Alcaftadine is a prescription medicine (Histamine-1 Receptor Antagonist). The sections below reproduce one FDA label for it, named under "Label". Products in other forms, strengths or from other makers have their own labels, which can differ.
- Type
- Prescription only (Rx)
- Brand names
- Lastacaft
- Drug class
- Histamine-1 Receptor Antagonist
- Taken
- Ophthalmic
- Label
- Allergan, Inc., revised June 1, 2020 · full label on DailyMed
- Generic
- FDA-approved (2 companies) · details
What it is used for
LASTACAFT ® is an H 1 histamine receptor antagonist indicated for the prevention of itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis. LASTACAFT ® is an H 1 histamine receptor antagonist indicated for the prevention of itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis. ( 1 )
Forms and strengths
Ophthalmic solution containing alcaftadine 0.25% (2.5 mg/mL). Ophthalmic solution containing alcaftadine 0.25% (2.5 mg/mL) ( 3 )
Who should not take it (contraindications)
LASTACAFT ® is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to any component in the product. Hypersensitivity ( 4 )
Warnings and precautions
- Potential for Eye Injury and Contamination : To minimize the risk of eye injury and contamination, do not touch dropper tip to eyelids and surrounding areas, or any other surface. Keep bottle tightly closed when not in use. ( 5.1 )
- Contact Lens Wear: LASTACAFT ® should not be used to treat contact lens-related irritation. Remove contact lenses prior to instillation of LASTACAFT ® . ( 5.2 )
5.1 Potential for Eye Injury and Contamination To minimize eye injury and contamination of the dropper tip and solution, care should be taken not to touch the eyelids or surrounding areas with the dropper tip of the bottle. Keep bottle tightly closed when not in use.
5.2 Contact Lens Use Patients should be advised not to wear a contact lens if their eye is red. LASTACAFT ® should not be used to treat contact lens-related irritation. LASTACAFT ® should not be instilled while wearing contact lenses. Remove contact lenses prior to instillation of LASTACAFT ® . The preservative in LASTACAFT ® , benzalkonium chloride, may be absorbed by soft contact lenses. Lenses may be reinserted after 10 minutes following administration of LASTACAFT ® .
Side effects (adverse reactions)
The most common ocular adverse reactions, occurring in less than 4% of eyes treated with LASTACAFT ® , were eye irritation, burning and/or stinging on instillation, eye redness, and eye pruritus. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Allergan at 1-800-678-1605 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice. The most frequent ocular adverse reactions, occurring in less than 4% of eyes treated with LASTACAFT ® , were eye irritation, burning and/or stinging upon instillation, eye redness and eye pruritus. The most frequent non-ocular adverse reactions, occurring in less than 3% of subjects with eyes treated with LASTACAFT ® , were nasopharyngitis and headache. Some of these events were similar to the underlying disease being studied. 6. 2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of LASTACAFT ® . Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. These reactions include eye discharge, eye swelling, erythema of eyelid, eyelid edema, lacrimation increased, vision blurred, hypersensitivity reactions including swelling of the face or allergic dermatitis, and somnolence.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, children and older adults
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary There are no adequate and well-controlled studies with LASTACAFT® in pregnant women to inform a drug associated risk. There are limited data with the use of alcaftadine eye drops in pregnant women. In embryofetal studies in rats and rabbits, oral administration of alcaftadine during the period of organogenesis did not produce maternal or embryofetal toxicity at clinically relevant doses. Advise pregnant women of a potential risk to the fetus and mother. LASTACAFT® should only be used during pregnancy if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus and mother. The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. However, the background risk in the U.S. general population of major birth defects is 2 to 4%, and of miscarriage is 15 to 20%, of clinically recognized pregnancies. Data Animal Data In rats, oral administration of 5, 20 or 40 mg/kg/day alcaftadine during the period of organogenesis (gestational days 6 – 16) caused maternal lethality at doses of 40 mg/kg. The no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) for maternal toxicity was 20 mg/kg/day (an exposure 230-times higher than that at the maximum recommended human ophthalmic dose [MRHOD], based on AUC). There were no adverse embryofetal effects up to a dose of 20 mg/kg. In rabbits, oral administration of 10, 40 or 80 mg/kg/day alcaftadine during the period of organogenesis (gestational days 6 – 18) caused no maternal toxicity or adverse embryofetal effects up to a dose of 80 mg/kg/day (an exposure 8819-times higher than that at the MRHOD, based on AUC). Daily oral doses of 20 and 30 mg/kg/day alcaftadine administered to rats from Day 6 of pregnancy until Day 20 postpartum produced lower pup weights in offspring. No adverse effects in dams or offspring were observed at doses up to 5 mg/kg/day (a dose 286 times higher than the MRHOD, on a mg/m2 basis). 8. 2 Lac t ation Risk Summary There is no information regarding the presence of LASTACAFT ® in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infants, or the effects on milk production to inform risk of LASTACAFT ® to an infant during lactation. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered, along with the mother’s clinical need for LASTACAFT ® , and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from LASTACAFT ® .
8.4 Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients below the age of 2 years have not been established.
8.5 Geriatric Use No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between elderly and younger subjects.
How it works
Alcaftadine is an H 1 histamine receptor antagonist and inhibitor of the release of histamine from mast cells. Decreased chemotaxis and inhibition of eosinophil activation has also been demonstrated.
Is there a generic Alcaftadine?
Yes. The FDA has approved generic Alcaftadine from 2 companies whose approvals are active. The earliest of these was approved in 2024.
An FDA approval does not always mean the generic is already in pharmacies: patent disputes and settlements can delay a launch for years. Your pharmacist can tell you whether a generic is actually available and covered by your plan.
Companies with an approved generic
Alembic, Gland
Brand-name versions
- Lastacaft Abbvie, approved 2010
Source: Drugs@FDA (via openFDA), checked October 29, 2026. Marketing status is what companies report to the FDA; whether a pharmacy stocks a product, and what your insurance covers, can differ.
Dosage:
we do not reproduce dosing instructions. The right dose depends on the person and the condition and is set by the prescriber or pharmacist. Dosage section of the full label.
Alcaftadine in the news
We have not covered this medicine yet. Latest news
Recalls
No recalls matched to this medicine in FDA enforcement reports from the last 3 years (or older ones still open). Search all recalls
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Source: FDA structured product labeling, retrieved through openFDA. Label text is shown as published by the FDA, without editing; long sections are shortened, marked […]. openFDA data are not validated for clinical use — always check the current label and ask a doctor or pharmacist about your own treatment. Set ID 17d37e8d-7825-424b-b6ca-0a85d0bf4694.