Azelastine hydrochloride and fluticasone propionate nasal spray is a prescription medication designed to address nasal symptoms. This combination product combines two distinct active ingredients to provide relief. The spray is administered directly into the nasal passages.
How This Combination Medication Works
This nasal spray contains two active ingredients, azelastine hydrochloride and fluticasone propionate, which work through different mechanisms to alleviate nasal symptoms. Azelastine hydrochloride is an antihistamine that blocks the effects of histamine. Histamine is a substance released by the body during an allergic reaction, leading to immediate symptoms like itching, sneezing, and a runny nose. By blocking histamine H1-receptors, azelastine helps reduce these rapid allergic responses.
Fluticasone propionate is a corticosteroid. It functions by reducing inflammation within the nasal passages.
The combination of azelastine and fluticasone offers a dual approach to symptom control. Azelastine provides prompt relief from immediate allergy symptoms due to its fast-acting antihistamine properties. Fluticasone works over time to diminish the underlying inflammation, offering sustained symptom management.
Conditions Treated and Symptoms Relieved
This medication is prescribed for allergic rhinitis, encompassing both seasonal and perennial forms. Allergic rhinitis occurs when the immune system reacts to allergens such as pollen, dust mites, or pet dander.
The spray is formulated to relieve nasal symptoms associated with these allergies. It helps reduce a runny nose, post-nasal drip, sneezing, and an itchy nose. The medication also works to clear nasal congestion and a stuffy nose.
Proper Administration and Dosage
Before the first use, or if the spray has not been used for 7 to 14 days or longer, the bottle needs to be primed. This involves shaking the bottle gently and then pressing down and releasing the pump about 6 times into the air until a fine mist appears. If it has been unused for more than 7 days, priming once by pressing down and releasing the pump should be sufficient.
Before each use, gently shake the bottle for approximately 5 seconds by tilting it up and down, then remove the protective cap. Gently blow your nose to clear the nostrils before administering the spray. Tilt your head slightly forward, hold the bottle upright, and carefully insert the spray tip into one nostril. Aim the nozzle toward the outer wall of the open nostril, away from the nasal septum.
While spraying, breathe gently inward through the nostril and then breathe out through your mouth, keeping your head tilted downward. Repeat this process for the other nostril. After each use, wipe the spray tip with a clean tissue and replace the protective cap. The typical dosage for adults and children 6 years of age and older is one spray in each nostril twice daily. Always follow your doctor’s specific instructions regarding dosage and frequency.
If a dose is missed, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose, in which case you should skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule.
Potential Side Effects and Precautions
Azelastine and fluticasone propionate nasal spray can lead to certain side effects. Common effects reported include a bitter taste in the mouth, headache, and nosebleeds. Some individuals may also experience changes in their sense of taste or smell, or dryness and soreness inside the nose. Drowsiness is another possible side effect due to the azelastine component, which may affect mental alertness.
More serious, though less common, side effects include prolonged nosebleeds, sores inside the nose, or a whistling sound when breathing through the nose. The medication can also increase the risk of infections, such as fungal infections in the nose or throat, which might appear as white patches. Blurred vision, eye pain, or other changes in vision, including the development or worsening of glaucoma or cataracts, require immediate consultation with a doctor.
Patients should inform their doctor if they have a history of glaucoma, cataracts, or increased pressure in the eyes. Individuals with an active infection in the nose or those who have recently undergone nasal surgery or experienced nasal trauma should also discuss this with their healthcare provider. The medication can impact wound healing and may increase susceptibility to infections, so avoiding sick individuals is advisable. Discussing use during pregnancy or breastfeeding with a healthcare provider is also recommended.