Key takeaways
Epinastine (Elestat) and nedocromil (Alocril) are both eye drop medications used to treat allergy-related symptoms like itchy eyes. They are similar in that they both help with eye allergies, but they work differently. Epinastine is an antihistamine and mast cell stabilizer, while nedocromil is solely a mast cell stabilizer. Epinastine is typically used for preventing eye itchiness from allergies and is available as a lower-cost generic. It is applied as one drop in each eye twice a day. Nedocromil, on the other hand, is not a first-choice treatment and is used for itchy or watery eyes from allergies, with a typical dose of one or two drops in the affected eye(s) twice daily. Epinastine can be used in children as young as 2 years old, while nedocromil is approved for children 3 years and older. Common side effects of epinastine include a burning feeling in the eye and eye redness, whereas nedocromil often causes headaches and eye irritation. Both medications require a prescription and should not be used with contact lenses due to preservatives that can damage the lenses.
