Epinastine eye drops for hay fever

About epinastine eye drops

Hay fever is caused by an allergy to pollen. The symptoms of hay fever are due to your immune system reacting to pollen. Cells on the lining of your eyes release a chemical called histamine, which causes eye inflammation (conjunctivitis). Hay fever is also called seasonal allergic conjunctivitis because symptoms tend to occur at the same time, or in the same season, each year. Typical symptoms of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis are red, itchy and watery eyes. Epinastine drops relieve these symptoms by blocking the action of histamine in the cells on the surface of your eyes.

Before using epinastine eye drops

To make sure this is the right treatment for you, before you start using the eye drops it is important that your doctor knows:

• If you wear soft contact lenses.

• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Although epinastine is not known to be harmful to babies, it is still important that you tell your doctor if you are expecting or breastfeeding a baby.

• If the drops are for a child. Epinastine drops are not recommended for a child under 12 years of age.

• If you have ever had an allergic reaction to an antihistamine or to any eye drops.

• If you are taking or using any other medicines. This includes any medicines you are taking which are available to buy without a prescription, as well as herbal and complementary medicines.

How to use epinastine eye drops

1. Wash your hands well before you use the drops.

2. Open the bottle.

3. Tilt your head back a little and pull the lower lid of your eye downwards to form a pocket.

4. Hold the bottle upside down near to your eye. Try not to touch your eye as you do this.

5. Gently squeeze the bottle to release one drop into your eye.

6. Close your eye for a minute or two, and press gently on the side of your nose where the corner of your eye meets your nose. This helps to stop the drop from draining away and keeps it in your eye.

7. Repeat the process in your other eye if you have been told to use the drops in both eyes.

8. Put the cap back on the bottle.

Getting the most from your treatment

• Before using the eye drops, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about epinastine drops and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from using them.

• Use epinastine drops twice a day. Most doctors recommend using them in the morning and the evening. You may need to continue to use the drops until the pollen season ends - this will often mean using them for a number of weeks. Do not use the drops for more than eight weeks.

• Take care not to touch your eye, fingers, or any other surface with the dropper of the bottle. This could infect the drops left in the bottle.

• When you first put the drops into your eye, it may cause blurred vision. This should quickly clear, but make sure you can see clearly again before you drive and before you use machines or tools.

• If your symptoms do not improve within a week, or if they become worse, check again with your doctor for further advice.

• If you are using any other eye drops, leave at least five minutes between applying each preparation. This is to prevent more liquid going into your eye than it can handle. Otherwise the drops will overflow from your eye and not have the intended effect.

• You should not wear soft contact lenses while you are using epinastine eye drops, unless your doctor has advised you otherwise. This is because there is a preservative in the drops which can affect soft contact lenses.

Can epinastine eye drops cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains the most common ones associated with epinastine eye drops. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with the drops. Speak with your doctor if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to the drops, speak with your doctor or pharmacist for further advice.

How to store epinastine eye drops

• Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.

• Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.

• Eye drops only keep for four weeks once the bottle has been opened, so do not use the drops if the bottle has been open for longer than this. This will help to prevent eye infections.

Important information about all medicines