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|Azelastine Drops

Azelastine Drops

Azelastine Drops is used for:

Treating the symptoms of rhinitis (inflammation of the membranes lining the nose), including sneezing, itchy, runny nose, nasal congestion, or postnasal drip, caused by seasonal allergies or environmental irritants.

Azelastine Drops is an antihistamine eye drop. It works by preventing the release of histamine and reduces the symptoms of an allergic reaction in the eye.

Do NOT use Azelastine Drops if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Azelastine Drops

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Azelastine Drops:

Some medical conditions may interact with Azelastine Drops. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines or other substances

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Azelastine Drops. Because little, if any, of Azelastine Drops is absorbed into the blood, the risk of it interacting with another medicine is low.

Ask your health care provider if Azelastine Drops may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Azelastine Drops:

Use Azelastine Drops as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Azelastine Drops is only for the eye. Do not get it in your nose or mouth.
• Remove contact lenses before you use Azelastine Drops.
• To use Azelastine Drops in the eye, first, wash your hands. Tilt your head back. Using your index finger, pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to form a pouch. Drop the medicine into the pouch and gently close your eyes. Immediately use your finger to apply pressure to the inside corner of the eyelid for 1 to 2 minutes. Do not blink. Remove excess medicine around your eye with a clean, dry tissue, being careful not to touch your eye. Wash your hands to remove any medicine that may be on them.
• To prevent germs from contaminating your medicine, do not touch the applicator tip to any surface, including the eye. Keep the container tightly closed.
• If you miss a dose of Azelastine Drops, use it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not use 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Azelastine Drops.

Important safety information:

• Azelastine Drops may cause blurred vision. This effect may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Azelastine Drops with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Azelastine Drops may cause harm if it is swallowed. If you may have taken it by mouth, contact your poison control center or emergency room right away.
• Do not use Azelastine Drops for future eye problems without first checking with your doctor.
• Soft contact lenses may absorb a chemical in Azelastine Drops; wait 10 minutes after you use Azelastine Drops before you put your contacts back in.
• Do not wear contact lenses if your eyes are red. Azelastine Drops should not be used to treat redness caused by contact lenses.
• Azelastine Drops should not be used in CHILDREN younger than 3 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Azelastine Drops while you are pregnant. It is not known if Azelastine Drops is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Azelastine Drops, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of Azelastine Drops:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Bitter taste in mouth; blurred vision; burning; headache; stinging.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips or tongue).

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately.

Store Azelastine Drops upright in the refrigerator or at room temperature between 36 and 77 degrees F (2 and 25 degrees C). Do not freeze. Store tightly closed in the original packaging. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Azelastine Drops out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Azelastine Drops, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Azelastine Drops is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Azelastine Drops. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.