What is Olipatadine (Antihistamine)?

From the Guidelines

Olopatadine is a highly effective dual-action agent for treating allergic conjunctivitis, providing quick relief and long duration of action, making it a preferred choice for patients with eye allergies. It is available as eye drops (brand names like Patanol, Pataday) for allergic conjunctivitis and works by blocking histamine receptors and preventing the release of inflammatory substances 1. The typical dosing for eye allergies is one drop in each affected eye once or twice daily, depending on the formulation strength. Olopatadine has mast cell stabilizing properties, which helps prevent the release of inflammatory substances, making it suitable for acute and longer-term treatment of allergic conjunctivitis symptoms 1.

Key Benefits and Side Effects

• Quick relief within minutes
• Long duration of action, allowing for once-daily dosing in some formulations
• Mild side effects, including headache, dry eye, bitter taste, or mild burning/stinging upon application
• Suitable for patients of all ages, including children over 3 years old 1

Comparison with Other Treatments

• Dual-action agents like olopatadine are more effective in preventing or treating ocular itching than other ocular agents, including antihistamines, mast cell stabilizers, and NSAIDs 1
• Olopatadine has a faster onset of action compared to mast cell stabilizers, which may require several days of treatment before optimal symptom relief is achieved 1

Clinical Considerations

• Olopatadine is a preferred choice for patients with eye allergies due to its efficacy, safety, and convenience of use 1
• Patients with severe symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis may require ocular corticosteroids, but these should be reserved for more severe cases due to the risk of vision-threatening side effects 1

From the FDA Drug Label

PURPOSE Antihistamine ACTIVE INGREDIENT(S) Olopatadine (0.2%) (equivalent to olopatadine hydrochloride 0.222%) PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL ... Antihistamine ... Eye Allergy Itch Relief Olipatadine is an antihistamine used for eye allergy itch relief.

• It provides relief from allergens such as:
  • Pet dander
  • Pollen
  • Grass
  • Ragweed 2 2 2

From the Research

Overview of Olipatadine

• Olipatadine, also known as olopatadine, is an antihistamine and mast cell stabilizer used to treat allergic conjunctivitis and other ocular allergies 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
• It is available in various forms, including eye drops, and is used to alleviate symptoms such as itching, redness, and tearing 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

Mechanism of Action

• Olipatadine works by blocking histamine H1 receptors, which helps to reduce the symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis 3, 5, 7.
• It also has mast cell stabilizing properties, which prevents the release of histamine and other mediators from mast cells 3, 5, 7.
• Additionally, olopatadine has been shown to affect the release of TNFalpha and various cytokines from conjunctival epithelial cells 7.

Efficacy and Safety

• Studies have shown that olopatadine is effective in reducing the symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis, including itching, redness, and tearing 3, 4, 5, 6.
• It has been compared to other antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers, and has been found to be safe and well-tolerated 3, 4, 5, 6.
• High-concentration olopatadine (0.77%) has been shown to have a longer duration of action and better efficacy on ocular itch compared to low-concentration olopatadine (0.1%) 6.

Clinical Use

• Olopatadine is commonly used to treat mild forms of allergic conjunctivitis, and is available in various formulations, including eye drops 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
• It is often used as a first-line treatment for allergic conjunctivitis, due to its efficacy and safety profile 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.