Olopatadine eye drops

What is this medicine?

OLOPATADINE is an antihistamine that reduces the natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of itching or watery eyes.

Olopatadine is used to treat ocular (eye) symptoms of allergic conditions, such as inflammation, itching, watering, and burning.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

You should not use Olopatadine if you are allergic to olopatadine.
Before using Olopatadine, tell your doctor if you have any type of infection in your eye.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether Olopatadine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use Olopatadine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not use this medication in a child younger than 3 years old without the advice of a doctor.

How should I take this medicine?

Use Olopatadine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Wash your hands before using the eye drops.
To apply the eye drops:

Tilt your head back slightly and pull down your lower eyelid to create a small pocket. Hold the dropper above the eye with the dropper tip down. Look up and away from the dropper as you squeeze out a drop, then close your eye.
Gently press your finger to the inside corner of the eye (near your nose) for about 1 minute to keep the liquid from draining into your tear duct. If you use more than one drop in the same eye, wait about 5 minutes before putting in the next drop.
Do not allow the dropper tip to touch any surface, including the eyes or hands. If the dropper becomes contaminated it could cause an infection in your eye, which can lead to vision loss or serious damage to the eye.
Do not use the eye drops if the liquid has changed colors or has particles in it. Call your doctor for a new prescription.

What if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What may interact with this medicine?

There may be other drugs that can interact with Olopatadine. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

What should I watch for while taking this medicine?

Do not use Olopatadine while you are wearing contact lenses. Olopatadine may contain a preservative that can be absorbed by soft contact lenses. Wait at least 10 minutes after using Olopatadine before putting your contact lenses in.
Avoid wearing contact lenses while your eyes are red or irritated.

Avoid using other eye medications not prescribed by your doctor.

What side effects may I notice from this medicine?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using Olopatadine and call your doctor at once if you have severe redness, swelling, burning, stinging, drainage, crusting, or other irritation when using the eye drops.
Less serious side effects may include:

• mild burning, stinging, irritation, itching, redness, or dryness of the eyes;
• blurred vision;
• feeling that something is in your eye;
• puffy eyelids;
• stuffy or runny nose, cough, sore throat;
• weakness;
• back pain;
• headache; or
• unusual or unpleasant taste in your mouth.

Where can I keep my medicine?

Store the drops at room temperature away from heat and moisture. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.