Flonase Nasal Spray

Flonase is a nasal spray containing fluticasone propionate. Fluticasone propionate is a corticosteroid that reduces inflammation in the lining of the nose.

Flonase Nasal Spray is used to treat nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, and itchy or watery eyes caused by seasonal or year-round allergies.

Flonase Allergy Relief is for use in adults and children who are at least 4 years old and is available without a prescription. Children's Flonase Allergy Relief contains the same medicine and is also for ages 4 and older.

Flonase Sensimist contains fluticasone furoate rather than fluticasone propionate and is approved for use in adults and children 2 years of age and older. Children's Flonase Sensimist is also for ages 2 and older. In Flonase Sensimist labeling, relief of itchy, watery eyes applies to ages 12 and older.

The brand-name prescription version of Flonase nasal spray has been discontinued in the United States. Generic fluticasone propionate nasal spray is still available by prescription, and over-the-counter Flonase products and store brands remain on the market.

Some products sold under the Flonase brand name are not nasal sprays and do not contain fluticasone. Flonase Headache & Allergy Relief caplets contain acetaminophen, chlorpheniramine, and phenylephrine, and Flonase Nighttime Allergy Relief tablets contain triprolidine. Check the active ingredients on the carton before use.

Before using Flonase Nasal Spray, tell your doctor if you have glaucoma or cataracts, liver disease, diabetes, herpes simplex virus of your eyes, tuberculosis or any other infection, sores or ulcers inside your nose, or if you have recently had injury of or surgery on your nose.

You may start to feel relief on the first day, but it can take several days of regular once-daily use before you get the full effect. Tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve within 7 days, or if you develop new symptoms such as severe facial pain or thick nasal discharge.

Corticosteroids can affect the way your immune system responds to infection. Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Stop use and ask a doctor if you have, or come into contact with someone who has, chickenpox, measles, or tuberculosis.

Do not administer Flonase Allergy Relief Nasal Spray to a child younger than 4 years old, or Flonase Sensimist to a child younger than 2 years. Corticosteroid medication can affect growth in children. Talk with your doctor if you think your child is not growing at a normal rate while using this medicine.

Do not use Flonase nasal spray:

• if you are allergic to fluticasone or to any of the other ingredients
• to treat asthma
• if you have had an injury to your nose, or surgery on your nose, that is not fully healed.

To make sure Flonase is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• sores or ulcers inside your nose;
• injury of or surgery on your nose;
• glaucoma or cataracts;
• liver disease;
• diabetes;
• a weak immune system; or
• any type of infection (bacterial, fungal, viral, or parasitic).

If you use Flonase without a prescription and you have any medical conditions, ask a doctor or pharmacist if this medicine is safe for you.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Flonase: hives, rash; feeling light-headed; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• severe or frequent nosebleeds;
• a constant whistling sound from your nose, which may be a sign of damage inside your nose;
• noisy breathing, runny nose, or crusting around your nostrils;
• redness, sores, or white patches in your mouth or throat;
• fever, chills, body aches;
• new changes to your vision, blurred vision, eye pain, or seeing halos around lights;
• any wound that will not heal; or
• signs of a hormonal disorder: worsening tiredness or muscle weakness, feeling light-headed, nausea, vomiting.

Steroid medicine can affect growth in children. Tell your doctor if your child is not growing at a normal rate while using this medicine.

Common Flonase side effects may include:

• minor nosebleed, burning or itching in your nose;
• stinging or sneezing for a few seconds right after use;
• sores or white patches inside or around your nose;
• cough, trouble breathing;
• headache, back pain;
• sinus pain, sore throat, fever; or
• nausea, vomiting.

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Use Flonase exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.

Do not share this medicine with another person, even if they have the same symptoms you have. Sharing a bottle can spread germs.

Your dose will depend on the fluticasone brand or strength you use, and your dose may change once your symptoms improve. Follow all dosing instructions very carefully.

• A child using the nasal spray should be supervised by an adult.

Read and carefully follow any Instructions for Use provided with your medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not understand these instructions.

Shake the bottle before each use. Flonase Allergy Relief should be shaken gently, and Flonase Sensimist should be shaken vigorously.

Use this product only once a day and do not use more than directed. Avoid getting the spray in your eyes or mouth.

If you switched to fluticasone from another steroid medicine, you should not stop using it suddenly. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose.

Storage differs between products. Store Flonase Allergy Relief and Children's Flonase Allergy Relief between 4°C and 30°C (39°F and 86°F). Store Flonase Sensimist between 15°C and 30°C (59°F and 86°F), and do not refrigerate or freeze it.

Throw the bottle away once you have used the number of sprays stated on the carton, even if there is still liquid in the bottle. The correct amount of medicine in each spray cannot be assured after the labeled number of sprays has been used. Bottle sizes vary between products and pack sizes, ranging from 30 to 144 metered sprays.

Dosing information

Usual Adult Dose for Rhinitis (adults and children 12 years of age and older):

Flonase Allergy Relief Nasal Spray (fluticasone propionate 50 mcg per spray):

• 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 this medicine

Flonase Sensimist Nasal Spray (fluticasone furoate 27.5 mcg per spray):

• 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 this medicine

Usual Pediatric Dose for Rhinitis:

• 4 to 11 years: Flonase Allergy Relief or Children's Flonase Allergy Relief (fluticasone propionate 50 mcg per spray): 1 spray in each nostril once daily.
• 2 to 11 years: Flonase Sensimist or Children's Flonase Sensimist (fluticasone furoate 27.5 mcg per spray): 1 spray in each nostril once daily.
• Under 4 years: do not use fluticasone propionate nasal spray.
• Under 2 years: do not use fluticasone furoate nasal spray.

An adult should supervise a child using the spray. Children should use it for the shortest amount of time necessary to achieve symptom relief. Talk to your child's doctor if your child needs to use the spray for longer than two months a year.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Use the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not use two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

An overdose of Flonase is not expected to produce life-threatening symptoms. Using more than the recommended dose, or using it for longer than directed, may increase the chance of corticosteroid-related side effects such as cataracts or glaucoma, adrenal gland problems, an increased risk of infection, sores inside the nose, or slower growth in children.

Avoid getting the spray in your eyes or mouth. If this does happen, rinse with water.

Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Call your doctor for preventive treatment if you are exposed to chickenpox or measles.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all your other medicines, especially:

• an antifungal medicine, such as ketoconazole tablets;
• an antiviral medicine to treat hepatitis C or HIV/AIDS, such as ritonavir; or
• another steroid medicine for asthma, allergies or skin rash.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with fluticasone nasal, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.