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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using epinastine ophthalmic (Elestat)?

Do not use epinastine ophthalmic if you have a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection in the eye, unless you are also using an anti-infective medicine.

Epinastine ophthalmic is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether epinastine will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not use epinastine ophthalmic without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether epinastine passes into breast milk. Do not use epinastine ophthalmic without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Epinastine ophthalmic is not approved for use by children younger than 3 years of age.

How should I use epinastine ophthalmic (Elestat)?

Use epinastine eye drops exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Wash your hands before using the eye drops.

To apply the eye drops:

• Tilt the head back slightly and pull down on the lower eyelid. Position the dropper above the eye. Look up and away from the dropper. Squeeze out a drop and close the eye. Apply gentle pressure to the inside corner of the eye (near the nose) for about 1 minute to prevent the liquid from draining down the tear duct. Repeat the process in the other eye if directed.

Do not touch the dropper to any surface, including the eyes or hands. The dropper is sterile. If it becomes contaminated, it could cause an infection in the eye.

Do not wear contact lenses during treatment with epinastine ophthalmic if your eyes are red. If you wear soft contact lenses, and your eyes are not red, wait at least 10 minutes after using epinastine ophthalmic before inserting contact lenses.

Do not use any eye drop that is discolored or has particles in it.

Store epinastine ophthalmic at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the bottle properly capped.

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