Bepreve Eye Drops: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Bepreve Eye Drops contain bepotastine ophthalmic (bepotastine besilate), an ophthalmic antihistamine used to treat itchy eyes caused by allergies (allergic conjunctivitis). It works by reducing histamine, the chemical responsible for itching and watery eyes, and by stabilizing mast cells to help prevent further release of allergy-causing substances. It is available as an ophthalmic solution and is used as directed by a doctor.

What is Bepreve Eye Drops

Bepreve is an antihistamine eye drop that helps reduce the amount of the natural chemical histamine. Histamine can produce symptoms of itching or watery eyes.

Bepreve Eye Drops uses

• Treats itchy eyes caused by allergies (allergic conjunctivitis)

Benefits of Bepreve Eye Drops

• Helps relieve itchy eyes caused by allergies.
• Helps reduce redness and irritation from allergic conjunctivitis.
• Can help control watery eyes and burning discomfort related to allergies.
• Helps prevent and control recurrent allergic eye symptoms when used as prescribed.

How Bepreve Eye Drops works

Bepotastine blocks histamine, a chemical in the body that causes itchy eyes during allergies, and it also helps stop certain immune cells from releasing histamine in the first place.

Bepreve Eye Drops dosage

Use exactly as prescribed by your doctor and follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not use these eye drops while wearing soft contact lenses; take your contacts out before using the drops and wait at least 10 to 15 minutes after using them before putting your contacts back in, since a preservative in the drops can permanently stain soft lenses.

Wash your hands before using the eye medication. To apply, tilt your head back slightly, pull down your lower eyelid to make a small pocket, and squeeze a drop into that pocket without letting the dropper tip touch your eye or any other surface.

After applying, close your eyes for 1 to 2 minutes; some sources suggest pressing a finger to the inner corner of the eye near the nose for about 1 minute to help the eye absorb the medicine. If you use other eye medications, wait about 5 minutes between each one.

Not approved for use in children younger than 2 years old. If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember, but skip it if it is almost time for your next dose — do not use two doses at once.

Available forms and strengths

• Ophthalmic solution (eye drops)

Side effects of Bepreve Eye Drops

Common

• Mild eye irritation
• Stuffy nose, sore throat (nasopharyngitis)
• Headache
• Unusual or unpleasant taste in the mouth

Serious

• Severe eye irritation
• Signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Red, sore eyes
• Body rash and itching

Warnings and precautions

• Do not use Bepreve if you are allergic to bepotastine.
• Do not use this medicine while wearing contact lenses, since it may contain a preservative that can discolor soft lenses. Wait at least 10 minutes after using it before putting your contacts back in.
• Do not let the dropper tip touch any surface, including your eyes or hands, since a contaminated dropper could cause an eye infection that may lead to vision loss or serious eye damage.
• Bepreve should not be used to treat eye irritation caused by contact lenses.
• Bepreve is not approved for use in children younger than 2 years old.
• There is no human data on using Bepreve during pregnancy, so it is not known whether it poses risks to the baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant.
• It is not known if Bepreve passes into breast milk in humans or whether it affects a nursing baby. Talk with your doctor about the benefits of breastfeeding along with your need for this medicine.

Storage

• Store at 15–25°C (59–77°F) at controlled room temperature.
• Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.
• Protect from excessive heat and direct sunlight.
• Do not freeze, and avoid touching the dropper tip to help prevent contamination.
• Keep out of reach and sight of children and pets.

When to see a doctor

• Stop using the eye drops and call your doctor right away if you have severe eye irritation while using them.
• Get emergency medical help if you notice signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• If you think you may have used too much of this medicine, seek emergency medical attention or contact your local poison control center.

Alternatives

• Ketotifen Eye Drops
• Azelastine Eye Drops
• Epinastine Eye Drops
• Patanol (Olopatadine) Eye Drops