Patanol Treatment and Use
Patanol | Olopatadine is an opthalmic antihistamine solution marketed by Alcon Laboratories Inc. and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1996 for treating allergic reactions of the eye (allergic conjunctivitis).
Patanol may be prescribed to treat allergic conjunctivitis in order to prevent pink eye.
Patanol should not be given to any patients under the age of 3 without a prescription.
How Does Patanol Work?
As an antihistamine, Patanol works by interfering with allergy receptors in the body. These receptors usually release histamines which are responsible for creating allergy symptoms. By using Patanol, patients may benefit from decreased inflammation and irritation of the eyes caused by allergies.
How to Use Patanol
Patanol comes in the form of an eye drop solution. Contacts should be removed before using Patanol. Patanol is usually prescribed to be taken twice each day with 6 to 8 hours apart each treatment. Use Patanol only as prescribed by your doctor; do not use more or less. Do not stop using Patanol until treatment has been completed. To use Patanol:
- wash your hands using soap and water
- examine the eye dropper to be sure that it is not broken and does not contain any foreign objects
- check solution and make sure it has not changed colors and does not have any particles in it. If it does, do not use the solution and ask your doctor for a new prescription to avoid harm.
- tilt your head back slightly while pulling the lower eyelid down and away from your eye using your index finger
- with your other hand, hold the dropper close to your eye (without touching the eye)
- look up and lightly squeeze one drop into your eye
- with your eyes gently closed, bend forward as if you were looking at the ground
- carefully press on the tear ducts using one finger
- after two or three minutes you may stand up and open your eyes
- wipe extra solution from the skin with a tissue or paper towel
If you will be using more than one eye drop, wait a minimum of five minutes before applying another drop.
Close cap on bottle tightly after use. Do not clean the dropper tip. Do not let the dropper make contact with any surface to avoid contamination.
Contacts may be replaced ten minutes after instilling Patanol.