Ketotifen
Encyclopedia
Ketotifen is a second-generation H1-antihistamine
and mast cell stabilizer
. It is most commonly sold in as a salt of Fumaric Acid
, Ketotifen fumarate, and is available in two forms. In its ophthalmic
form, it is used to treat allergic conjunctivitis
, or the itchy red eye
s caused by allergies
. In its oral form, it is used to prevent asthma
attacks. Side effects include drowsiness, weight gain, dry mouth, irritability, and increased nosebleeds.
The drug is marketed as ophthalmic solutions under the brand names Zaditor/Zaditen (Novartis), Alaway (Bausch and Lomb), Zyrtec Itchy-Eye Drops, and Claritin Eye. A generic version of Novartis' Zaditor, ketotifen fumarate ophthalmic solution, 0.025%, is available from Perrigo and distributed as store brands.
antagonist and a phosphodiesterase inhibitor
.
The drug may also help relieve the symptoms of IBS
Antihistamine
An H1 antagonist is a histamine antagonist of the H1 receptor that serves to reduce or eliminate effects mediated by histamine, an endogenous chemical mediator released during allergic reactions...
and mast cell stabilizer
Mast cell stabilizer
Mast cell stabilizers are cromone medications used to prevent or control certain allergic disorders. They block a calcium channel essential for mast cell degranulation, stabilizing the cell and thereby preventing the release of histamine and related mediators. One suspected pharmacodynamic...
. It is most commonly sold in as a salt of Fumaric Acid
Fumaric acid
Fumaric acid or trans-butenedioic acid is the chemical compound with the formula HO2CCH=CHCO2H. This white crystalline compound is one of two isomeric unsaturated dicarboxylic acids, the other being maleic acid. In fumaric acid the carboxylic acid groups are trans and in maleic acid they are cis...
, Ketotifen fumarate, and is available in two forms. In its ophthalmic
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...
form, it is used to treat allergic conjunctivitis
Allergic conjunctivitis
Allergic conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva due to allergy. Although allergens differ between patients, the most common cause is hay fever. Symptoms consist of redness , oedema of the conjunctiva, itching and increased lacrimation...
, or the itchy red eye
Red eye (medicine)
In medicine, red eye is a non-specific term to describe an eye that appears red due to illness, injury, or some other condition. Conjunctivitis and subconjunctival hemorrhage are two forms of a red eye....
s caused by allergies
Allergy
An Allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system. Allergic reactions occur when a person's immune system reacts to normally harmless substances in the environment. A substance that causes a reaction is called an allergen. These reactions are acquired, predictable, and rapid...
. In its oral form, it is used to prevent asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
attacks. Side effects include drowsiness, weight gain, dry mouth, irritability, and increased nosebleeds.
The drug is marketed as ophthalmic solutions under the brand names Zaditor/Zaditen (Novartis), Alaway (Bausch and Lomb), Zyrtec Itchy-Eye Drops, and Claritin Eye. A generic version of Novartis' Zaditor, ketotifen fumarate ophthalmic solution, 0.025%, is available from Perrigo and distributed as store brands.
General information
Ketotifen relieves and prevents eye itchiness and/or irritation associated with most seasonal allergies. It starts working within minutes after administering the drops. The drug has not been studied in children under three. The mean elimination half life is 12 hours. Besides its anti-histaminic activity, it is also a functional leukotrieneLeukotriene
Leukotrienes are fatty signaling molecules. They were first found in leukocytes . One of their roles is to trigger contractions in the smooth muscles lining the trachea; their overproduction is a major cause of inflammation in asthma and allergic rhinitis...
antagonist and a phosphodiesterase inhibitor
Phosphodiesterase inhibitor
A phosphodiesterase inhibitor is a drug that blocks one or more of the five subtypes of the enzyme phosphodiesterase , therefore preventing the inactivation of the intracellular second messengers cyclic adenosine monophosphate and cyclic guanosine monophosphate by the respective PDE...
.
The drug may also help relieve the symptoms of IBS
IBS
- Academia :* International Business School, Budapest, a partnership with Oxford Brookes University based in Hungary dating from 1991* International Biometric Society, an academic statistical association for mathematical and statistical methods in the biosciences...