Alcaftadine
Description
Alcaftadine is an anti-allergy medicine. It is used to relieve irritation and itching of the eyes caused due to allergic conjunctivitis (swelling of the conjunctiva, the clear membrane that covers the front of the white part of the eye and inside of the eyelids). Alcaftadine works by blocking the action of histamine, a substance in the body that causes allergic symptoms. This medication is available in the form of eye drops.
Alcaftadine may cause side effects like red, irritated, or itchy eyes, burning or stinging sensation immediately after instilling the eye drops. Most of these symptoms resolve with time as your body gets used to the medicine. Consult your doctor if the symptoms worsen or persist for more than a week.
Alcaftadine should be taken as per the dose and duration prescribed by your doctor. Use Alcaftadine at the same time every day for better results and ease of remembering. Remove your contact lenses before instilling this medication. Wait for 10-15 minutes after the administration of Alcaftadine to put the contact lenses back on your eyes.
Alcaftadine is not recommended for use if you are allergic to it. Avoid using this medicine to treat redness caused by the use of contact lenses.
Alcaftadine is not recommended for use in children below two years of age due to a lack of sufficient safety data. If you are pregnant or are breastfeeding, consult your doctor before using this medicine.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Alcaftadine
- Eye irritation and discomfort
- Redness and itching of the eye
- Blurred vision
- Burning or stinging of eyes
Uses of Alcaftadine
What is it prescribed for?
- Allergic conjunctivitis
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe effect of Alcaftadine may be observed within 15 minutes of administration.
- Duration of effectThe effect of Alcaftadine may last for approximately 24 hours.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit-forming tendencies were reported for Alcaftadine.
- Usage in pregnancy?There were no harmful effects reported in animal studies regarding the use of Alcaftadine during pregnancy. However, there are limited data available from human studies. Hence, if you are pregnant, your doctor may prescribe Alcaftadine if clearly needed. Discuss the potential risks and benefits with your doctor before using this medicine.
- Usage while breast-feeding?It is not known if Alcaftadine passes into breast milk. Hence, consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
Hypersensitivity
Alcaftadine is not recommended for use if you are allergic to it. Serious allergic reactions to this medication are rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulty, etc.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
There were no harmful effects reported in animal studies regarding the use of Alcaftadine during pregnancy. However, there are limited data available from human studies. Hence, if you are pregnant, your doctor may prescribe Alcaftadine if clearly needed. Discuss the potential risks and benefits with your doctor before using this medicine.
Breast-feeding
It is not known if Alcaftadine passes into breast milk. Hence, consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
General warnings
Contamination of dropper tip and solution
To prevent contamination avoid touching the tip of the dropper against your eye or other surfaces. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.
Use of contact lenses
Avoid using Alcaftadine if you are wearing contact lenses. Remove the contact lenses prior to administration of the eye drops and wait for 15 minutes before putting them back on the eyes. Do not use Alcaftadine for contact lens-related redness or irritation of the eyes.
Driving vehicles or operating machines
Alcaftadine may cause temporary blurring of the vision immediately after instilling the medicine. Avoid performing activities such as driving vehicles or operating machines until your vision is clear.
Topical ophthalmic use only
Alcaftadine is meant for use on the eyes only. Do not ingest it or administer it in your ears. In case of accidental ingestion, seek immediate medical assistance.
Missed Dose
Avoid missing your scheduled dose of Alcaftadine. If you do miss a dose, instill it as soon as you remember. However, if it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not instill a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
Overdose
As Alcaftadine is intended for external use, the likelihood of side effects due to an overdose is low. However, do not instill more than the prescribed dose.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Disease interactions
Disease
Information not available.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Alcaftadine is meant for use on the eyes only. Use Alcaftadine as instructed by your doctor. Wash your hands before each use.
Avoid touching the tip of the dropper against your eyes or other surfaces to prevent contamination. Avoid sharing your eye drops with anyone else.
Do not use Alcaftadine in larger or smaller quantities than prescribed. Take this medicine for the recommended duration for better results.
Inform your doctor if your condition does not improve within a few days or if it becomes worse.
Wait for at least ten minutes before administering any other eye drops or eye medication in the same eye to avoid dilution.
Remove your contact lenses before instilling Alcaftadine as it may cause lens discolouration and eye irritation. Wait for 10-15 minutes before putting the contact lenses back on your eyes.
Keep out of reach of children and pets.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Alcaftadine works by blocking the action of histamine, a substance in the body that causes allergic symptoms.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Histamine H1- receptor antagonist, Ophthalmic antihistamines and decongestants
Schedule
Schedule H
Medlineplus.gov. 2016. Alcaftadine Ophthalmic: MedlinePlus Drug Information. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 26 November 2021].
Mayoclinic.org. 2021. Alcaftadine (Ophthalmic Route) Proper Use - Mayo Clinic. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 26 November 2021].
Accessdata.fda.gov. 2010. LASTACAFTTM (alcaftadine ophthalmic solution). [online] Available at: < [Accessed 26 November 2021].
Chigbu, D. and Coyne, A., 2015. Update and clinical utility of alcaftadine ophthalmic solution 0.25% in the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis. [online] Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Available at: < [Accessed 26 November 2021].
Aapos.org. 2020. Allergic Conjunctivitis - American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 26 November 2021].
Information on this page was last updated on 29 Nov 2021
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.