Inhaled Nasal Steroids

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Inhaled nasal steroids—or corticosteroids—are prescription nasal allergy medications that treat nasal allergy symptoms including congestion, sneezing, and an itchy or runny nose.

• For many people, these nasal sprays are a very effective treatment for indoor and outdoor nasal allergy symptoms.
• Inhaled nasal steroids can start to provide relief within several hours of use, but it could also take a few days to a few weeks of regular use before symptoms start to improve.
• Only NASONEX® is approved by the FDA to help prevent most seasonal nasal allergy symptoms before they start in patients 12 years and older when treatment is begun 2 to 4 weeks before the anticipated start of the pollen season.
• To be effective, inhaled nasal steroids must be used regularly.
• Side effects are generally mild, and may include headache, viral infection, sore throat, coughing and flecks of blood in mucus or nosebleed.

Are Steroids Dangerous?

It's important to note that nasal steroids are not the same as anabolic steroids—the steroids some athletes misuse to increase muscle mass. In fact they have little in common. Nasal steroids, or corticosteroids, are synthetic medicines designed to produce similar effects as cortisol, a naturally occurring hormone.

Corticosteroids are used to reduce inflammation; however it is not known exactly how they work. While corticosteroids have side effects, they do not carry the same serious health risks or side effects that make anabolic steroids so dangerous. Side effects of corticosteroids are generally mild, and commonly include headache, viral infection, sore throat, coughing, and flecks of blood in mucus or nosebleed.

NASONEX®, a clinically proven prescription inhaled nasal steroid

NASONEX® is a prescription inhaled nasal steroid that can treat indoor and outdoor nasal allergy symptoms in adults and children 2 years of age and older. Once-a-day use helps relieve nasal allergy symptoms including congestion, sneezing, and an itchy or runny nose. Relief may be noticed within 11 hours of taking NASONEX® (based on single-dose studies done in a park during the pollen season and in a controlled pollen exposure room), and the full benefit of the medicine is usually achieved within 1 to 2 weeks.

NASONEX® is also the only prescription nasal spray clinically proven to help prevent most seasonal nasal allergy symptoms in adults and children 12 years of age and older. To help prevent most seasonal nasal allergy symptoms before they start, begin treatment 2 to 4 weeks before the anticipated start of the pollen season.

NASONEX® side effects were generally mild and included headache, viral infection, sore throat, nosebleeds, and coughing. Get more information about NASONEX®.

Talk With Your Doctor

If you're bothered by nasal allergy symptoms—such as congestion, sneezing, and an itchy or runny nose—ask your doctor about all the medications available to you. Your doctor knows your medical history and can recommend the most appropriate treatment.