Allergies Home > Alrex Uses
Alrex is a medication that is used for treating seasonal eye allergies. Specifically, it is used to minimize red eyes, itchy eyes, swollen eyelids, and various other eye allergy symptoms. Studies have shown that this eye drop starts working within two hours after the first dose. There are currently no uses for Alrex that are approved for children, as the drug has only been studied in adults.
Alrex® (loteprednol etabonate) is an eye drop medication approved for treating seasonal eye allergy symptoms. It is available by prescription only and belongs to a group of medications known as corticosteroids.
Allergies can affect various parts of the body, and allergy symptoms are particularly common in the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. Eye allergies are known medically as allergic conjunctivitis because the allergic reaction occurs in the conjunctiva (the thin layer that covers the white part of the eye and the inside of the eyelid). Symptoms of eye allergies may include:
- Red eyes
- Itchy eyes
- Stinging or burning of the eyes
- Watery, teary eyes
- Puffy, swollen eyelids.
Combined with strategies to minimize a person's contact with allergens, allergy treatment can make life bearable for even the worst allergy sufferer. Treatment often includes allergy eye drops, such as Alrex. Studies have shown that Alrex can help to relieve eye allergy symptoms starting within two hours after the first dose.
Alrex belongs to a group of allergy medications known as corticosteroids, or simply "steroids" for short. Steroids can have many different effects in the body, including anti-inflammatory effects. Steroids decrease inflammation by limiting the body's ability to produce an immune system reaction. They can be very effective for treating conditions such as allergies. However, long-term use of steroids can cause bothersome and sometimes serious side effects, and this limits the usefulness of many steroids. Because Alrex is an eye drop, its effects are generally limited to the eye. This helps prevent many of the long-term side effects of steroids.