Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Allercrom 2% w/v Eye Drops
⚠ This medicine appears to have been discontinued
The electronic medicines compendium (emc) no longer publishes a Summary of Product Characteristics for this product, which usually means it is no longer marketed in the UK. The patient leaflet below is kept for reference, but the product may not be available.
If you were prescribed this medicine, other products containing Sodium cromoglicate may still be available. Do not stop your treatment — ask your pharmacist or GP what to use instead.
What it is and what it is used for
for This medicine contains sodium cromoglicate which belongs to a group of medicines called anti-allergics. Sodium cromoglicate has an anti-inflammatory action and reduces redness, soreness and itching in eyes affected by allergic conditions like hayfever when used regularly during the course of treatment. These symptoms occur usually in the late spring or early summer when pollen from grasses or trees comes into contact with the eyes of people who are sensitive to them. This condition is sometimes called 'hayfever eyes' or by its medical term: seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. If you suffer from hayfever, you can also help control your symptoms by trying to ensure low exposure to pollen when hayfever symptoms are expected. For
example, keep windows closed, do not cut grass, stay indoors as much as possible.
What you need to know before you take it
e Allercrom Do not use Allercrom: If you or your child are allergic to sodium cromoglicate or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). Signs of allergic reaction include: a rash, swallowing or breathing problems, swelling of your lips, face, throat, tongue and worsening of redness, itching or swelling of the eye or eyelid. If your child is under 6 years of age. If you or your child are sensitive to eye drops containing sodium cromoglicate, benzalkonium chloride or disodium edetate. For other allergic eye symptoms (not caused by hayfever). Other things in everyday life can start allergies causing eye symptoms in certain people. For example contact with animals including pets, house dust mites, other particles and chemicals. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor. Do not use Allercrom if the above applies to you. If you are not sure talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using these eye drops. Warnings and precautions You must be confident that you or your child's irritated eyes are caused by hayfever, or have been previously diagnosed by your doctor to suffer from hayfever: You can be sure allergic eyes are caused by hayfever if:
Both eyes are affected You also have a runny or blocked nose Your eyesight is not affected You know you suffer from hayfever and your symptoms coincide with the times of year when grass or tree pollen is high.
But if you or your child have: No nose symptoms Only one eye is affected Your sight is affected Or if the eye symptoms:
occur at the wrong time of year for hayfever are likely to be caused by another allergy, e.g. a pet or dust mite allergy. Then you cannot be sure that the condition is due to hayfever and you should see your doctor or pharmacist before you use these drops. If you are not sure if the above applies to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine.
Other medicines and Allercrom Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have recently used or might use any other medicines. Pregnancy and breast-feeding If you are pregnant or breast feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. Driving and using machines This medicine can cause blurred vision for a few minutes after use. If this happens, do not drive or operate machines until you can see normally again. Allercrom contains benzalkonium chloride: This medicine contains 0.10 mg /ml benzalkonium chloride as preservative. Benzalkonium chloride may be absorbed by soft contact lenses and may change the colour of the contact lenses. You should remove contact lenses before using this medicine and put them back 15 minutes afterwards. Benzalkonium chloride may also cause eye irritation, especially if you have dry eyes or disorders of the cornea (the clear layer at the front of the eye). If you feel abnormal eye sensation, stinging or pain in the eye after using this medicine, talk to your doctor.
How to take it
Allercrom Always use this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Adults (including the elderly) and children over 6 years One or two drops administered into each eye four times daily. Children under 6 years This medicine should not be used in children under 6 years of age. If you have any questions concerning the use of these drops in a child, or are unsure if the child has allergic eyes, you should seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist. If your eyes are no better after 2 days of using the eye drops, see your doctor or pharmacist. It is best to use your eye drops regularly every day while high pollen levels are expected, to keep your eye condition controlled. If you find you need to use them continuously for more than 14 days, then check with your pharmacist or doctor before continuing. Instructions for use Wash your hands before using the drops. Tilt your head back and carefully pull down your lower eyelid. Without touching the eyelid with the tip of the dropper, put one or two drops into your lower lid and then blink a few times to make sure your whole eye is covered by the liquid. Replace the cap securely on the bottle. Be careful not to touch the tip of the bottle on your eye or on any other surface. Ocular Solutions, if handled wrongly, can become contaminated by common bacteria and cause eye infections. If you do develop any intercurrent ocular condition (e.g. trauma, ocular surgery or infection) whilst using this product, see your doctor immediately. If you use more of Allercrom than you should Contact your doctor if you use the eye drops more frequently than the recommended dose. If you forget to use Allercrom If you miss a dose, use the drops as directed above and then continue your normal course of treatment. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. If you stop using Allercrom
Even if your symptoms have got better, you should keep using these drops if you are still around the things that you are allergic to. Allercrom can prevent you getting an allergic reaction so if you stop using it your allergy symptoms may come back. If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist. 4. Possible side effects Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. All medicines can cause allergic reactions, although serious allergic reactions are very rare. Stop taking this medicine and see your doctor straight away if you get any sudden wheeziness, difficulty in breathing, swelling of the eyelids, face or lips, rash, or itching (especially affecting your whole body). You may be allergic to these drops. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if any of the side effects get serious or last longer than a few days, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet: Stinging or burning in your eyes or blurring of eyesight. This should only last for a short time and occur immediately after using the eye drops. eye irritation. Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any
Possible side effects
not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
How to store it
Allercrom Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. Do not use the eye drops after the expiry date which is stated on the bottle and on the carton the bottle is packed in. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Discard the bottle 28 days after opening, even if there is solution remaining. Do not store the eye drops above 30oC. Keep them in the original container and out of direct sunlight. Keep bottle in outer carton. Replace cap securely after use. 6. Content of the pack and other information What Allercrom contains The active substance is Sodium Cromoglicate 2% w/v. The other excipients are sodium chloride, disodium edetate, polysorbate 80, benzalkonium chloride and water for injections. What Allercrom looks like and contents of the pack This medicine is a clear, colourless solution supplied in a 5ml or 10ml BFS Vial and closed with a screw cap. Not all pack sizes may be marketed. Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer FDC International Ltd, Unit 6, Fulcrum 1, Solent Way, Whiteley, Fareham, Hampshire, PO15 7FE United Kingdom Tel: + 44 (0) 1489 565222 E-mail: [email protected] PL number: 15872/0008 Hard to see or read the leaflet? Call + 44(0) 1489 565222 for help. This leaflet was last revised in: 10/2020 MODE OF USE
Frequently asked questions about Allercrom 2% w/v Eye Drops
How do I take Allercrom 2% w/v Eye Drops?
Allercrom 2% w/v Eye Drops comes as eye drops. Always follow the dose your doctor or pharmacist has given you, and read the leaflet that comes with the medicine.
What is the active substance in Allercrom 2% w/v Eye Drops?
The active substance in Allercrom 2% w/v Eye Drops is sodium cromoglicate.
Are there equivalent medicines to Allercrom 2% w/v Eye Drops?
Medicines with the same active substance, strength and form include: Allergy Relief 2% w/v eye drops, Solution, Aspire Hayfever Relief 2% w/v Eye Drops, solution, Boots Hayfever Relief 2% w/v Eye Drops. In total there are 18 equivalent products. They are interchangeable only if your prescriber or pharmacist says so.
Where does this information come from?
This leaflet reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for Allercrom 2% w/v Eye Drops, as published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). The version printed inside your medicine’s packaging is the one that applies to you.
Can I get Allercrom 2% w/v Eye Drops without a prescription?
Whether a medicine is available over the counter or on prescription only depends on its licence. Check the leaflet, or ask your pharmacist — they can tell you straight away.
About this leaflet
The text above reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for this medicine, restructured for easier reading.
- Source: electronic medicines compendium (emc), Datapharm
- Active substance: sodium cromoglicate
- Official document: view the original leaflet on emc →
⚕For healthcare professionals — Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)Full SmPC: dosage, interactions, contraindications, warnings+
4.1. Therapeutic indications
For the relief and treatment of the eye symptoms of hayfever.
4.2. Posology and method of administration
Allercrom Eye Drops should not be used continuously for more than 14 days except on the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.
Adults and Children over 6 years:
One or two drops to be administered into each eye four times daily.
Elderly:
There is no evidence to suggest that dosage alteration is required for elderly patients.
4.3. Contraindications
Patients with known hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients listed in section 6.1.
4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use
This formulation of Sodium Cromoglicate Eye Drops contains 0.1mg/ml (4.5 micrograms per dose) benzalkonium chloride as a preservative which may be deposited in soft contact lenses. Hence, soft contact lenses should not be worn during treatment with sodium cromoglicate eye drops. Other types of contact lenses should be removed before instillation of the drops and not reinserted earlier than 15 minutes after use.
Benzalkonium chloride has been reported to cause eye irritation, symptoms of dry eyes and may affect the tear film and corneal surface. Should be used with caution in dry eye patients and in patients where the cornea may be compromised. Patients should be monitored in case of prolonged use.
Patients should also be instructed that ocular solutions, if handled improperly can become contaminated by common bacteria known to cause ocular infections.
Serious damage to the eye and subsequent loss of vision may result from using contaminated solutions. Patients should also be advised that if they develop any intercurrent ocular condition (e.g. trauma, ocular surgery or infection), they should immediately seek their physician's advice concerning the continued use of present multi-dose container. There have been reports of bacterial keratitis associated with the use of topical ophthalmic products.
The carton label and patient information leaflet will state:
• the patient should consult a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms do not start to improve within 48 hours,
4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
None known.
4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
Fertility:
It is not known whether sodium cromoglicate has any effect on fertility.
Pregnancy:
Cumulative experience with sodium cromoglicate suggests that it has no adverse effects on foetal development. However, as with all medicines, caution should be exercised during pregnancy, and it should be used in pregnancy only when there is a clear need.
Lactation;
It is not known whether sodium cromoglicate is excreted in breast milk but on the basis of its physico-chemical properties, this is considered unlikely. There is no information to suggest the use of sodium cromoglicate has any undesirable effects on the baby.
4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines
Instillation may cause transient stinging or blurring of vision. Do not drive or operate machinery until normal vision is restored.
4.8. Undesirable effects
Transient stinging and burning on instillation of the drops. Rarely, other symptoms of local irritation.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via Yellow card scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
4.9. Overdose
Overdosage is very unlikely. In the event of accidental ingestion, symptomatic treatment is recommended.
💬 Ask about this leaflet
Ask anything about Allercrom 2% w/v Eye Drops. The assistant answers only from this leaflet — if the leaflet does not cover it, it will say so. It does not give medical advice.
Answers come from the patient leaflet published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). They are not medical advice. Ask a pharmacist or your GP if you are unsure. For urgent help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.
Medicines containing Sodium cromoglicate
- Allergy Relief 2% w/v eye drops, Solution
- Aspire Hayfever Relief 2% w/v Eye Drops, solution
- Catacrom Sodium Cromoglicate 2% Preservative Free Unit Dose Eye Drops
- Eycrom 2% w/v eye drops, solution
- Librachrom 2% w/v eye drops, solution
- Librachrom Hayfever Relief 2% w/v eye drops, solution
- Opticrom Allergy 2% w/v Eye Drops, Solution (Aspire MAH)
- Opticrom Allergy Single Dose 2% w/v Eye Drops, Solution
- Opticrom Aqueous 2% w/v Eye Drops, Solution (Aspire MAH)
- Opticrom Hayfever 2% w/v Eye Drops, solution (Aspire MAH)
- Optrex Allergy 2% w/v Eye Drops, Solution (eye drops)
- Optrex Hayfever Relief 2% w/v Eye Drops
- Sodium cromoglicate 100mg/5ml oral solution
- Sodium cromoglicate 2 %w/v Eye drops, Solution_PL 25298/0305