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Azelastine Coupon - Azelastine 6ml of 0.05% eye dropper

azelastine eye drop

Generic Optivar
Used for Allergic Rhinitis, Allergic Conjunctivitis
Used for Allergic Rhinitis, Allergic Conjunctivitis

Azelastine is an eye drop medication that's used to ease eye itchiness from allergies. It's an antihistamine eye drop that adults and children ages 3 years and up can use. The typical dosage is one drop in the affected eye(s) twice a day. The most common side effects include temporary eye stinging and burning after you put the eye drops in. Azelastine is available only as a lower-cost generic medication. The brand name, Optivar, is no longer available in the U.S.

Reviewed by:
reviewer
Ally Tsai, PharmD
reviewer
Allison Gourley, PharmD
Last reviewed on April 30, 2024
BasicsSide effectsPros & consPharmacist tipsFAQsWarningsDosageInteractionsAlternativesLatest newsImagesReferencesPricesMedicare
basics-icon

What is Azelastine?

What is Azelastine used for?

How Azelastine works

Azelastine is a second-generation antihistamine. It blocks histamine, a natural chemical your immune system releases that can cause allergy symptoms. When it's placed in the eye, azelastine helps relieve eye symptoms caused by allergies, such as eye itching.

Are you looking for information on Astepro (azelastine) nasal spray instead?
When does Azelastine start working?
Time passed since treatment started:
MINUTES
HOURS
DAYS
WEEKS
MONTHS
Full effect

Drug Facts

Common BrandsOptivar (brand name no longer available)
Drug ClassAntihistamine
Controlled Substance ClassificationNot a controlled medication
Generic StatusNo lower-cost generic available
AvailabilityPrescription only
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Avg retail price
$82.38(save 84.22%)
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$13.00
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What are the side effects of Azelastine?

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

  • Temporary eye burning or stinging (30%)
  • Headaches (15%)
  • Bitter taste (10%)

Other Side Effects

  • Eye redness
  • Eye pain
  • Temporary blurry vision
  • Feeling tired
  • Flu-like symptoms (cough, congestion)
  • Itching
  • Sore throat
  • Runny nose
  • Shortness of breath
When do Azelastine possible side effects begin and end?
Time passed since treatment started:
MINUTES
HOURS
DAYS
WEEKS
MONTHS
Temporary eye burning or stinging
Headache
Bitter taste in the mouth

Source: DailyMed

The following side effects have also been reported

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

Cough

difficulty breathing

noisy breathing

shortness of breath

tightness in chest

wheezing

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Bitter taste in mouth

headaches

temporary eye burning or stinging

Less common

Burning, dry or itching eyes

blurred vision, temporary

chills

diarrhea

eye discharge or excessive tearing

fever

general feeling of discomfort or illness

hoarseness or other voice changes

itching skin

joint pain

loss of appetite

muscle aches and pains

nausea

redness, pain, swelling of eye, eyelid, or inner lining of eyelid

runny nose

shivering

sneezing

sore throat

stuffy nose

sweating

tender, swollen glands in neck

trouble in swallowing

trouble sleeping

unusual tiredness or weakness

vomiting

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

pros-and-cons

Pros and cons of Azelastine

thumbs-up

Pros

Generally well-tolerated

Relieves eye itching for up to 8 to 10 hours

Safe to use in children 3 years of age and older

thumbs-down

Cons

Can cause temporary eye burning right after using

Can absorb into soft contact lenses and cause damage

Only available by prescription unlike other eye drops for allergies that can be found over the counter

pharmacist-tips

Pharmacist tips for Azelastine

pharmacist

  • Only use azelastine for your eyes.

    • Always wash your hands with soap and water before you use azelastine eye drops so that you don't spread germs to your eyes.

      • Don't let the tip of the azelastine bottle touch the eye or other surfaces. Otherwise, the medication might get contaminated with bacteria or other germs.

        • Make sure to take your contact lenses out before each time you use azelastine eye drops. There's a preservative in the eye drops that can damage your contact lenses. Wait at least 10 minutes after you place azelastine into your eye before putting your lenses back in.

          • Don't wear contact lenses if your eyes are red since it can make your eye symptoms worse.

            • You can use azelastine eye drops with other eye drop medications. But wait 3 to 5 minutes in between each eye drop medication to use the next medication. This gives enough time for each eye medication to get absorbed properly into your eye(s).

              • Mild eye irritation is a common side effect of azelastine, but it's temporary. Stop using the medication and talk to an eye specialist if you experience eye discomfort that doesn't go away or gets worse.

                • How to use azelastine eye drops: Pull down your lower eyelid with one hand and hold the bottle upside down with the other. Tilt your head back and squeeze 1 drop of medication into your affected eye. Then, close your eye and press your finger on the corner of your eye closest to your nose for 1 minute. Repeat these steps if you need to use azelastine in your other eye.

                  faqs

                  Frequently asked questions about Azelastine

                  Is azelastine a steroid?
                  No. Azelastine is considered an antihistamine, not a steroid medication. Though they work differently, both types of medication can help relieve eye discomfort caused by allergies. In general, steroid eye drops are used to treat more severe eye symptoms caused by allergies, such as eye inflammation. On the other hand, antihistamine eye drops can help relieve red, itchy eyes from allergies. Ask a primary care provider or pharmacist to help decide which type of eye drop medication is best for you based on your symptoms.
                  Is azelastine an antihistamine?
                  Yes, azelastine is an antihistamine. It blocks histamine, a chemical that causes allergic reactions in the body in response to allergens like pollen or dust. When azelastine is put in the eye, it relieves eye itching caused by allergies.
                  Does azelastine raise blood pressure?
                  No, azelastine isn't known to raise blood pressure. Talk to a primary care provider if you happen to notice changes to your blood pressure while you're using this eye drop. Your primary care provider can check whether there's something else going on.
                  How long do azelastine side effects last?
                  The most common side effects with azelastine eye drops are bitter taste in the mouth and mild burning or stinging in the eye. These side effects are typically temporary. In one clinical study, most people who used azelastine eye drops and had these side effects were able to continue to use the medication for symptom relief with no major issues. Talk to a healthcare professional if your side effects don't go away.
                  How long do I use azelastine eye drops?
                  You can continue to use azelastine twice a day as long as you have allergy-related eye itching. In one clinical study, people have used this medication for more than a month with improvement in their allergic eye symptoms compared to placebo. Keep in mind that if you need to use azelastine for more than a month, it might be best to follow up with an eye specialist to see whether there are other medical conditions going on.
                  How long does it take for azelastine to start working?
                  A clinical study showed that azelastine eye drops can start working within 3 minutes to relieve eye itching. Talk to your eye specialist if your eye symptoms don't go away or get worse after you start using this medication.
                  Are azelastine eye drops over the counter?
                  Azelastine isn't available over the counter. You'll need a prescription from an eye specialist or healthcare professional. But there are other antihistamine eye drops, such as olopatadine (Pataday), that you can buy over the counter at your local pharmacy.
                  Is azelastine safe in pregnancy?
                  Ask your care team before you use azelastine while pregnant. Although azelastine eye drops haven't been well-studied in pregnancy, azelastine taken orally (by mouth) has caused serious harm to unborn baby animals at high doses. Because of this risk, it's recommended that you talk with your OB-GYN or primary care provider about taking any allergy medications during pregnancy.
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                  What are the risks and warnings for Azelastine?

                  Azelastine can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.

                  risk-warning

                  Only use on the surface of the eye

                  Use azelastine on the surface of the eye only. Don't place the medication in your mouth, nose, or anywhere else on your body. Also don't use azelastine as an injection into any parts of the eye.

                  risk-warning

                  Contamination of eye drops and risk for eye infection

                  Don't let the tip of the bottle touch the eye, eyelid, or other surfaces. Also don't touch the tip with your fingers. Doing so can contaminate azelastine, and using contaminated medication in the eye can lead to serious harm to the eye, such as infection.

                  risk-warning

                  Avoid wearing soft contact lenses

                  Azelastine eye drops contain a preservative called benzalkonium chloride. This preservative can get absorbed by soft contact lenses and cause damage to the contacts. If you wear soft contact lenses, take them out before you place azelastine eye drops into the eye. Then, wait at least 10 minutes after you use the medication to put your lenses back in. Don't use azelastine to treat eye irritation that's caused by contact lenses.

                  dosage

                  Azelastine dosage forms

                  The average cost for 1 eye dropper of 6ml of 0.05% of Azelastine is $13.00 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 84.22% off the average retail price of $82.38.
                  eye dropper
                  Eye dropper
                  DosageQuantityPrice as low asPrice per unit
                  6ml of 0.05%1 eye dropper$13.00$13.00

                  Typical dosing for Azelastine

                  Each drop contains 0.05% of azelastine.

                  • Adults and children age 3 and older: The typical dose is 1 drop in affected eye(s) twice a day.

                  interactions

                  Interactions between Azelastine and other drugs

                  Azelastine may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Azelastine. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.

                  Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

                  Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

                  alternatives

                  What are alternatives to Azelastine?

                  There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Azelastine. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
                  Azelastine
                  Used for:
                  $13.00 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
                  Zaditor (ketotifen)
                  Used for:

                  • Allergy-related itchy eyes

                  $8.40 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
                  Olopatadine (Pataday)
                  Used for:
                  $11.96 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
                  latest news

                  What is the latest news about Azelastine?

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                  Azelastine Coupon - Azelastine 6ml of 0.05% eye dropper
                  eye dropper (6ml) 0.05% of azelastineAzelastine Coupon - Azelastine 6ml of 0.05% eye dropper

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                  References

                  Best studies we found

                  American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. (2024). Tips for administering eye drops.

                  Apotex Corp. (2023). Azelastine hydrochloride- azelastine hydrochloride solution/drops [package insert]. DailyMed. 

                  Friedlaender, M. H., et al. (2000). Evaluation of the onset and duration of effect of azelastine eye drops (0.05%) versus placebo in patients with allergic conjunctivitis using an allergen challenge model. Ophthalmology.

                  View All References (4)

                  Gudgel, D. T., et al. (2023). How to put in eye drops. American Academy of Ophthalmology.

                  MedlinePlus. (2017). Histamine: The stuff allergies are made of.

                  Ohbayashi, M., et al. (2010). The role of histamine in ocular allergy. Histamine in Inflammation.

                  Williams, P. B., et al. (2010). Azelastine hydrochloride, a dual-acting anti-inflammatory ophthalmic solution, for treatment of allergic conjunctivitis. Clinical Ophthalmology.

                  GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.
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