Alcon announces FDA approval of olopatadine Hcl (Patanase) nasal spray for seasonal allergies

Olopatadine HCl (Patanase, Alcon) nasal spray has received a regulatory green light for the relief of symptoms associated with seasonal allergic rhinitis. The spray is indicated for patients 12 years of age and older and has a 30-minute onset of action and a 12-hour duration. The approval was based on clinical studies that showed olopatadine, as two sprays per nostril administered twice daily, demonstrated significantly greater decreases in total nasal symptom scores (TNSS)-a combination of stuffy, runny, itchy nose, and sneezing-compared with placebo nasal spray. The most common adverse effects experienced were bitter taste, headache, epistaxis, pharyngolaryngeal pain, cough, urinary tract infection, post-nasal drip, and cough.