Olopatadine nasal

Before using olopatadine nasal, tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by olopatadine nasal.

There may be other drugs that can interact with olopatadine nasal. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Use olopatadine only as directed by your doctor. Do not use more of it, do not use it more often, and do not use it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

olopatadine comes with patient instructions. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

olopatadine is for use only in the nose. Do not get it in your eyes or on your skin. If it does get on these areas, rinse it off right away with water.

To use:

• When you use the spray for the first time, you must prime the bottle. To do this, pump the bottle 5 times or until the spray comes out. Now it is ready to use.
• If you do not use the bottle for 7 days or longer, prime it again by releasing 2 sprays.
• Before using the spray, gently blow your nose to clear the nostrils.
• After using the spray, wipe the tip of the bottle with a clean tissue and put the cap back on.

Dosing

The dose of olopatadine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of olopatadine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For nasal dosage form (spray):
  • For symptoms of hay fever:
    • Adults, teenagers, and children 12 years of age and older—2 sprays in each nostril two times per day.
    • Children 6 to 11 years of age—1 spray in each nostril two times per day.
    • Children younger than 6 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of olopatadine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

• If you have an allergy to olopatadine or any other part of olopatadine (nasal).
• If you are allergic to any drugs like this one, any other drugs, foods, or other substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had, like rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other signs.

This medicine may interact with other drugs or health problems.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take this medicine with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

No dosage adjustment necessary.

There are no known significant interactions.

Observe patients periodically for adverse nasal effects (eg, ulceration, perforation).

Adverse effects were observed in animal reproduction studies. Until additional information is available, other agents may be preferred for the treatment of rhinitis in pregnant women (Scadding 2008).

• Discuss specific use of drug and side effects with patient as it relates to treatment. (HCAHPS: During this hospital stay, were you given any medicine that you had not taken before? Before giving you any new medicine, how often did hospital staff tell you what the medicine was for? How often did hospital staff describe possible side effects in a way you could understand?)

• Patient may experience headache, pharyngitis, or bad taste. Have patient report immediately to prescriber nasal sores, severe nasal irritation, noisy breathing, or severe nosebleeds (HCAHPS).

• Educate patient about signs of a significant reaction (eg, wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat). Note: This is not a comprehensive list of all side effects. Patient should consult prescriber for additional questions.

Intended Use and Disclaimer: Should not be printed and given to patients. This information is intended to serve as a concise initial reference for healthcare professionals to use when discussing medications with a patient. You must ultimately rely on your own discretion, experience, and judgment, in diagnosing, treating, and advising patients.

Commonly reported side effects of olopatadine nasal include: epistaxis. Other side effects include: nasal mucosa ulcer. See below for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.

Summary of Use during Lactation

Because absorption from the eye is limited, olopatadine would not be expected to cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants. To substantially diminish the amount of drug that reaches the breastmilk after using eye drops, place pressure over the tear duct by the corner of the eye for 1 minute or more, then remove the excess solution with an absorbent tissue.

Drug Levels

Maternal Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Effects in Breastfed Infants

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Effects on Lactation and Breastmilk

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Alternate Drugs to Consider

Cromolyn

References

Substance Name

Olopatadine

CAS Registry Number

113806-05-6

Drug Class

Anti-Allergic Agents

Antihistamines