Alaway Eye Drops

Available as an over-the-counter eye drop, Alaway^® (ketotifen ophthalmic solution) is a medication 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. The eye drops are only available in one strength -- Alaway 0.025%, available in a 5 mL bottle. The medication is applied to each affected eye twice a day, with 8 to 12 hours between doses.

 

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.