Opatanol Eye Drops

Opatanol eye drops is a prescription-only medicine which contains an active ingredient called olopatadine hydrochloride 0.01%. Olopatadine belongs to a group of medicines called antihistamines. Antihistamines relieve itchy, puffy, and watery eyes by reducing the release of histamine from mast cells, reducing your immune response to allergens such as pollen, house dust mites, or animals. Olopatadine has been shown to reduce inflammation of the eye.

Patients suffering from moderate to severe symptoms of allergic rhinitis can use oral antihistamine tablets and a steroid nasal spray as triple therapy.

The dose is one drop of Opatanol in the conjunctival sac of the affected eye(s) twice daily (8 hourly). Treatment may be maintained for up to four months if considered necessary. If allergen exposure is anticipated, Opatanol should be administered prophylactically before the exposure. If the symptoms worsen or do not improve after 48 hours, consult your doctor or The Family Chemist clinician.

1. Get the Opatanol bottle and a mirror.
2. Wash your hands.
3. Take the bottle and twist off the cap.
4. After cap is removed, if the tamper evident snap collar is loose, remove before using the product.
5. Hold the bottle, pointing down, between your thumb and middle finger.
6. Tilt your head back. Pull down your eyelid with a clean finger, until there is a ‘pocket’ between the eyelid and your eye. The drop will go in here.
7. Bring the bottle tip close to the eye. Use the mirror if it helps.
8. Don’t touch your eye or eyelid, surrounding areas or other surfaces with the dropper. It could infect the drops left in the bottle.
9. Gently press on the base of the bottle to release one drop of Opatanol at a time.
10. Don’t squeeze the bottle, it is designed so that just a gentle press on the bottom is needed
11. If you use drops in both eyes, repeat the steps for your other eye.
12. Put the bottle cap back on firmly immediately after use.

This medicine can cause side effects like all medicines, although not everybody gets them.

These effects include slight irritation (burning, itching, watering) in the eyes after putting in Opatanol. This should not last long. A bitter taste in your mouth. This should quickly disappear, especially if you have a soft drink.

Do not use Opatanol if you are allergic to Olopatadine or any other ingredients in this medicine.