Alcaftadine

Alcaftadine may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• Lastacaft

If you use too much alcaftadine, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center or seek emergency medical attention right away.

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take alcaftadine. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Do not use this medicine to treat contact lens irritation.
• Do not wear contact lenses if your eyes are red.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks of using alcaftadine while you are pregnant.
• Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about any risks to your baby.

Use this medicine as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• For the eye only.
• Wash your hands before and after use.
• Take out contact lenses before using alcaftadine. Lenses may be put back in 10 minutes after this medicine is given. Do not put contacts back in if your eyes are irritated or infected.
• Do not touch the container tip to the eye, lid, or other skin.
• Tilt your head back and drop drug into the eye.
• After use, keep your eyes closed. Put pressure on the inside corner of the eye. Do this for 1 to 2 minutes. This keeps the drug in your eye.
• To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.
• If more than 1 drug is being used in the same eye, use each drug at least 5 minutes apart.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Use a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
• Do not use 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Change in eyesight, eye pain, or very bad eye irritation.

• Store at room temperature.
• Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
• Keep lid tightly closed.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Check with your pharmacist about how to throw out unused drugs.

• Histamine H1 Antagonist
• Histamine H1 Antagonist, Second Generation
• Mast Cell Stabilizer

Direct H1-receptor antagonist and inhibitor of histamine release from mast cells

Absorption

Minimal systemic absorption

Metabolism

Non-CYP450 cytosolic enzymes to the active metabolite carboxylic acid

Half-Life Elimination

Carboxylic acid: ~2 hours

Protein Binding

~40%; Carboxylic acid (metabolite): ~60%

For topical ophthalmic use only. Contact lenses should be removed prior to application, and may be reinserted 10 minutes after administration. Separate administration of other ophthalmic agents by 5 minutes. Do not insert contacts if eyes are red. Avoid contaminating the applicator tip with affected eye(s).

Special populations:

• Contact lens wearers: Contains benzalkonium chloride which may be absorbed by soft contact lenses; remove lenses prior to administration and wait 10 minutes before reinserting. Not for the treatment of contact lens irritation; do not wear contact lens if eye is red.

Other warnings/precautions:

• Appropriate use: For topical ophthalmic use only. To avoid eye injury and contamination, do not touch dropper tip to eyelids or any surface.