Azelastine

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

Last Reviewed: Apr 21, 2023

Warnings

Azelastine Risks, Warnings, and Complications

Using azelastine may cause or worsen certain health problems. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other treatments for allergic rhinitis if you are at increased risk of complications from azelastine use.

DIZZINESS AND DIFFICULTY CONCENTRATING: Using azelastine can lead to dizziness and difficulty concentrating, focusing, thinking, and reacting quickly. These side effects can be made worse by drinking alcohol. Do not drive or do anything that requires your full concentration until you know how this medicine affects you.
BACTERIAL INFECTIONS: Using azelastine eye drops can lead to a bacterial infection in the eye if the dropper tip becomes contaminated. Be careful not to touch the dropper tip with your finger, eye, or anything else.
NO SOFT CONTACT LENSES: If you wear soft contact lenses, take them out before applying azelastine eye drops. The eye drops contain a substance called benzalkonium chloride which can be absorbed by the soft contact lenses and cause damage. Wait 10 minutes before putting your contact lenses back on. Do not use azelastine to treat eye redness caused by contact lens use.

Precautions Before Starting Azelastine

Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to azelastine, any of the active or inactive ingredients in azelastine formulations, or any other medications. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients.

Give your doctor and pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, other cold and allergy products or antihistamines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. This can help avoid interactions between azelastine and your other medications.

Give your doctor a complete medical history. Azelastine may not be right for people with certain medical conditions such as sores in the nose, nose injury, or nose surgery.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, plan to get pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

Precautions During Use of Azelastine

Keep all your medical appointments while using azelastine. Your doctor may want to change your dose and monitor you for side effects.

Azelastine nasal spray can make you drowsy. Avoid driving or doing other hazardous activities until you know how this medicine affects you.

If you wear soft contact lenses, take them out before applying the azelastine eye drops and wait 10 minutes before putting them back on.

Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while on azelastine.

Azelastine Drug Interactions

Certain other drugs can affect how azelastine works. Possible interactions between azelastine and other medicines can increase the risk of severe adverse reactions.

Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, OTC medications, herbal remedies, and other cold and allergy products, including antihistamines and dietary supplements. Also, tell your healthcare professional if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use recreational drugs as some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription and over-the-counter medications.

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