Flonase

Kenv · Post by **Kenv** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 4:10 pm

Flonase is marketed in this country as Flixonase and carries a warning not to use continously for more than a maximum of six months. I have checked out US websites and it doesn't mention this - does anyone use it on a regular basis for more than six months?
Thanks Ken

Ramona · Post by **Ramona** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 4:23 pm

I've been using Flonase for about 3 years with no ill effects. You do tend to get nosebleeds unless you use a nasal saline spray after you use the Flonase. I've also noticed that it works much better for me if I use my Flonase right before bed. It unstuffs me just in time for CPAP.

Kenv · Post by **Kenv** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 5:55 pm

Thanks Ramona - Flonase is not doing the whole job for me. I was going to have my turbinates reduced but I've cried off for the time being until I see if other sprays can help. I am going to use Astelin tonight in addition to the Flonase - I hope it works.
Ken

gar729 · Post by **gar729** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 7:03 pm

Ramona, I'm sorry but I couldn't help but laugh! You said that you have been using Flonase with no ill effects, then I looked at your picture to the left, to that very pretty dog........ Well I guess I'm just over tired but it really made me laugh! thanks
Gary

Barb (Seattle) · Post by **Barb (Seattle)** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 11:27 pm

I tried Flonase two times...both times it stung my nose so badly, I had to quit. It felt like someone had shoved 100 mints up my nose.

Ric · Post by **Ric** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 12:19 am

Kenv, here is the "official" FDA recommendation for use and prescribing of Flonase®

http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/2004 ... ase_PI.pdf

It doesn't say anything about not using it longer than 6 months. It does say "Patients using FLONASE Nasal Spray over several months or longer should be examined periodically for evidence of Candida infection or other signs of adverse effects on the nasal mucosa."

I have used it continuously upwards of 5 years, and no ill effects, no burning sensation, no acute relief of congestion etc. as mentioned. I stopped when I had a surgical procedure to open a maxillary sinus "window" to relieve a decades long acute/chronic sinus infection. Have had only minor problems with that since.

I have read all the horror stories about glaucoma, and cataracts, and a long list of other things which are problems for some people. Didn't have any of them, and it brought a great deal of relief. The trick is you need to use it consistently, there is a lead time to achieve any benefits, and you shouldn't quit using it just because you are having a "good" day.

Ramona · Post by **Ramona** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 1:37 pm

gar729 wrote:Ramona, I'm sorry but I couldn't help but laugh! You said that you have been using Flonase with no ill effects, then I looked at your picture to the left, to that very pretty dog........ Well I guess I'm just over tired but it really made me laugh! thanks
Gary

Oh I don't know, sometimes I think it wouldn't be a bad thing at all to be a dog, especially a dog owned by me! I spoil my babies. That picture is my little Samantha, an Australian Shepherd. She's my little clown who loves to wake me up with kisses. Now that I'm on CPAP, I have to take off my mask in the morning and lay back down so she can do her job of waking up Mommy!

Born Tired · Post by **Born Tired** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 9:14 am

Barb (Seattle) wrote:I tried Flonase two times...both times it stung my nose so badly, I had to quit. It felt like someone had shoved 100 mints up my nose.

Never heard it put quite that way. Couldn't help but laugh.
Esther
__

yardbird · Post by **yardbird** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 9:28 am

hmmmm.... nose mints..... I wonder if there's a market for them.....

Add a little alcohol and you could have something like...

Peppermint Schnapps Shnoz Drops

christinequilts · Post by **christinequilts** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:58 pm

Barb- Are you sure it was Flonase? Could of it been the generic? I know they tried that on me once, and I wasn't a happy camper...talk about burning. I been on Nasonex (its what my insurance likes), and it works pretty well. I really like it since they came up with an unscented version this year....much better then before.

My sleep lab recomended using Flonase, Nasonex, etc right before you go to bed when you use xPAP. It was hard to get use to after years of using it in the morning.

meister · Post by **meister** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 2:37 pm

if you are going to see any results. It is not like Afrin! One
squirt -- instant relief!! --- long-term tissue damage that you
don't notice. Flonase (for me anyhow) takes about 5 days
before it "kicks in". Nasonex is similar and seems to work a
little better for me. Astelin is more like Afrin, for me, in that
I can "feel" some relief within the same day. I have never
felt any relief with Flonase/Nasonex the first couple of days.

If you are open-minded, you might want to try 2 Echinacea
2 hours before you go to sleep. Also nasal-irrigation is a
wonderful practice, if you can get past the "squeamish" part!

Mark83 · Post by **Mark83** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 2:53 pm

I dont have any particular allergies that I am aware of but I would get stuffed up sometimes before bed so I asked my family doctor what he would recommend and he told me Flonase. (He actually first told me that I am probably just allergic to Ohio!) This was about 4 years ago and I have only been a CPAPer for a month. I have since used it nightly before I go to bed with no adverse reactions to it. It does clear me up and I have no stuffiness during the day.

I then asked my Neuorlogist who did my sleep study what he recommended. He told me to keep using the Flonase and take a 24 hour non-drowsy generic for Claritin before bed. I have been taking this for a month now and I am fine when I go to bed with my Swift on. I am contemplating not using the Flonase for a while to see if I can eliminate it. Once I get really settled in with my CPAP I will try this. I dont want to introduce another variable right now.

MARK

Kenv · Post by **Kenv** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 3:02 pm

I have been having a bad time with Rhinitis, the Flonase I think was helping but not really doing the job - I have started using Astelin which is beginning to work well - I'm hoping I can maybe ease myself off Flonase and just make do with the Astelin.
Kenv

Swordz · Post by **Swordz** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 9:45 pm

I tried to use Flonase several years ago, when I thought I had really bad allergies. My nostril was so congested though, that I couldn't inhale the spray the enough. Fortunately I found an ENT and found my real problem: turbs/septum. I still gotta take Claritin for allergies, but I can breath SOOOO much better.

Mask	Humidifier

Flonase

Flonase

You gotta use it for more than a week