What is Azelastine?
Azelastine is the active ingredient found inside Astelin Nasal Spray responsible for its therapeutic effects. Astelin Nasal Spray contains 137mcg of azelastine and can only be purchased with a valid prescription. This medication is an antihistamine with mass-cell stabilizing and anti-inflammatory effects; it is administered intranasally (insufflated through the nose).
What is Azelastine used for?
Azelastine is used for a variety of indications depending on the brand and form. For Astelin Nasal Spray, azelastine is used for the treatment of nasal symptoms caused by allergic rhinitis; these symptoms may include itchy, runny, or stuffy nose. It may also help with symptoms of sneezing and post-nasal drip.
What is Azelastine hydrochloride?
If azelastine is the active ingredient that makes Astelin Nasal Spray therapeutically effective, why do some prescriptions say azelastine hydrochloride (HCL)? It’s because Astelin Nasal Spray is not technically made up of azelastine, but azelastine hydrochloride; the hydrochloride salt of azelastine. Before azelastine is formed into a nasal spray, it is first made into its existing salt form, which in the case of azelastine, is hydrochloride. If it wasn’t first turned into its salt form, it would not dissolve or absorb into the body very well and would therefore cause the medication to be less effective – if effective at all. So while azelastine has beneficial effects, it must first be turned into its salt form (azelastine hydrochloride) in order for its benefits to work. To prevent confusion, azelastine hydrochloride is commonly referred to as just azelastine.
What is the generic name for Azelastine?
Azelastine IS the generic name; Astelin Nasal Spray is the brand. The generic name for medication is commonly the name of the active ingredient that is inside the brand-name medication that the generic is replicating.
How long does Azelastine stay in your system?
Azelastine has a half-life of about 22 hours; based of the half-life, you can expect the medication to clear out of the system in roughly 110 hours, or 4 and a half days, following your last dose.