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NASONEX
NASONEX ONLINE
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine
must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision
you and your doctor will make. For corticosteroids, the following
should be considered:
Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever
had any unusual or allergic reaction to corticosteroids. Also tell
your health care professional if you are allergic to any other
substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy—In one human study, use of
beclomethasone oral inhalation by pregnant women did not cause
birth defects or other problems. Other studies on birth defects
with beclomethasone, budesonide, dexamethasone, flunisolide,
fluticasone, mometasone or triamcinolone have not been done in
humans.
In animal studies, corticosteroids taken by mouth or injection
during pregnancy were shown to cause birth defects. Also, too much
use of corticosteroids during pregnancy, especially during the
first trimester, may cause other unwanted effects in the infant,
such as slower growth and reduced adrenal gland function.
If corticosteroids are medically necessary during pregnancy to
control nasal problems, nasal corticosteroids are generally
considered safer than corticosteroids taken by mouth or injection.
Also, use of nasal corticosteroids may allow some patients to stop
using or decrease the amount of corticosteroids taken by mouth or
injection.
Breast-feeding—Use of dexamethasone is not
recommended in nursing mothers, since dexamethasone passes into
breast milk and may affect the infant's growth.
It is not known whether beclomethasone, budesonide, flunisolide,
fluticasone or triamcinolone passes into breast milk. Although
most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of
them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Levels of mometasone
are not measurable in breast milk, thus exposure is expected to be
low. Mothers who are taking these medicines and wish to
breast-feed should discuss them with their doctor.
Children—Corticosteroids taken by mouth or
injection have been shown to slow or stop growth in children and
cause reduced adrenal gland function. If corticosteroids are
medically necessary to control nasal problems in a child, nasal
corticosteroids are generally considered to be safer than
corticosteroids taken by mouth or injection. Prolonged or
high-dose use of nasal corticosteroids may potentially affect
growth; although, most nasal corticosteroids have not been shown
to affect growth. Also, use of most nasal corticosteroids may
allow some children to stop using or decrease the amount of
corticosteroids taken by mouth or injection.
Before this medicine is given to a child, you and your child's
doctor should talk about the good this medicine will do as well as
the risks of using it. Follow the doctor's directions very
carefully to lessen the chance of unwanted effects.
Older adults—Although there is no specific
information comparing use of nasal corticosteroids in the elderly
with use in other age groups, they are not expected to cause
different side effects or problems in older people than they do in
younger adults.
Other medicines—Although certain medicines
should not be used together at all, in other cases two different
medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur.
In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other
precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional
if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription
(over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines, such as:
 | Ephedrine or
| Phenobarbital or
| Rifampin (e.g., Rifadin)—Ephedrine, phenobarbital, and
rifampin may decrease the blood levels of nasal
corticosteroids, such as dexamethasone, warranting an increase
in corticosteroid dose |
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Proper Use of This Medicine
This medicine usually comes with patient directions. Read
them carefully before using the medicine. Beclomethasone,
budesonide, dexamethasone, and triamcinolone are used with a
special inhaler. If you do not understand the directions, or if
you are not sure how to use the inhaler, check with your health
care professional.
Before using this medicine, clear the nasal passages by blowing
your nose. Then, with the nosepiece inserted into the nostril, aim
the spray towards the inner corner of the eye.
In order for this medicine to help you, it must be used
regularly as ordered by your doctor. This medicine usually
begins to work in about 1 week (for dexamethasone), but up to 3
weeks may pass before you feel its full effects.
Use this medicine only as directed. Do not use more of
it and do not use it more often than your doctor ordered. To do so
may increase the chance of absorption through the lining of the
nose and the chance of unwanted effects.
Check with your doctor before using this medicine for nasal
problems other than the one for which it was prescribed,
since it should not be used on many bacterial, virus, or fungus
nasal infections.
Save the inhaler that comes with beclomethasone or
dexamethasone, since refill units may be available at lower cost.
Dosing—
The dose of nasal corticosteroids will be different for
different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the
directions on the label. The following information includes
only the average doses of nasal corticosteroids. If your dose
is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you
to do so.
For beclomethasone
| For allergies or other nasal conditions:
| For nasal aerosol dosage form:
| Adults and children 6 years of age and older—One
spray in each nostril two to four times a day.
| Children up to 6 years of age—Use and dose must be
determined by your doctor. |
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| For nasal suspension dosage form:
| Adults and children 6 years of age and older—One
or two sprays in each nostril two times a day.
| Children up to 6 years of age—Use and dose must be
determined by your doctor. |
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For budesonide
| For allergies or other nasal conditions:
| For nasal powder dosage form:
| Adults and children 6 years of age and older—Two
inhalations in each nostril once a day in the morning.
| Children up to 6 years of age—Use and dose must be
determined by your doctor. |
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| For nasal suspension dosage form:
| Adults and children 6 years of age and older—One
or two sprays in each nostril one or two times a day.
| Children up to 6 years of age—Use and dose must be
determined by your doctor. |
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For dexamethasone
| For allergies or other nasal conditions:
| For nasal aerosol dosage form:
| Adults and children 12 years of age and older—Two
sprays in each nostril two or three times a day for up
to two weeks.
| Children 6 to 12 years of age—One to two sprays in
each nostril two times a day for up to two weeks.
| Children up to 6 years of age—Use and dose must be
determined by your doctor. |
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For flunisolide
| For allergies or other nasal conditions:
| For nasal solution dosage form:
| Adults and children 6 years of age and older—One
or two sprays in each nostril one to three times a
day.
| Children up to 6 years of age—Use and dose must be
determined by your doctor. |
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For fluticasone
| For allergies or other nasal conditions:
| For nasal suspension dosage form:
| Adults and children 4 years of age and older—One
or two sprays in each nostril one or two times a day.
| Children up to 4 years of age—Use and dose must be
determined by your doctor. |
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For mometasone
| For allergies or other nasal conditions:
| For nasal suspension dosage form:
| Adults and children 12 years of age and older—One
or two sprays in each nostril one time a day.
| Children up to 12 years of age—Use and dose must
be determined by your doctor. |
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For triamcinolone
| For allergies or other nasal conditions:
| For nasal aerosol dosage form:
| Adults and children 6 years of age and older (In
Canada, children 12 years of age and older)—One or
two sprays in each nostril once a day.
| Children up to 6 years of age (In Canada, children
up to 12 years of age)—Use and dose must be
determined by your doctor. |
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| For nasal suspension dosage form:
| Adults and children 6 years of age and older—One
or two sprays in each nostril one time a day.
| Children up to 6 years of age—Use and dose must be
determined by your doctor. |
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Missed dose—
If you miss a dose of this medicine and remember within an hour
or so, use it right away. However, if you do not remember until
later, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing
schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage—
To store this medicine:
| Keep out of the reach of children.
| Store away from heat and direct light.
| Do not store budesonide powder in the bathroom, near the
kitchen sink, or in other damp places, especially if the cap
has not been tightly screwed back on. Moisture may cause the
medicine to break down.
| Keep the medicine from getting too cold or freezing. This
medicine may be less effective if it is too cold when you use
it.
| Do not puncture, break, or burn the beclomethasone,
dexamethasone, or triamcinolone aerosol container, even after
it is empty.
| Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Also, discard any unused beclomethasone or flunisolide
solution 3 months after you open the package. Be sure that any
discarded medicine is out of the reach of children. |
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Precautions While Using This Medicine
If you will be using this medicine for more than a few weeks,
your doctor should check your progress at regular visits.
Check with your doctor:
| if signs of a nose, sinus, or throat infection occur.
| if your symptoms do not improve within 7 days (for
dexamethasone) or within 3 weeks (for beclomethasone,
budesonide, flunisolide, fluticasone, mometasone, or
triamcinolone).
| if your condition gets worse. |
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When you are being treated with dexamethasone, and after you
stop treatment with it, do not have any immunizations
(vaccinations) without your doctor's approval. Dexamethasone may
lower your body's resistance and there is a chance you may get the
infection the immunization is meant to prevent. In addition, other
persons living in your household should not take or have recently
taken oral polio vaccine since there is a chance they could pass
the polio virus on to you. Also, avoid other persons who have
taken oral polio vaccine. Don't get close to them, and do not stay
in the same room with them for very long. If you cannot take these
precautions, you should consider wearing a protective face mask
that covers the nose and mouth.
Side Effects of This Medicine
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some
unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may
occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the
following side effects occur:
| Less common or rare
| Bad smell; blindness; bloody mucus or
unexplained nosebleeds; blurred or gradual loss of
vision; burning or stinging after use of spray or
irritation inside nose (continuing); crusting, white
patches, or sores inside nose; discharge or redness
in eye, eyelid, or inner lining of the eyelid; eye
pain; headache; hives ; light-headedness
or dizziness; loss of sense of taste or smell;
muscle pain; nausea or vomiting; ringing in
the ears ; shortness of breath; skin rash;
sore throat, cough, or hoarseness; stomach pains;
stuffy, dry, or runny nose or watery eyes (continuing);
swelling of eyelids, face, or lips; tightness in
chest; troubled breathing; unusual tiredness
or weakness ; wheezing; white patches in
throat |
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| Symptoms of overdose
| Acne; blurred vision; bone fractures;
excess hair growth in females; fullness or rounding
of the face, neck, and trunk; high blood pressure;
impotence in males ; increased urination or thirst;
lack of menstrual periods; menstrual changes;
muscle wasting and weakness |
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Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical
attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your
body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if
any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:
| More common
| Burning, dryness, or other irritation inside the nose
(mild, lasting only a short time); increase in
sneezing ; irritation of throat |
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| Less common
| Sneezing; itching of throat |
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Not all of the side effects listed above have been reported for
each of these medicines, but they have been reported for at least
one of them. All of the nasal corticosteroids are very similar, so
any of the above side effects may occur with any of these
medicines.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some
patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
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