Skip to main content

Table 5 Ophthalmic agents available in Canada and the U.S. for the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis [15]

From: A contemporary look at allergic conjunctivitis

Agents (brand name)

Availabilitya

OTC/Rx

Year of market availabilityb

Age indicationc

Dosing schedule

Topical ocular vasoconstrictors

 Naphazoline hydrochloride

Both

OTC

Established

 

Maximum QID, short term

 Tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride

Both

OTC

Established

 

Maximum QID, short term

Ocular antihistamines

 Antazoline (only found in combination)

Both

OTC

Before 1980

N/Ad

QID

 Pheniramine (only found in combination)

Both

OTC

Before 1980

N/Ad

QID

 Emedastine 0.05% (Emadine®) [104]

U.S. only

Rx

1998

˃ 3 years

QID

Mast-cell stabilizers

 Lodoxamide 0.1% (Alomide®) [105]

Both

Rx

1992

≥ 4 years

QID

 Cromolyn sodium 2%[106, 107]

Both

OTC/Rx

1993

≥ 5 years

QID

Dual-activity agents

 Olopatadine 0.1% (Patanol®)[108]

Both

Rx

1998

≥ 3 years

BID

 Olopatadine 0.2% (Pataday®) [109]

Both

Rx

2011

≥ 16 years

Daily

 Olopatadine 0.7% (Pazeo®) [110]

Both

Rx

2017

≥ 2 years

Daily

 Ketotifen 0.025% (Zaditor®) [111, 112]

Both

Rx (OTC in U.S)

2000

˃ 3 years

BID to TID

 Ketotifen 0.025% preservative free

U.S. only

OTC

2000

˃ 3 years

BID to TID

 Bepotastine besilate 1.5% (Bepreve®)[113]

Both

Rx

2017

≥ 3 years

BID

 Alcaftadine 0.25% (Lastacaft®) [114]

U.S. only

Rx

2014

(U.S. only)

≥ 3 years

Daily

 Epinastine 0.05% (Elestat®) [115]

U.S. only

Rx

2004

(U.S. only)

≥ 3 years

BID

 Azelastine 0.05% (Optivar®) [116]

U.S. only

Rx

2009

(U.S. only)

˃ 3 years

BID

Ophthalmic steroids (only some most commonly used in ocular allergy)

 Fluorometholone acetate 0.1% (FML®)e [117]

Both

Rx

1972

˃ 2 years

BIDf

 Prednisolone acetate 1.0% (Pred Forte®)e [118]

Both

Rx

1974

All ages

BIDf

 Loteprednol etabonate 0.2% (Alrex®)[119]

Both

Rx

2009

≥ 18 years

QIDf

 Loteprednol etabonate 0.5% (Lotemax® (or Lotemax gel®))e [120]

Both

Rx

2009

≥ 18 years

QIDf

NSAIDs

 Diclofenac 0.1% (Voltaren Ophtha®)e [121]

Both

Rx

1991

≥ 18 years

QID

 Ketorolac 0.4% (Acular LS®) and 0.5% (Acular®)e [75]

Both

Rx

1992 (0.5%)

2004 (0.4%)

≥ 18 years

QID

 Nepafenac 0.1% (Nevanac®)e [122]

Both

Rx

2008

≥ 18 years

TID

 Bromfenac 0.7% (Prolensa®)e [123]

Both

Rx

2015

≥ 18 years

Daily

  1. BID twice daily, N/A not available, NSAIDs nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, OTC over-the-counter, QID four times a day, Rx prescription, TID three times a day
  2. a“Both” indicates the agent is available in both Canada and U.S.
  3. bUnless otherwise stated, the year of market availability in Canada
  4. cFor agents that are available in both Canada and U.S., the age indication is based on the Canadian product monograph
  5. dInformation not available
  6. eOff-label use only in Canada; short term
  7. fOr according to the severity of symptoms/inflammation
Back to article page

Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology

ISSN: 1710-1492

Contact us