Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
Quick facts
- How it is given
- nasal
- Type
- human prescription drug
- RxNorm ID
- 1797867
We do not publish dosing. How much of this medicine to take, how often, and for how long depends on your age, weight, kidney and liver function, other conditions and other medicines. That is a decision for the person who prescribes or dispenses it. Follow the directions on your own pack and ask your pharmacist if anything is unclear.
What it is used to treat
Azelastine hydrochloride nasal spray is indicated for the treatment of the symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis in adults and pediatric patients 5 years and older, and for the treatment of the symptoms of vasomotor rhinitis in adults and adolescent patients 12 years and older. Azelastine hydrochloride nasal spray is an H1-receptor antagonist indicated for the treatment of the symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis in adults and pediatric patients 5 years and older and for the treatment of the symptoms of vasomotor rhinitis in adults and adolescent patients 12 years and older. ( 1 )
About this medicine
Azelastine hydrochloride nasal solution 0.1% (nasal spray), 137 micrograms (mcg) per spray, is an antihistamine formulated as a metered-spray solution for intranasal administration . Azelastine hydrochloride occurs as a white, almost odorless, crystalline powder with a bitter taste . It has a molecular weight of 418.37 g/mol . It is sparingly soluble in water, methanol, and propylene glycol and slightly soluble in ethanol, octanol, and glycerine . It has a melting point of about 225ºC and the pH of a saturated solution is between 5.0 and 5.4 . Its chemical name is (±)-1-(2H)-phthalazinone,4-[(4-chlorophenyl) methyl]-2-(hexahydro-1-methyl-1H-azepin-4-yl)-, monohydrochloride. Its molecular formula is C 22 H 24 ClN 3 O•HCl with the following chemical structure: Azelastine hydrochloride nasal solution contains 0.1% azelastine hydrochloride in an aqueous solution at pH 6.8 ± 0.3. It also contains benzalkonium chloride (125 mcg/mL), citric acid, dibasic sodium phosphate, edetate disodium, hypromellose, purified water and sodium chloride. After priming [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.3 )] , each metered spray delivers a 0.137 mL mean volume containing 137 mcg of azelastine hydrochloride (equivalent to 125 mcg of azelastine base). The bottle can deliver 200 metered sprays.
Warnings and cautions
Somnolence: Avoid engaging in hazardous occupations requiring complete mental alertness such as driving or operating machinery when taking azelastine hydrochloride nasal spray. ( 5.1 ) Alcohol and other central nervous system (CNS) depressants: Avoid concurrent use with azelastine hydrochloride nasal spray because further decreased alertness and impairment of CNS performance may occur. ( 5.1 ) 5.1 Somnolence in Activities Requiring Mental Alertness In clinical trials, the occurrence of somnolence has been reported in some patients taking azelastine hydrochloride nasal spray [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 )] . Patients should be cautioned against engaging in hazardous occupations requiring complete mental alertness and motor coordination such as operating machinery or driving a motor vehicle after administration of azelastine hydrochloride nasal spray. Concurrent use of azelastine hydrochloride nasal spray with alcohol or other central nervous system depressants should be avoided because additional reductions in alertness and additional impairment of central nervous system performance may occur [see Drug Interactions ( 7.1 )] .
Reported side effects
Use of azelastine hydrochloride nasal spray has been associated with somnolence [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )]. The most common adverse reactions (≥2% incidence) are: bitter taste, headache, somnolence, dysesthesia, rhinitis, nasal burning, pharyngitis, epistaxis, sinusitis, paroxysmal sneezing, nausea, dry mouth, fatigue, dizziness, and weight increase. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Apotex CORP. at 1-800-706-5575 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 clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect rates observed in practice. Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis Azelastine hydrochloride nasal spray Two Sprays Per Nostril Twice Daily Adverse experience information for azelastine hydrochloride nasal spray is derived from six placebo- and active- controlled, 2-day to 8-week clinical trials which included 391 patients, 12 years of age and older, with seasonal allergic rhinitis who received azelastine hydrochloride nasal spray at a dose of 2 sprays per nostril twice daily. In placebo-controlled efficacy trials, the incidence of discontinuation due to adverse reactions in patients receiving azelastine hydrochloride nasal spray and vehicle placebo was 2.2% and 2.8%, respectively. Table 1 contains adverse reactions that were reported with frequencies ≥2% in the azelastine hydrochloride nasal spray 2 sprays per nostril twice daily treatment group and more frequently than placebo. […]
Interactions with other medicines
7.1 Central Nervous System Depressants Concurrent use of azelastine hydrochloride nasal spray with alcohol or other central nervous system depressants should be avoided because reductions in alertness and impairment of central nervous system performance may occur [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )].
Use in specific groups
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Limited data from postmarketing experience over decades of use with azelastine hydrochloride nasal spray in pregnant women have not identified any drug associated risks of miscarriage, birth defects, or other adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. In animal reproduction studies, there was no evidence of fetal harm at oral doses approximately 5 times the clinical daily dose. Oral administration of azelastine hydrochloride to pregnant mice, rats, and rabbits, during the period of organogenesis, produced developmental toxicity that included structural abnormalities, decreased embryo-fetal survival, and decreased fetal body weights at doses 270 times and higher than the maximum recommended human daily intranasal dose (MRHDID) of 1.096 mg. However, the relevance of these findings in animals to pregnant women was considered questionable based upon the high animal to human dose multiple. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated populations is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2-4% and 15-20%, respectively. Data Animal Data In an embryo-fetal development study in mice dosed during the period of organogenesis, azelastine hydrochloride caused embryo-fetal death, structural abnormalities (cleft palate; short or absent tail; fused, absent or branched ribs), delayed ossification, and decreased fetal weight at approximately 300 times the maximum recommended human daily intranasal dose (MRHDID) in adults (on a mg/m2 basis at a maternal oral dose of 68.6 mg/kg/day), which also caused maternal toxicity as evidenced by decreased maternal body weight. Neither fetal nor maternal effects occurred in mice at approximately 15 times the MRHDID in adults (on a mg/m 2 basis at a maternal oral dose of 3 mg/kg/day). […]
If too much is taken
There have been no reported overdosages with azelastine hydrochloride nasal spray. Acute overdosage by adults with this dosage form is unlikely to result in clinically significant adverse reactions, other than increased somnolence, since one bottle of azelastine hydrochloride nasal spray contains 30 mg of azelastine hydrochloride. Clinical trials in adults with single doses of the oral formulation of azelastine hydrochloride (up to 16 mg) have not resulted in increased incidence of serious adverse reactions. General supportive measures should be employed if overdosage occurs. There is no known antidote to azelastine hydrochloride nasal spray. Oral ingestion of antihistamines has the potential to cause serious adverse effects in young children. Accordingly, azelastine hydrochloride nasal spray should be kept out of the reach of children.
Before you take anything new
Tell your pharmacist or doctor about every medicine you take — including ones bought without a prescription, herbal products and supplements. Interactions are one of the most common avoidable causes of harm from medicines, and a pharmacist can check your full list in a couple of minutes.
This page is built from the openFDA record of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approved labelling for this product, effective 6 November 2025. Label text has been shortened and reformatted for readability; safety wording has not been altered in meaning. FDA labelling describes products approved in the United States — brand names, strengths, formulations and approved uses may differ in your country. Always read the leaflet that comes with your own pack. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the FDA. Retrieved 2026-07-30.