Olopatadine

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Harshi Dhingra, M.D.

Last Reviewed: Oct 20, 2022

Warnings


Olopatadine Risks, Warnings, and Complications


Olopatadine eye drops can cause serious medical problems in some groups of people. Talk to your doctor about other options to treat eye itching if you are at increased risk of complications from this ophthalmic solution. Some of the risks of olopatadine use include:

  • RISK OF BACTERIAL INFECTIONS: People using olopatadine eye drops can develop bacterial infections if the dropper or bottle gets contaminated. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before using the eye drops. Make sure you don’t touch the dropper tip to your eye, eyelids, surrounding skin, or any other surface.

  • PRECAUTIONS WITH USE OF CONTACT LENSES: Olopatadine contains a preservative, benzalkonium chloride, which can be absorbed by and cause damage to soft contact lenses. If you wear soft contacts, remove them before using a dose of olopatadine. Wait at least 10 minutes before re-inserting your contacts. Do not wear contacts if your eyes are red. Do not use olopatadine to treat eye redness or irritation caused by contact lens use.


Precautions Before Starting Olopatadine

Tell your doctor if you have had an allergic reaction to olopatadine eye medication, any of the active or inactive ingredients in the eye drops such as benzalkonium chloride preservative, or any other medications. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients.

Give your doctor a complete medical history and list of your medications, including prescription drugs, nonprescription medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. This can help avoid possible drug interactions between olopatadine and your other medicines.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or are breastfeeding.

Precautions During Use of Olopatadine

Keep all your healthcare appointments while using olopatadine. 

If you are using other eye drops, make sure you apply them at least 10 minutes away from olopatadine.

If you wear soft contact lenses, remove them before applying olopatadine eye drops. Wait at least 10 minutes before putting your contact lenses back in.

Tell your healthcare professional if you become pregnant while using olopatadine. 

If you have an eye infection, eye injury, or eye surgery while using olopatadine eye drops, ask your healthcare professionals if it is safe to continue using the same bottle of olopatadine eye drops.

Olopatadine can cause temporary blurring of vision. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do other activities that require clear vision until you know how these eye drops affect you.

Olopatadine Drug Interactions

Concomitant administration of olopatadine eye drops with certain other medicines can affect how the medicines work. Possible drug interactions between olopatadine and other medicines can also increase the risk of severe adverse events. Your doctor may change the dose of your medications or monitor you carefully for possible side effects if there are known interactions between olopatadine and your other medicines.

The following medications can have interactions with olopatadine:

  • Amifampridine, a drug used to treat rare autoimmune diseases
  • Bupropion, an antidepressant and smoking cessation medication
  • Donepezil, a medicine used to treat dementia
  • Pitolisant, a medication used to treat narcolepsy or excessive daytime sleepiness

The above list may not include all the possible interactions of olopatadine. Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, non-prescription medicines, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies. Also, tell your healthcare provider if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use recreational drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription and over-the-counter medicines.