Uses of Patanol

Patanol is a brand name for olopatadine, a prescription medicine used to treat eye-related allergy symptoms. It is classified as an antihistamine, meaning that it functions by obstructing the actions of histamine, a substance that the body produces as part of the immune response.

Function

• Patanol reduces allergy-related eye symptoms such as redness, itching eyes, watering, burning, stinging and inflammation. Patanol is not supposed to be used to treat irritation of the eyes as a result of wearing contact lenses. Patanol has no off-label uses, meaning it is used only to treat allergy symptoms.

Usage

• This medication comes in eye-drop form. You will administer it one or two times daily, according to your doctor's instructions. Before putting in the eye drops, thoroughly wash your hands. Tilt back your head and place the dropper right above your eyes; administer the appropriate amount of drops; and keep your eyes shut for one or two minutes. Place a finger on the corner of your eye (near your nose), and apply mild pressure to stop the medication from coming out of the eyes. Try to avoid blinking and rubbing the eyes.

Common Side Effects

• Patanol can produce side effects such as stinging, dryness, redness and burning of the eyes, the sensation of something being stuck inside of the eye, swelling of the eyelids, blurry vision and headache. These side effects usually subside quickly. If they don't go away or if they intensify with time, speak with your doctor.

Allergic Reactions

• Severe allergic reactions to Patanol are uncommon but can happen occasionally. Seek immediate medical help if you have an allergic reaction. Signs of this can include difficulty breathing, swelling, skin rash, itchiness and dizziness.

Warning

• One of the most common side effects of Patanol is blurry vision. Because of this, people who have just started using these eye drops must be particularly careful when driving, operating machinery or performing other tasks that require strong, clear vision.