need to see their eye doctor to see if this would be ok for their particular eyes and to decide how and how much to apply since no applicator is supplied, if their doctor would agree to prescribe it," says Dr. Whitman.

Women on Makeup Alley and other consumer review sites have also been trading off-label usage experiences with Lumigan, which is made by Latisse-maker Allergan, but costs less at about $80 per 2.5 ml bottle, compared to the $120 for Latisse's 3 ml dropper.

But some users have experienced some unexpected side effects.

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