Astelin is an antihistamine that reduces the effects of natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose.

Astelin nasal spray is used to treat sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, itching, and other nasal symptoms of allergies, in adults and children who are at least 5 years old.

Astelin is also used to treat ongoing nasal symptoms (runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, itching) that are not caused by allergies, in adults and children who are at least 12 years old.

Astelin may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert. Before using Astelin, tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by azelastine.

Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of azelastine. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse while using Astelin. Stop using this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have fast or uneven heartbeats, tightness in your chest, or if you feel short of breath.

Use Astelin nasal spray exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.

Read and carefully follow any Instructions for Use provided with your medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not understand these instructions.

Before you use Astelin Nasal Spray for the first time, you will need to prime the bottle.

Remove the blue dust cover over the tip of the pump and the blue safety clip just under the "shoulders" of the pump.

• Hold the bottle upright with 2 fingers on the shoulders of the spray pump unit and put your thumb on the bottom of the bottle. Press upward with your thumb and release for the pumping action. Repeat this until you see a fine mist

• To get a fine mist you must pump the spray fast and use firm pressure against the bottom of the bottle. If you see a stream of liquid, the pump is not working correctly and you may have nasal discomfort

• This should happen in 4 sprays or less.

Now your pump is primed and ready to use.

Using your Astelin Nasal Spray.

1. Blow your nose to clear your nostrils.

2. Keep your head tilted downward toward your toes.

3. Place the spray tip about ¼ inch to ½ inch into 1 nostril. Hold bottle upright and aim the spray tip toward the back of your nose

4. Close your other nostril with a finger. Press the pump 1 time and sniff gently at the same time, keeping your head tilted forward and down

5. Repeat in your other nostril

6. If your healthcare provider tells you to use 2 sprays in each nostril, repeat Steps 2 through 4 above for the second spray in each nostril

7. Breathe in gently, and do not tilt your head back after using Astelin Nasal Spray. This will help to keep the medicine from going into your throat

8. When you finish using your Astelin Nasal Spray, wipe the spray tip with a clean tissue or cloth. Put the safety clip and dust cover back on the bottle.

Avoid getting this medicine in your eyes or mouth.

Do not allow a young child to use Astelin without help from an adult.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse.

Store this medicine in an upright position at room temperature. Do not freeze.

Throw away the medicine after you have used 200 sprays, even if there is still medicine left in the bottle.

Before using Astelin tell your doctor about all your medical conditions or allergies.

It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Using Astelin while you are breast-feeding may cause your breast milk to taste bitter. If you breast-feed while using this medicine, watch for signs that your baby is not nursing as well. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby.

Use the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not use two doses at one time.

An overdose of azelastine nasal is not expected to be dangerous. Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 if anyone has accidentally swallowed the medication.

Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired.

Drinking alcohol with this medicine can increase certain side effects.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Astelin: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Common Astelin side effects may include:

• bitter taste in your mouth;

• drowsiness, tiredness;

• headache, dizziness;

• sneezing, nasal irritation, nosebleeds;

• nausea, dry mouth; or

• weight gain.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Using Astelin with other drugs that make you drowsy can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures.

Other drugs may interact with azelastine nasal, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.