Azelastine
Azelastine is a 10ml nasal spray antihistamine for allergic rhinitis and seasonal allergies — sneezing, itching, a runny or blocked nose — sold singly or in packs of 2, 3 or 6.
- Category
- Allergy Relief
- Active ingredient
- Azelastine
- Route
- Nasal
- Form
- Nasal spray
- Strengths
- 10ml
You will receive a quality generic, depending on stock.
Shipped in a discreet, unmarked envelope.
Details
- Conditions
- Allergic rhinitis · Seasonal allergies
- Therapeutic Class
- Antihistamine
- Pharmacological Class
- H1 receptor antagonist
- Minor Side Effects
- Bitter taste, Nasal irritation
- Moderate Side Effects
- Headache, Sneezing
- Dosage Forms
- Nasal spray
- Administration Route
- Nasal
- Originator
- Meda Pharmaceuticals
- Onset Time
- 15–30 minutes
- Duration
- 12 hours
- Storage Instructions
- Store at room temperature.
- Drug Interactions
- Central nervous system depressants
- Age Restrictions
- Safe for use in children as advised.
What you will receive
Azelastine is a generic medicine sold under the name of its active ingredient, Azelastine.
- The manufacturer depends on what is in stock when your order ships.
- It contains the same active ingredient, at the same strength, as the brand-name versions.
FAQ
How many azelastine sprays can I buy at once?
Azelastine spray comes in 10ml bottles, sold singly or in packs of 2, 3 or 6. Larger packs cost less per bottle.
What arrives when I order azelastine spray?
Your order arrives as 10ml spray bottles in plain, unbranded packaging with nothing on the outside about the contents. Tracked courier takes 5 to 9 business days with online tracking, while standard airmail takes 14 to 21 business days, 30 at most.
What is another name for azelastine?
Brand names for azelastine include Astelin, Allergodil, Astepro and Optivar. Azelastine sprays are a pure generic azelastine product and are not any of those brands.
Can I use azelastine nasal spray in my eyes?
No — it is a nasal spray and it only goes in the nose. Don't spray it into your eyes or mouth, and don't swallow it. If itchy, watery eyes are the main problem, a nasal spray won't reach them.
Can I use azelastine nasal spray every day?
Yes. Use it once or twice a day for as long as pollen, dust or pets keep setting symptoms off; a steady routine through the season keeps an itchy, runny nose calmer than occasional doses. There is no set number of days after which you have to stop.
How quickly does azelastine work?
Relief starts soon after a dose, so it suits a flare-up as well as a daily routine. The nose stays calmer when the spray goes in on a regular schedule through the weeks your trigger is around, rather than only on the worst days.
Does azelastine make you sleepy?
It can, and alcohol makes it more likely, so try a first dose when you are not about to drive. A bitter taste, a dry or stinging nose and occasional nosebleeds are the other effects people notice; they usually ease as you get used to the spray.
Can I use azelastine for a cold or sinus congestion?
Azelastine is for allergy symptoms — sneezing, itching, a runny or blocked nose from pollen, dust or animals. A cold or a sinus infection is a different problem, and this spray will not clear that kind of congestion.
About Azelastine
What it clears up: sneezing, itching, a runny or blocked nose
Azelastine nasal spray is an antihistamine you use in the nose, supplied as a 10ml bottle. It eases the sneezing, itch, runny nose and stuffiness of allergic rhinitis — a nose allergy, the sort pollen, house dust and pet dander set off. One or two sprays in each nostril, once or twice a day, is the usual pattern.
Because the medicine lands straight on the lining of the nose, it acts where the irritation starts, so it works for a flare-up as well as a daily routine. The spray belongs in the nose only — not the eyes, not the mouth, and never swallowed. One bottle, one person: passing a nasal spray round the household spreads germs.
Getting the first dose right
A new bottle needs priming before it delivers a proper dose. With the cap and safety clip off, point it away from your face and press until a fine mist appears — up to four presses. Left unused for more than three days, it takes two sprays to get going again. Then blow your nose, tip your head forward, close one nostril with a finger and spray into the other while breathing in gently. Tilting forward keeps the mist from running down your throat, which is what leaves the bitter taste. Wipe the nozzle with a clean tissue and put the cap back on.
Will it make you drowsy?
Possibly, and it is better to find that out at home than behind the wheel. Alcohol makes the sleepiness worse. The complaints people report most are a bitter or metallic taste, dryness, stinging or a little bleeding inside the nose, headache, sore throat, dizziness, nausea and tiredness. Swelling of the lips, face or throat, or trouble breathing, needs urgent treatment.
Keeping the bottle in shape
A dry spot away from radiators and direct sun suits it; keep the cap tight and the bottle in its box. If you forget a dose, use the spray when you next think of it and carry on as usual — no extra sprays to catch up. When hay fever comes round every year, azelastine is one of the sprays in the shop's allergy range.
Sources
- Azelastine Nasal Spray: MedlinePlus Drug Information — National Library of Medicine
- Rhinitis, Nasal Allergy, Hayfever — Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America