Fluticasone (Nasal)

Brand Names : Flonase

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For nasal fluticasone, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to fluticasone or other corticosteroids. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Nasal fluticasone has not been studied in pregnant women. However, in animal studies, fluticasone given by injection was shown to cause birth defects, although oral doses did not.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether nasal fluticasone passes into breast milk. However, in animals given fluticasone by injection, the medicine did pass into the milk. Mothers who are using this medicine and wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children - There is no specific information comparing the use of nasal fluticasone in children up to 4 years of age with use in other age groups. Corticosteroids taken by mouth or injection have been shown to slow growth in children and cause reduced adrenal gland function. Before nasal fluticasone is given to a child, you and the child's doctor should talk about the good this medicine will do as well as the risks of using it.

Older adults - Although there is no specific information comparing use of nasal corticosteroids in the elderly with use in other age groups, these medicines 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.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of nasal fluticasone. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Glaucoma - Rare cases of glaucoma have been reported following use of nasal corticosteroids, including nasal fluticasone

• Herpes simplex (virus) infection of the eye or
• Infections (viral, bacterial, parasitic, or fungal) - Nasal corticosteroids may cover up the signs of these infections

• Injury to the nose (recent) or
• Nose surgery (recent) or
• Sores in the nose - Nasal corticosteroids may prevent proper healing of these conditions

• Tuberculosis (active or history of) - Nasal corticosteroids may cover up the signs of this infection or cause it to start up again