Alaway
® (
ketotifen ophthalmic solution) is an over-the-counter eye drop used to relieve eye itching due to
allergies. Specifically, it is approved to treat eye allergies (known medically as allergic conjunctivitis) due to pollen, ragweed, or animal hair and dander.
Who Makes This Medication?
Alaway is manufactured by Bausch and Lomb.
Alaway is one of many allergy medications known as antihistamines.
Specifically, it is known as an H1 receptor antagonist. This means that it blocks a specific type of histamine receptor in the body (known as H1 receptors). Since the symptoms of allergic reactions are partly caused by histamine, Alaway can help prevent or relieve
allergy symptoms.
In addition to blocking histamine receptors, this medication also seems to decrease the release of histamine from cells in the body and may also inhibit other substances (such as eosinophils or leukotrienes) produced by the body in response to an allergen.
When and How to Take the Drug
General considerations include the following:
- This medication comes in the form of an eye drop. It is used in each affected eye twice a day, with 8 to 12 hours between doses.
- In order to prevent contamination of the drops, do not touch the tip of the dropper to any surface, including the surface of the eye.
- If you wear contact lenses, you must remove them to use the drops. In order to prevent the lens from absorbing the preservatives in the medication, be sure to wait at least 10 minutes after using the drops before reinserting the lens. Do not wear your contact lenses if your eye is still red.
- Be sure to put the cap back on after each dose.
- For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as directed.
There is only one standard recommended dosage for this product, regardless of your age or weight. As is always the case, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
As with any medicine, Alaway can cause side effects. However, not everyone who takes the drug will experience bothersome side effects. Some people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.
Possible side effects of Alaway include, but are not limited to:
(Click Alaway Side Effects to learn more, including potentially serious side effects that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
Potential Drug Interactions
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Taking Alaway?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking this medication if you:
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other medications you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
What If I Take an Overdose?
It is not clear exactly what to expect from an overdose with this medication. If you happen to overdose on this drug, seek immediate medical attention.
How Should Alaway Be Stored?
Alaway should be stored upright between 39 and 77° F. Keep this and all other medications out of the reach of children.
What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose?
If you do not take your Alaway as scheduled, take your missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose.
Alaway comes in one strength -- Alaway 0.025%, available in a 5 mL bottle.
