Using Nasonex - observations

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 4:12 am

Just wanted to add some experience I have had since being recommended Nasonex about 8 months ago.

Story started when I went to my doc to ask for a recomm to an ENT - have long had nasal constriction that gets easily complicated by pollution, hay fever & preservatives in wine/beer.

If I use the steroid based nasal sprays (Otrivin here), they work well for about 4 nights but then reverse their effectiveness. This is well understood.

My doc said he was sure Nasonex would work for me & asked me to at least try it over time (he suggested 6 months) as it is suppoed to improve its effectiveness with time. If after a 6 month trial I wanted the ENT ref, he would oblige.

Well over the 6 months I was not convinced Nasonex was doing much at all. There were many nights I would use both the Nasonex and the Otrivin (doc said they could be used together).

BUT, 6 weeks ago, on a hunch, I tried something different, I did double the recommended sprays (recomm is one spray per nostril per night) I doubled that to 2 doses per nostril done a few mins apart - hey presto suddenly the Nasonex seemed to work well and all through the night !!!.

I have waited 6 weeks to be sure the result was consistent & thus far it is - I am delighted. I use this double dose approach during the past 3 weeks while holidaying in WA (Seattle / Vancouver Island / NZ).

If it continues to work as well, I will go back to trying the Bipap machines I have that don't seem to work well with restricted nasal airflow. If they work ok then this too me will be a major step forward in my own understanding of nasal airflow restriction vs type/brand of cpap machine.

I am really hoping this experiment is a long term success as I would rather use Nasonex than risk surgery.

If anyone else has any experience like this please add ...

Also any knowledge of nasal sprays such as Nasonex will be very welcomed.

DSM

momadams · Post by **momadams** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 7:43 am

I use Flonase, with good results.
My allergy doc suggested the doubled dose for initial treatment or when allergies get really bad, but cautioned about doing that long-term since the doubling would increase the possibility of side-effects (glaucoma, for one).
Best to check with your doc about dosage.
Shari

Skybird · Post by **Skybird** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 10:01 am

I have been using Nasonex for more than a year. CPAP therapy causes severe airway irritation for me and Nasonex has become a necessity for keeping the nasal passage open.

The standard dose of Nasonex is two sprays per nostril, which delivers 50 mcg. The dispenser is designed for 120 sprays, which is a 30 day supply. Less than two sprays per nostril may not deliver a helpful dose for most users.

In the beginning I tried reducing the dose and experienced the in effectiveness of such. I now stay with two sprays per nostril.

oceanpearl · Post by **oceanpearl** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 10:58 am

momadams wrote:I use Flonase, with good results.
My allergy doc suggested the doubled dose for initial treatment or when allergies get really bad, but cautioned about doing that long-term since the doubling would increase the possibility of side-effects (glaucoma, for one).
Best to check with your doc about dosage.
Shari

My bottle says 2 sprays in each nostril daily. Doesn't say whether to do 1 in morning and 1 at night. Just says two sprays each nostril............

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 2:17 pm

Thanks for all the feedback

Thought I would treble check what the label on my Nasonex says (just in case I had been miss-reading it )

The container delivers a 'measured dose' & holds 140 metered sprays. 50ug/spray. Bottle has the words 'It is dangerous to exceed recommended dose'.

Chemist added his label to say ...
'Spray ONE puff into each nostril at night'

It is interesting that others have different recommended doses - guess I need to visit doc again just to confirm 2 sprays are ok.

This stuff is quite expensive here even though subsidized under our health care system. I pay $A39.95 for each 140 spray bottle.

DSM

ffarmer · Post by **ffarmer** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 4:27 pm

I have used Flixonase and Nasonex for allergies off and on for several years, prescribed by an ear, nose and throat specialist. He told me two sprays in each nostril was the dosage and I could do it twice a day in the beginning.

He also told me to spray once with the bottle pointing vertically up the nose. The second spray should be pointing at a more horizontal angle (hard to describe; he domonstrated!). He said that this way the spray gets into all the passageways. He said if you only spray in a vertical position, all the passageways don't get the spray.

He also explained that these sprays make the membranes less sensitive to allergens, that is why you start to notice a difference after using them for a bit and not right away.

Frances

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:12 pm

I have used Flonase and Nasonex both off and on for a number of years due to severe allergies. I have never been consistent with their use due to the fact that EVERYTHING smells like vinegar. I was told by my doctor that it is probably a side effect and I am not particularly fond of vinegar so would stop using it.

Has anyone else had this experience?

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 6:23 pm

sleepycarol wrote:I have used Flonase and Nasonex both off and on for a number of years due to severe allergies. I have never been consistent with their use due to the fact that EVERYTHING smells like vinegar. I was told by my doctor that it is probably a side effect and I am not particularly fond of vinegar so would stop using it.

Has anyone else had this experience?

My wife complains about the smell of Nasonex - To me it smells a lot like some plastics I recall from my childhood.

I no longer am bothered by it but my wife still is so I use it just prior to sleep & then make sure I am facing away from her when I start to doze off.

DSM

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 6:31 pm

[quote="Skybird"]I have been using Nasonex for more than a year. CPAP therapy causes severe airway irritation for me and Nasonex has become a necessity for keeping the nasal passage open.

The standard dose of Nasonex is two sprays per nostril, which delivers 50 mcg. The dispenser is designed for 120 sprays, which is a 30 day supply. Less than two sprays per nostril may not deliver a helpful dose for most users.

In the beginning I tried reducing the dose and experienced the in effectiveness of such. I now stay with two sprays per nostril.

ApNoob · Post by **ApNoob** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 7:01 pm

socknitster wrote:
It may have been a coincidence but I lost my sense of smell for a period of 6 months when using Flonase 2 sprays per nostril two times a day. But I use steroid sprays pretty conservatively since then just in case.

Jen

It may have been a coincidence but loss of sense smell is one of the known side effects for fluticasone and is listed in the Patient Package Insert that comes with the product. The incidence of all side effects, including loss of sense of smell, is much higher at the maximum dosage than with the minimum recommended dosage.. I've also had a loss of sense of smell that was probably caused by fluticasone.

I have not used Nasonex.

Be very, very cautious when doubling the dosage of prescription medication--the serious potential side effects go can easily outweigh any short term benefits.

goose · Post by **goose** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 8:42 pm

I use the Flonase, 2 puffs each nostril each night before bed. I will have to confess to not using it daily, but do use most of the time because of chronic allergies. Benedryl is every night, and Allegra is twice a day.
I haven't really noticed the loss of sense of smell, but I've been on the drug for years, so it may minimize after time.
Never tried Nasonex.....

I would be extremely hesitant to increase my dosage -- too many bad side affects on the list......
I would definitly consult the doc!!!!

cheers
goose

cflame1 · Post by **cflame1** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 5:44 am

I've used Nasonex... hasn't helped me at all.

Fluonase... I can't use it at all. I end up with uncontrollable nose bleeds. The kind that I end up in the ER getting my nose cauterized.

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 6:23 am

ApNoob wrote:
socknitster wrote:
It may have been a coincidence but I lost my sense of smell for a period of 6 months when using Flonase 2 sprays per nostril two times a day. But I use steroid sprays pretty conservatively since then just in case.

Jen
It may have been a coincidence but loss of sense smell is one of the known side effects for fluticasone and is listed in the Patient Package Insert that comes with the product. The incidence of all side effects, including loss of sense of smell, is much higher at the maximum dosage than with the minimum recommended dosage.. I've also had a loss of sense of smell that was probably caused by fluticasone.

I have not used Nasonex.

Be very, very cautious when doubling the dosage of prescription medication--the serious potential side effects go can easily outweigh any short term benefits.

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 6:26 am

Oh, and just to be clear. That is the dose I was prescribed at the time. I never liked flonase--I hated its smell. I was really happy with nasonex when I switched to that. The effectiveness seemed the same without the scent. Now there is a generic in this class which very much resembles (the bottle) flonase, including scent. We tried it on my son, but I will never buy it again even tho it saves me $30 per bottle. Can't stand the smell.

Hopefully Harry won't need it now that his adenoids are out. They were seriously blocking his nose!

Jen

debst99 · Post by **debst99** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:24 am

I was prescribed nasonex by my ENT three months ago. Two puffs each nostril two times a day. Even tho I had slight headaches everyday before using, within two weeks I was having severe headaches everyday plus excess dry coughing, which I saw on TV were side affects. I stopped the nasonex and switched back to my old medication, decongestant and antihistamine. I never went back to the ENT since I discovered the sleep apnea at about the same time and was going to pulmonologist instead. I need to make another appointment with ENT to see if I should try nasonex with less of a dosage.

Humidifier

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