Nasacort vs Nasonex – Which Is Better To Treat Allergic Rhinitis?

Nasacort

It is an intranasal steroid that is typically used to treat nasal allergy symptoms, such as – sneezing, itching, and runny nose caused by seasonal allergies or hay fever (allergic rhinitis).

The active ingredient in this medicine is triamcinolone acetonide, a synthetic steroid that is contained in an aqueous microcrystalline suspension.

This nasal spray is the 1st over-the-counter nasal spray that contains a steroid that can be used to prevent or treat allergic rhinitis. This nasal spray controls the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, however, it does not cure them.

Some individuals start to get relief on the first day of treatment. However, for the majority of users, a few days of continual use are necessary to provide maximum signs and symptoms relief (without healing the condition in question).

For adults and children 12 years of age and older, the typical dose is 2 sprays in each nostril once per day. To minimize adverse effects while maintaining the effectiveness, once maximum symptoms relief has been achieved, it is recommended to reduce the dose to 1 spray in each nostril per day. For children aged 6 to 11 years, the typical dose is one spray in each nostril once per day.

Side Effects And Precautions

Side effects may include:

  • seeing halos around lights;
  • eye pain;
  • blurred vision;
  • unusual weakness;
  • loss of appetite;
  • easy bruising;
  • flu-like symptoms;
  • sores inside your mouth and nose;
  • fever;
  • unexplained weight loss;
  • nausea.

Until you know precisely how this medicine affects you (it may cause dizziness), do not operate or drive heavy machinery.

Individuals with chronic rhinitis who might use nasal steroids for long periods should use them at the lowest dose which controls their symptoms and only intermittently. Also, this medicine should not be used if you have an ulcer or an open wound within your nose.

Before using this nasal spray, tell your healthcare provider if you have infections (including tuberculosis), eye problems (like – cataracts or glaucoma), recent nose problems (like – ulcers, injury, surgery).

More importantly, because it reduces your capacity to fight infections, stop use these medicines if you develop measles, chickenpox, or tuberculosis.

Don’t allow the child to use it for longer than 8 weeks per year since it may reduce the rate of growth.

Nasonex

It is a nasal spray that contains the active ingredient mometasone furoate monohydrate, a type of drug known as a corticosteroid. It prevents the release of compounds in the human body which causes inflammation.

Uses

This medicine is sprayed into the nose to help relieve signs and symptoms which may occur with year-round allergies, including stuffiness in the nose, itching, and sneezing. If the medicine is taken 20 days before allergy season, it can prevent allergies.

Also, it may be used to treat sinus inflammation (when your nasal cavities become swollen, infected, and inflamed) in adults. It should be used with a specific antibiotic if a bacterial infection causes sinus inflammation. In addition, it is used to treat acute sinusitis in children 12 years of age and older.

Adults and children over 12 should use two sprays in each nostril once per day. Once symptoms are controlled, it is recommended to reduce the dose to 1 spray in each nostril per day.

Before use, shake the container slightly, blow your nose gently, remove the protective cap and use it to one nostril at a time. Don’t stop taking this medicine, even if your allergy signs and symptoms have apparently subsided.

Also, use this steroid nasal spray at around the same time every day. Moreover, if you forget to take your regular dose, use it as soon as you remember.

Side Effects And Precautions

Common side effects may include:

  • nosebleeds;
  • white patches inside or around your nose;
  • blood-tinged mucus;
  • nose dryness;
  • nausea;
  • joint pain;
  • muscle pain;
  • cough;
  • a sore throat;
  • stuffy nose;
  • headaches.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have injured your nose in any way, recently had surgery on your nose as well as if you have glaucoma (an eye disease), cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eye), or a herpes infection of the eye.

Avoid contact with people who have measles or chickenpox (a contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus) while using this steroid nasal spray since it may weaken your immune system.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding a baby, ask your healthcare provider for advice before using it. More importantly, children younger than 2 years of age should not use this nasal spray.

Nasacort vs Nasonex – Which Is Better To Treat Allergic Rhinitis?

Both nasal sprays relieve signs and symptoms of allergic rhinitis even if they don’t have the same active compound. More importantly, Nasonex can also treat nasal polyps (noncancerous growths on the lining of your sinuses or nasal passages) but possesses more side effects than Nasacort does.

Images credit – Shutterstock

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