Azelastine (Nasal)

Brand Names : Astelin

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For nasal azelastine, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to azelastine. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Azelastine has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in animals have found that very large doses of azelastine cause birth defects and other problems. Before using this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether azelastine passes into breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are using this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children - This medicine has been tested in children and, in effective doses, has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in children, older than 5 years of age, than it does in adults.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing use of nasal azelastine in the elderly with use in other age groups, this medicine has been used in a small number of older patients and is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking azelastine, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Alcohol or
• Central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicine that causes drowsiness) or
• Tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline [e.g., Elavil], amoxapine [e.g., Asendin], clomipramine [e.g., Anafranil], desipramine [e.g., Pertofrane], doxepin [e.g., Sinequan], imipramine [e.g., Tofranil], nortriptyline [e.g., Aventyl], protriptyline [e.g., Vivactil], trimipramine [e.g., Surmontil]) - Use of these medicines with azelastine may increase the risk of drowsiness

• Cimetidine - May cause an increase in the blood levels of azelastine, which may result in increased effects

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of azelastine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Kidney disease - Blood levels of azelastine may be increased, leading to increased effects