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Bepreve Uses
People who suffer from allergies -- in particular, symptoms that affect the eyes -- can use Bepreve to obtain relief. The medication can treat redness, itching, and puffiness of the eyes by blocking histamine receptors and diminishing the release of histamine from the cells. While Bepreve is approved specifically to relieve eye itching, it can help with other symptoms, too, including nasal symptoms.
Bepreve™ (bepotastine besilate) is an antihistamine eye drop used for treating eye allergies. Specifically, the medication is approved for treating itching due to eye allergies.
Allergies can affect various parts of the body. Eye allergies are known medically as allergic conjunctivitis because the allergic reaction occurs in the conjunctiva (the thin layer that covers the eye). Symptoms of eye allergies may include:
- Watery eyes
- Redness
- Itching
- Puffiness
- Stinging and burning.
Allergy treatment can make life bearable for even the worst allergy sufferer, especially when combined with strategies to minimize a person's contact with allergens. Treatment often includes allergy eye drops such as Bepreve. Unlike over-the-counter (OTC) decongestant eye drops, you can use Bepreve long-term without risk of making the redness and swelling worse by taking it too long.
Bepreve is part of a class of drugs called antihistamines. Specifically, it is an H1 receptor antagonist. This means that it blocks a specific type of histamine receptor in the body known as H1 receptors. Since allergic reactions are partly caused by the release of histamine from certain cells in the body, Bepreve can help relieve or prevent allergy symptoms.
In addition to blocking histamine receptors, Bepreve seems to decrease the release of histamine from cells in the body.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD