Over-the-counter medication · Antihistamine (Ophthalmic)
olopatadine ophthalmic
Also sold as Patanol, Pataday. This medicine treats itchy and red eyes.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- OTC
- Availability
olopatadine ophthalmic (Patanol) is an over-the-counter Antihistamine (Ophthalmic). This medicine treats itchy and red eyes.
Olopatadine eye drops help with itchy and red eyes. It is an antihistamine.
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What it does
This medicine treats itchy and red eyes.
Common side effects
No common side effects listed.
Key warnings
No specific warnings noted. Always follow your prescriber's instructions.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from olopatadine ophthalmic's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Olopatadine is an antihistamine. It works by blocking histamine. Histamine is a substance in the body that causes allergic symptoms.
How to Take It
For adults and children 2 years and older, put 1 drop in the affected eye(s). Do this twice a day, every 6 to 8 hours. Do not use it more than twice per day. If you use other eye products, wait at least 5 minutes between each product. Replace the cap after each use.
This is a plain-language summary of olopatadine ophthalmic's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Common Questions
What is this medicine used for?
How often should I use it?
Can I use it with other eye drops?
Is it safe for children?
What should I do after using the drops?
Can I use it more than twice a day?
What if I wear contact lenses?
Does it help with all types of allergies?
Is a prescription required?
What is the drug class?
What drug class is olopatadine ophthalmic?
Related Medications in Antihistamine (Ophthalmic)
Other drugs grouped near olopatadine ophthalmic - same-class peers and common alternatives.
azelastine
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budesonide nasal
Rhinocort
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cetirizine
Zyrtec
Cetirizine (Zyrtec) is an antihistamine medicine.
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chlorpheniramine
Chlor-Trimeton
Chlorpheniramine is an antihistamine medicine.
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ciclesonide nasal
Omnaris, Zetonna
Omnaris Nasal Spray is a medicine that helps treat allergy symptoms in your nose.
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What the FDA Data Shows for olopatadine ophthalmic
The FDA label for olopatadine ophthalmic (sold under brand names such as Patanol, Pataday) classifies it as an over-the-counter product in the Antihistamine (Ophthalmic) class. This medicine treats itchy and red eyes. Labeling covers dosing, contraindications, and monitoring requirements derived from clinical trials.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. Voluntary reports accumulate over the lifetime of a drug and reflect wide-ranging clinical use. Interaction data is drawn directly from FDA-approved prescribing information. Acquisition-cost data is surveyed weekly by CMS and updated as manufacturers report changes.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: April 14, 2025
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages