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

Quick overview

Pataday Eye Drops contain olopatadine hydrochloride, an ophthalmic antihistamine used to relieve itching and redness in the eyes caused by allergies. It works by reducing histamine, a natural chemical in the body that triggers itching and watery eyes. Pataday is applied directly into the affected eye or eyes, usually once daily, and is available as an ophthalmic solution.

What is Pataday Eye Drops

Pataday is an antihistamine eye drop. It reduces a natural chemical in the body called histamine, which can cause itching and watery eyes.

Pataday Eye Drops uses

• Treats itching and redness in the eyes caused by allergies
• Temporary relief of allergy eye symptoms, such as itchy and red eyes

Benefits of Pataday Eye Drops

• Helps relieve itchy eyes caused by allergies.
• Reduces redness and irritation associated with allergic conjunctivitis.
• Helps control watery eyes triggered by allergens such as pollen, dust, or pet dander.
• Works as an antihistamine and mast-cell stabilizer to reduce allergic eye symptoms.
• Provides long-lasting allergy relief, with some formulations designed for once-daily use.

How Pataday Eye Drops works

Pataday blocks histamine, a chemical in the body that causes allergy symptoms like itchy and red eyes. By blocking histamine, it helps relieve these eye allergy symptoms.

Pataday Eye Drops dosage

Use in the affected eye or eyes as directed on the product label or by your doctor, usually once or twice a day. Wash your hands before using the eye drops, and do not let the dropper tip touch your eye or any other surface, to avoid contamination.

Remove soft contact lenses before using this medicine, since a preservative in it could permanently stain the lenses. Wait at least 10 minutes after using the drops before putting contact lenses back in.

Tilt your head back, look upward, and pull down the lower eyelid to make a small pocket, then place one drop into the pocket. Close your eyes gently for 1 to 2 minutes and press a finger at the corner of the eye near the nose to keep the medicine from draining out. Try not to blink or rub your eye after applying the drops. If using in both eyes, repeat the same steps for the other eye.

If using other eye medications, wait at least 5 minutes before applying them, and use eye drops before eye ointments. Wait several minutes for your vision to clear before driving or operating machinery.

Use the medication regularly and at the same time each day to get the most benefit. Do not use the eye drops if the liquid looks cloudy or has changed color. This medicine is not approved for use in children younger than 2 years old.

Available forms and strengths

• Ophthalmic solution (eye drops)

Side effects of Pataday Eye Drops

Common

• Headache
• Blurred vision
• Cold symptoms
• Redness in the eye
• Dry eye
• Unusual or unpleasant taste in the mouth
• Eyelid swelling
• General weakness
• Nausea
• Eye irritation
• Eye itching
• Eye pain
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Sinusitis
• Eyelid crusting
• Sore throat
• Dry mouth
• Feeling like something is in the eye
• Back pain
• Cough
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Trouble sleeping
• Vomiting

Serious

• Signs of an allergic reaction such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Eye pain or changes in vision
• Eye itching that gets worse or lasts longer than 72 hours
• Severe burning, stinging, or irritation after using the medicine
• Eye swelling, redness, severe discomfort, crusting, or drainage, which may be signs of infection

Warnings and precautions

• This medicine is only for use in the eyes. Do not put the drops in your ear, nose, or mouth. If someone swallows the medication, get medical help right away or contact a poison control center.
• If you wear contact lenses, take them out before using this medicine. The eye drops contain a preservative that can damage your contacts. Wait at least 10 minutes after using the drops before putting your contacts back in.
• Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to it.
• Ask a doctor or pharmacist if this medicine is safe to use if you have any type of eye infection.
• This medicine will not treat eye irritation caused by wearing contact lenses, and you should avoid wearing contacts while your eyes are red or irritated.
• A contaminated dropper can infect your eye, which could lead to serious vision problems, so avoid touching the tip of the dropper to your eye or any surface.
• There isn't enough information available on whether this medicine affects a developing baby, so your doctor will need to weigh the benefits of treatment against possible risks.
• There isn't enough human data available on using this medicine while breastfeeding.
• Wait several minutes for your vision to clear before driving or operating machinery after using this medicine.

Storage

• Store at 2–25°C (36–77°F) according to the product labeling.
• 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 prevent contamination.
• Keep out of reach and sight of children and pets.

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency medical help right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Stop using this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have eye pain, changes in vision, eye itching that gets worse or lasts more than 72 hours, severe burning or stinging, or eye swelling, redness, severe discomfort, crusting, or drainage.
• If your condition lasts or gets worse, or if you think you may have a serious medical problem, get medical help right away.

Alternatives

• Bepotastine Eye Drops
• Azelastine Eye Drops
• Ketotifen Eye Drops
• Patanol (Olopatadine 0.1%)