Alcaftadine Ophthalmic Solution 0.25% Suppliers & Bulk Manufacturers

Available Forms: Eye Drops

Available Strengths: 0.25%

Reference Brands: Lastacaft (USA/EU)

Category: Opthalmology

Alcaftadine is an ophthalmic antihistamine used to prevent and treat itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis. It works by blocking H₁ histamine receptors in the eyes, reducing itching, redness, and watery eyes caused by allergens. The drug is administered as 0.25% eye drops, usually once daily in each affected eye. Alcaftadine is generally well-tolerated, with mild side effects such as eye irritation, stinging, or redness in some patients.

Product Description:

Alcaftadine is a topical antihistamine for the eye with a triple action: it blocks histamine H1 receptors, stabilises mast cells so they release less histamine in the first place, and reduces eosinophil recruitment to the conjunctiva. Because it both prevents and treats the allergic response, it works as a preventive taken before exposure as well as a treatment once symptoms start.

It is used once daily for itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis. Once-daily dosing is its practical advantage over older antihistamine drops given two or four times a day, and trials show the effect persists for a full sixteen hours after instillation. Adverse effects are mild and local — brief stinging, eye irritation and redness; the most common complaint is instillation site discomfort. Contact lenses should be removed before instillation and replaced after about ten minutes, since the preservative can be absorbed by soft lenses.

Sourcing notes. Supplied as a preserved multi-dose solution. Benzalkonium chloride is the usual preservative, which matters for patients using several drops long term. The bottle, dropper tip and fill volume should be specified, since drop size determines how many doses a bottle actually delivers and differs between manufacturers.