Ketotifen

Ketotifen is a fascinating compound that sits in a unique therapeutic niche. Formally classified as a non-competitive H1-antihistamine and mast cell stabilizer, it’s one of those agents that, in practice, often gets pigeonholed for a single use—allergic conjunctivitis eye drops—while its systemic potential remains underutilized and somewhat misunderstood. In my years of working with complex, chronic inflammatory conditions, I’ve come to see oral ketotifen not just as an “antihistamine,” but as a foundational modulator of mast cell activity, which places it at the crossroads of immunology, neurology, and even gastroenterology.