Patanol Side Effects

Serious Side Effects of Patanol

severe redness of the eyes
extreme burning, pain or stinging of the eyes
increased eye drainage or development of crust around the eyes
allergic reaction: swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, mouth or face, trouble breathing, hives, or rash

Common Side Effects of Patanol

headache
changes in vision or blurry vision
minor burning or stinging sensation in eyes
change in taste perception
loss of strength
inflammation of eyelids
feeling as if something is in your eye
pain or aching of the back
cold symptoms such as congestion or runny nose, coughing and soreness of the throat

Warnings & Recalls for Patanol

General Warnings

Make sure the eye dropper does not touch any surface. If the dropper becomes contaminated, your eyes may become damaged and you may suffer from vision loss. Patients who are allergic to ingredients in Patanol should not use this medication. Before using Patanol as a treatment, be sure to let your healthcare provider know if you have an eye infection. Do not use any other eye treatments unless your doctor has instructed you to do so. Tell your doctor about all medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal products you may be using.

Patanol and Pregnancy

Patanol is an FDA pregnancy Category C drug. Patanol could harm the fetus if taken during pregnancy. It is unknown if Patanol may be passed through breast-milk and cause harm to a nursing baby. If you are pregnant, may become pregnant or are breastfeeding, consult your doctor before using Patanol.

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.

Other Names for Patanol

Brand name:

Patanol

Generic name:

Olopatadine opthalmic