What is Alcaftadine?
Alcaftadine is an antihistamine that works by inhibiting the effects of the body’s natural chemical histamine. Some of the symptoms that histamine produces are itchy or watery eyes.
The drug is used for the prevention of itching in the eyes caused due to allergies. But this drug should not be used for the treatment of eye irritation caused due to eye lenses. Also, alcaftadine is an H1 histamine receptor antagonist that is used to treat itching caused by allergic conjunctivitis.
Alcaftadine Uses
- Alcaftadine eye drops prevent eye itching caused by allergic conjunctivitis.
- The medication inhibits histamine, a natural substance that triggers allergic symptoms.
- It targets inflammatory substances produced by eye cells that cause allergic reactions.
- Do not use this medicine for red or irritated eyes from contact lenses; consult your doctor for guidance in such cases.
Alcaftadine Side Effects
Some of the common & major side effects of Alcaftadine are:
- Mild or temporary burning sensation of eyes
- Eye redness or itching
- Stuffy nose
- Sore throat
- Flu symptoms
- Headache
Alcaftadine can cause some serious side effects and can lead to some serious health problems. Talk with your doctor if you are having any serious problems.
Precautions
- Before using Alcaftadine, discuss with your doctor if you are allergic to it or related medications.
- The drug may contain inactive ingredients that can cause serious allergic reactions or other problems.
- Inform your doctor about any medical history, especially eye irritation, eye infections, or if you use contact lenses.
- After using the drug, vision may become blurred temporarily.
- Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any eye infections or injuries while using Alcaftadine.
How to use Alcaftadine?
- Ophthalmic alcaftadine is administered as a liquid solution directly into the eye.
- Typically, it is applied once daily into the affected eye as directed by your doctor.
- Wash your hands before using the eye drops to prevent contamination.
- Avoid touching the dropper tip to your eye or any surface to prevent contamination.
- Contact lenses can absorb the preservative in this product; remove them before using the drops and wait at least 10 minutes after each dose before reinserting them.
- If your eyes are red, avoid using contact lenses.
- Tilt your head back, look upward, and pull down the lower eyelid to create a pouch.
- Place one drop into the pouch, hold the dropper directly over your eye as instructed by your doctor.
- Close your eyes gently and apply light pressure to the corner of your eye near the nose for 1 to 2 minutes to prevent the medication from draining out before opening your eyes.
Dosage
Missed Dose
As soon as you remember, use the missing dose. If it’s time for the next dose, skip the skipped dose and return to the daily dosing schedule. To make up for a missed dose, do not offer a double dose.
Overdose
Overdose of an eye drop can lead to severe side effects like headache, eye irritation and dry eyes. Talk with your doctor immediately if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
Warnings for Serious Health Conditions
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
During pregnancy, if you are using this drug then talk with your doctor immediately. The drug should be used if the benefits outweigh the risks. Alcaftadine eye drop doesn’t have any side effects while breastfeeding. But before using any medication talk with your doctor immediately.
Storage
Direct contact with heat, air and light may damage your medicines. Exposure to medicine may cause some harmful effects. The medicine must be kept in a safe place and out of children’s reach.
Mainly the drug should be kept at room temperature between 68ºF and 77ºF (20ºC and 25ºC).
Alcaftadine vs Olopatadine
| Alcaftadine | Olopatadine |
|---|---|
| Alcaftadine is an antihistamine that works by inhibiting the effects of the body’s natural chemical histamine. Some of the symptoms that histamine produces are itchy or watery eyes. | Olopatadine is a prescription drug that comes in the form of ophthalmic solutions. The drug is available in various brand-name drugs called pazeo, patanol and pataday. |
| This drug is used to prevent allergies from causing scratching in the eyes. It functions by inhibiting the action of a natural product called histamine, which triggers allergic symptoms. | Olopatadine ophthalmic (eye) drops are used to treat allergic conjunctivitis, which causes inflammation in the eyes (pink eye) |
Some of the common & major side effects of Alcaftadine are:
|
Some of the common and major side effects of Olopatadine are:
|
