Allergy and cold
Antihistamine eye drops
Second-generation antihistamine eye drops
Other names: Pataday, Patanol, Pazeo, ketotifen, Zaditor, Alaway
Wait
48 hours
ground trial after first use of any new medication
Other FAA documents add more.
Examiner
The examiner can issue when the document's criteria are met
FAA label
ACCEPTABLE
The FAA's allergy sheet lists second-generation antihistamine eye drops as acceptable, which may be used as a single agent or in any combination product, if other certification criteria are met, and says not to instill them immediately before or during flight/safety related duties, as it is common to develop temporary blurred vision each time the drops are applied.
Track your medicationsCompare FAA documents: Antihistamine eye dropsWhat each of the two FAA documents says, in plain wordsOpen
Wait
- after each dose, no flying or safety-related duties while experiencing blurry vision or pain (the FAA's MedGuide)
Under new medications, it says symptoms must be controlled without adverse side effects and a mandatory 48-hour ground trial is required after initial use; for acceptable medications, it says the initial observation time is not required (see chart below); and its footnote prohibits flight/safety-related duties after initial use of a new medication until after a 48-hour ground trial and no side effects are noted. The allergy sheet also says airmen who are exhibiting symptoms, regardless of the treatment used, must not fly.
The FAA's MedGuide names alcaftadine (Lastacaft), azelastine (Optivar), bepotastine (Bepreve), ketotifen (Alaway, Zaditor) and olopatadine (Pataday, Patanol) eye drops as allowed, for allergic conjunctivitis, with a wait of 48 hours after the first dose and, after each dose, no flying or safety-related duties while experiencing blurry vision or pain, and none after the final dose, used per label directions. The MedGuide defines allowed as acceptable for use while performing flight or safety-related duties, provided the condition is stable/aeromedically acceptable and no adverse side effects are present.
- 48 hours after the first dose: ground observation
Show the FAA's words: Antihistamine eye dropsThe official FAA wording: eight passages, each with its document and dateOpen
New medications:
Symptoms must be controlled without adverse side effects.
Initial observation time: Mandatory 48-hour ground trial required after initial use.
Acceptable medications:
Do not instill antihistamine eye drops immediately before or during flight/safety related duties, as it is common to develop temporary blurred vision each time the drops are applied.
Initial observation time: Not required for acceptable medications (see chart below).
ACCEPTABLE* (Non-Sedating) Antihistamine and Allergy Medications
May be used as a single agent or in any combination product, if other certification criteria are met.
Eye drops: All Second-Generation Histamine-H1 receptor antagonist
alcaftadine (Lastacaft) ophthalmic
azelastine (Optivar) ophthalmic
bepotastine (Bepreve) ophthalmic
cetirizine (Zerviate) ophthalmic
ketotifen (Alaway; Zaditor) ophthalmic
olopatadine (Pataday; Patanol; Pazeo) ophthalmic
* Airmen are prohibited from flight/safety-related duties after initial use of a new medication until after a 48-hour ground trial and no side effects are noted.
Airmen who are exhibiting symptoms, regardless of the treatment used, must not fly.
Generic: alcaftadine (ophthalmic)
Brand Name: Lastacaft
Drug Class: Antihistamine (H1) Second Generation ; Mast Cell Stabilizer
Underlying Condition: Allergic conjunctivitis
Use: ALLOW
INITIAL Wait Time (after first dose): 48 hours
SUBSEQUENT Dose Wait Time (after each dose): Do not fly or perform SRD while experiencing blurry vision or pain.
DISCONTINUATION Wait Time (after final dose): None
Frequency Use Limit: Per label directions
Generic: azelastine (ophthalmic)
Brand Name: Optivar [DSC]
Drug Class: Antihistamine (H1) Second Generation
Underlying Condition: Allergic conjunctivitis
Use: ALLOW
INITIAL Wait Time (after first dose): 48 hours
SUBSEQUENT Dose Wait Time (after each dose): Do not fly or perform SRD while experiencing blurry vision or pain.
DISCONTINUATION Wait Time (after final dose): None
Frequency Use Limit: Per label directions
Generic: bepotastine (ophthalmic)
Brand Name: Bepreve
Drug Class: Antihistamine (H1) Second Generation
Underlying Condition: Allergic conjunctivitis
Use: ALLOW
INITIAL Wait Time (after first dose): 48 hours
SUBSEQUENT Dose Wait Time (after each dose): Do not fly or perform SRD while experiencing blurry vision or pain.
DISCONTINUATION Wait Time (after final dose): None
Frequency Use Limit: Per label directions
Generic: ketotifen (ophthalmic)
Brand Name: Alaway ; Zaditor
Drug Class: Antihistamine (H1) Second Generation
Underlying Condition: Allergic conjunctivitis
Use: ALLOW
INITIAL Wait Time (after first dose): 48 hours
SUBSEQUENT Dose Wait Time (after each dose): Do not fly or perform SRD while experiencing blurry vision or pain.
DISCONTINUATION Wait Time (after final dose): None
Frequency Use Limit: Per label directions
Generic: olopatadine (ophthalmic)
Brand Name: Pataday; Patanol [INTL]
Drug Class: Antihistamine (H1) Second Generation
Underlying Condition: Allergic conjunctivitis
Use: ALLOW
INITIAL Wait Time (after first dose): 48 hours
SUBSEQUENT Dose Wait Time (after each dose): Do not fly or perform SRD while experiencing blurry vision or pain.
DISCONTINUATION Wait Time (after final dose): None
Frequency Use Limit: Per label directions
ALLOWED: The medication is acceptable for use while performing flight or safety-related duties, provided the condition is stable/aeromedically acceptable and no adverse side effects are present.