Flonase

INDICATIONS

Flonase is indicated for the management of the nasal symptoms of seasonal and perennial allergic and nonallergic rhinitis in adults and pediatric patients 4 years of age and older.

Flonase is a corticosteroid. It works by reducing inflammatory reactions in the nasal airway in response to allergens and irritants in the air.

INSTRUCTIONS

Use Flonase as directed by your doctor.

• Shake gently before each use.
• If needed, prime the spray pump according to the directions in the extra patient leaflet.
• To use a nose spray, gently blow your nose. Sit down and tilt your head back slightly. Place the tip of the spray container into the nose. Using a finger from your other hand, press against the opposite nostril to close it off. Breathe gently through the open nostril and squeeze the spray container. If you are using more than 1 spray, wait for 1 to 2 minutes between sprays. After using the medicine, rinse the tip of the spray unit in hot water and dry with a clean tissue to prevent contamination.
• Symptoms can start to improve as soon as 12 hours after you start using Flonase, and should improve within a couple of days. The full benefit may not be achieved until you have used Flonase for several days. If symptoms do not improve or if the condition worsens, contact your health care provider.
• Use Flonase on a regular schedule to get the most benefit from it.
• Using Flonase at the same time each day will help you remember to use it.
• Continue to use Flonase even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.
• If you miss a dose of Flonase, use it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not use 2 doses at once.
• An overdose of Flonase is not expected to produce life-threatening symptoms. However, long-term use of high steroid doses can lead to symptoms such as thinning skin, easy bruising, changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your face, neck, back, and waist), increased acne or facial hair, menstrual problems, loss of interest in sex.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Flonase.

STORAGE

Store Flonase between 39 and 86 degrees F (4 and 30 degrees C). Keep Flonase out of the reach of children and away from pets.

MORE INFO:

Active Ingredient: Fluticasone propionate.

Do NOT use Flonase if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Flonase.

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Some medical conditions may interact with Flonase. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines or other substances
• if you have recently experienced an ulcer of the nasal septum, nasal surgery, or nasal trauma
• if you have active or inactive tuberculosis or a positive skin test for tuberculosis
• if you have infections of the respiratory tract, untreated fungal or bacterial infections, parasitic or viral infections, measles, chickenpox, herpes simplex in or around the eye, or recently received a vaccination
• if you have diarrhea
• if you have glaucoma or cataracts.

Some medicines may interact with Flonase. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Certain medicines that act on the liver (eg, protease inhibitors [eg, ritonavir], ketoconazole) because they may increase the actions and the risk of Flonase's side effects.

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Flonase may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

Important safety information:

• Flonase may cause dizziness. This effect may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Flonase with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Use caution if you switch from an oral steroid (eg, prednisone) to Flonase. It may take several months for your body to make enough natural steroids to handle events that cause physical stress. Such events may include injury, surgery, infection, loss of blood electrolytes, or a sudden asthma attack. These may be severe and sometimes fatal. Contact your doctor right away if any of these events occur. You may need to take an oral steroid (eg, prednisone) again. Carry a card at all times that says you may need an oral steroid (eg, prednisone) if any of these events occur.
• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Flonase before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
• If you have not had chickenpox, shingles, or measles, avoid contact with anyone who does.
• Avoid spraying in the eyes.
• Flonase should not be used in children younger than 4 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
• Corticosteroids may affect growth rate in children and teenagers in some cases. They may need regular growth checks while they use Flonase.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Flonase while you are pregnant. It is not known if Flonase is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Flonase, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects.

Check with your doctor if any of these most common side effects persist or become bothersome:

Dizziness; headache; nasal irritation or burning; nausea; nosebleed; sore throat; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these severe side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; unusual hoarseness); blurred vision or other vision changes; frequent, severe, or persistent nosebleeds or nasal irritation; loss of sense of smell or taste; shortness of breath; sores in the nose; unusual nasal discharge; voice changes; wheezing.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.