Generic Name: Epinastine HCl ophthalmic solution 0.05%

Date of Approval: October 16, 2003

Epinastine Description:

Elestat (epinastine HCl ophthalmic solution) 0.05% is a clear, colorless, sterile isotonic solution containing epinastine HCl, an antihistamine and an inhibitor of histamine release from the mast cell for topical administration to the eyes.

Epinastine is a topically active, direct H1-receptor antagonist and an inhibitor of the release of histamine from the mast cell. Epinastine is selective for the histamine H1-receptor and has affinity for the histamine H2 receptor. Epinastine also possesses affinity for the á1-, á2-, and 5- HT2 -receptors. Epinastine does not penetrate the blood/brain barrier and, therefore, is not expected to induce side effects of the central nervous system.  

Fourteen subjects, with allergic conjunctivitis, received one drop of Elestat in each eye twice daily for seven days. On day seven average maximum epinastine plasma concentrations of 0.04 ± 0.014 ng/ml were reached after about two hours indicating low systemic exposure. While these concentrations represented an increase over those seen following a single dose, the day 1 and day 7 Area Under the Curve (AUC) values were unchanged indicating that there is no increase in systemic absorption with multiple dosing. Epinastine is 64% bound to plasma proteins. The total systemic clearance is approximately 56 L/hr and the terminal plasma elimination half-life is about 12 hours. Epinastine is mainly excreted unchanged. About 55% of an intravenous dose is recovered unchanged in the urine with about 30% in feces. Less than 10% is metabolized. The renal elimination is mainly via active tubular secretion.

Epinastine Clinical studies:

Epinastine HCl 0.05% has been shown to be significantly superior to vehicle for improving ocular itching in patients with allergic conjunctivitis in clinical studies using two different models: (1) conjunctival antigen challenge (CAC) where patients were dosed and then received antigen instilled into the inferior conjunctival fornix; and (2) environmental field studies where patients were dosed and evaluated during allergy season in their natural habitat. Results demonstrated a rapid onset of action for epinastine HCl 0.05% within 3 to 5 minutes after conjunctival antigen challenge.

Epinastine Indications and Usage:

Elestat ophthalmic solution is indicated for the prevention of itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis.

Epinastine Contraindications:

Elestat ophthalmic solution is contraindicated in those patients who have shown hypersensitivity to epinastine or to any of the other ingredients.

Epinastine Warnings:

Epinastine is for topical ophthalmic use only and not for injection or oral use.

Epinastine Precautions:

Patients should be advised not to wear a contact lens if their eye is red.
Elestat should not be used to treat contact lens related irritation. The preservative in Elestat, benzalkonium chloride, may be absorbed by soft contact lenses. Contact lenses should be removed prior to instillation of Elestat and may be reinserted after 10 minutes following its administration.

Epinastine C Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility:

In 18-month or 2-year dietary carcinogenicity studies in mice or rats, respectively, epinastine was not carcinogenic at doses up to 40 mg/kg [approximately 30,000 times higher than the maximum recommended ocular human dose of 0.0014 mg/kg/day (MROHD) on a mg/kg basis, assuming 100% absorption in humans and animals].

Epinastine in newly synthesized batches was negative for mutagenicity in the Ames/Salmonella assay and in vitro chromosome aberration assay using human lymphocytes. Positive results were seen with early batches of epinastine in two in vitro chromosomal aberration studies conducted in 1980s with human peripheral lymphocytes and with V79 cells, respectively. Epinastine was negative in the in vivo clastogenicity studies, including the mouse micronucleus assay and chromosome aberration assay in Chinese hamsters. Epinastine was also negative in the cell transformation assay using Syrian hamster embryo cells, V79/HGPRT mammalian cell point mutation assay, and in vivo/in vitro unscheduled DNA synthesis assay using rat primary hepatocytes.

Epinastine had no effect on fertility of male rats. Decreased fertility in female rats was observed at an oral dose up to approximately 90,000 times the MROHD.

Epinastine and Pregnancy:

Epinastine reduced pup body weight gain following an oral dose to pregnant rats that was approximately 90,000 times the MROHD.

There are, however, no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, Epinastine ophthalmic solution should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Epinastine Nursing Mothers:

A study in lactating rats revealed excretion of epinastine in the breast milk. It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when Elestat ophthalmic solution is administered to a nursing woman.

Epinastine Pediatric Use:

Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients below the age of 3 years have not been established.

Epinastine Geriatric Use:

No overall differences in safety or effectiveness have been observed between elderly and younger patients.

Epinastine Adverse Reactions:

The most frequently reported ocular adverse events occurring in approximately 1 - 10% of patients were burning sensation in the eye, folliculosis, hyperemia, and pruritus. The most frequently reported non-ocular adverse events were infection (cold symptoms and upper respiratory infections) seen in approximately 10% of patients, and headache, rhinitis, sinusitis, increased cough, and pharyngitis seen in approximately 1 - 3% of patients. Some of these events were similar to the underlying disease being studied.

Epinastine Dosage and Administration:

The recommended dosage is one drop in each eye twice a day.
Treatment should be continued throughout the period of exposure (i.e., until the pollen season is over or until exposure to the offending allergen is terminated), even when symptoms are absent.

How Epinastine Supplied:

Elestat (epinastine HCl ophthalmic solution) 0.05% is supplied sterile in opaque white LDPE plastic bottles with dropper tips and white high impact polystyrene (HIPS) caps as follows: 5 mL in 8 mL bottle, 10 mL in 15 mL bottle.

Epinastine Storage:

Store at 15-25ºC (59-77ºF). Keep bottle tightly closed and out of the reach of  children.

Disclaimer:

Information on this page is provided for general information purposes. You should not make a clinical treatment decision based on information contained in this page without consulting other references including the package insert of the drug, textbooks and where relevant, expert opinion. We cannot be held responsible for any errors you make in administering drugs mentioned on this page, nor for use of any erroneous information contained on this page.