Flonase

Flonase is both an over-the-counter and a prescription medication. Flonase is used to treat the symptoms of allergic and nonallergic rhinitis.

Flonase is in a class of medications called corticosteroids. These works by decreasing swelling and irritation in the nasal passsages.

Flonase is available as a nasal spray and is sprayed into each nostril usually once daily.

Common side effects of Flonase include cough, nosebleeds, and nasal burning or irritation.

Flonase nasal spray can cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how Flonase nasal spray affects you.

Flonase is a medication used to treat the symptoms of allergic and non-allergic rhinitis in patients aged 4 years and older.

Symptoms may include:

• sneezing 
• runny nose
• stuffy nose
• itchy nose
• itchy, watery eyes

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Prescription Form:

Use this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The recommended adult dose is 2 sprays per nostril of Flonase once daily. 

• The same total daily dose, 1 spray in each nostril administered twice daily (e.g., 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.) is also effective.
• After the first few days, patients may be able to reduce their dose to 1 spray in each nostril once daily for maintenance therapy.

The recommended dose for adolescents and children aged 4 years and older is 1 spray in each nostril once daily (total daily dose, 100 mcg).

• Patients who do not respond to 1 spray in each nostril may use 2 sprays in each nostril once daily.
• Once adequate control is achieved, the dosage should be decreased to 1 spray in each nostril once daily.

Over-the-Counter Form:

Adults and Children 12 years of age and older

• Week 1-use 2 sprays in each nostril once daily
• Week 2 through 6 months-use 1 or 2 sprays in each nostril once daily, as needed to treat your symptoms
• After 6 months of daily use, ask your doctor if you can keep using Flonase

Children 4 to 11 years of age- Use 1 spray in each nostril once daily

• Children should use for the shortest amount of time necessary to achieve symptom relief since Flonase may impair growth in children
• Talk to your child’s doctor if your child needs to use the spray for longer than two months a year
• An adult should supervise use

Children under 4 years of age- do not use

Serious side effects have been reported with Flonase including the following:

• nose problems. Nose problems may include:
  • nose bleeds
  • sores (ulcers) in your nose
  • a certain fungal infection in your nose, mouth, and/or throat (thrush)
  • hole in the cartilage of your nose (nasal septal perforation). Symptoms of nasal septal perforation may include:

• crusting in the nose
• nose bleeds
• runny nose
• whistling sound when you breathe

• decrease in activity of your immune system. This will make you more likely to get an infection. Symptoms of infection may include: fever, pain, aches, chills, feeling tired, nausea and vomiting. Tell your doctor about any signs of infection while you use Flonase. Also, tell your doctor if you are exposed to chickenpox or measles.
• slow growth in children. A child using Flonase should have his/her growth checked regularly.
• eye problems including glaucoma and cataracts. Tell your doctor about any vision changes while using Flonase. Be sure to have regular eye exams while you are taking this medication.
• slow wound healing. Do not use Flonase until your nose has healed if you have a sore in your nose, if you have surgery on your nose, or if your nose has been injured.
• allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). Call your doctor and stop Flonase right away if you have any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction:
  • swelling of the face, throat and tongue
  • hives
  • rash
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing

Flonase can cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how Flonase affects you.

To avoid withdrawal side effects, do not stop using Flonase at once. Discuss with your doctor about slowly decreasing the dose before stopping use of this medication altogether.

When using this product, do not share this bottle with anyone else as this may spread germs.

Do not use Flonase if you:

• are allergic to Flonase or any of its ingredients
• are taking ritonavir (Norvir)

Common side effects of Flonase include

• headache
• nosebleeds
• irritated or burning nose
• runny nose
• cough
• nausea
• stomach pain
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• dizziness

Stinging or sneezing may occur for a few seconds right after use.

This is not a complete list of Flonase side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• medications that stop the work of an enzyme in the body (CYPA4) such as some macrolide antibiotics (clarithromycin, telithromycin), some HIV protease inhibitors (indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir), some HCV protease inhibitors (boceprevir, telaprevir), some azole antifungals (ketoconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole), conivaptan (Vaprisol), delavirdine (Rescriptor), and nefazodone (Serzone)

This is not a complete list of Flonase drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Flonase falls into category C. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. No well-controlled studies have been done in humans. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if Flonase crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using Flonase.