Olopatadine (Ophthalmic)

Brand Names : Patanol

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For olopatadine, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to olopatadine. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as certain preservatives.

Pregnancy - Olopatadine has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in animals have found that this medicine given in extremely high doses results in a decreased number of live births; it has not been found to cause birth defects. Before using this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether olopatadine passes into human breast milk. However, it does pass into the milk of animals with nursing young. Discuss with your doctor whether or not to breast-feed while using this medicine.

Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of olopatadine in children up to 3 years of age with use in other age groups.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of olopatadine in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking or using any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.