Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Flonase?What Is Astepro?Flonase vs. AsteproCombination MedicationDymista
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Flonase?
What Is Astepro?
Flonase vs. Astepro
Combination Medication
Dymista
Astepro and Flonase are two different nasal spray medications used to treat symptoms like runny nose, itchy nose, and congestion. Astepro contains an antihistamine, while Flonase is a steroid medication. The effects of the two medications are similar, but they work differently. Astepro blocks histamines, while Flonase decreases inflammation in the nasal passages.
Although these medications are effective on their own, it is generally considered safe to use both if you aren’t experiencing complete relief with just one.Your healthcare provider may recommend this or prescribe Dymista (azelastine hydrochloride and fluticasone propionate), a nasal spray composed of generic forms of both medications.
This article goes over the differences between Astepro and Flonase, and when you might need to use these nasal spray medications together.
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Flonase (fluticasone propionate) is a nasal spray that contains acorticosteroid. Corticosteroids help reduce inflammation in the nasal passages. This helps relieve symptoms like nasal congestion and runny nose.
Flonase can cause side effects, including nosebleeds or nose tenderness.People who take nasal steroids long-term can be at risk forglaucoma(increased pressure in the eye that can damage the optic nerve) andcataracts(clouding of the lens of the eye).
Children under the age of 4 should not use Flonase.If you’ve recently had nasal surgery or have any injuries to your nose, ask your healthcare provider before using this medication. You should also inform your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or if you have any of the following conditions:
Make sure your healthcare provider knows about any other medication you are taking, including supplements.
Astepro (azelastine nasal) is a nasal spray that contains anantihistamine. Astepro is available OTC and is used to treat the symptoms of nasal allergies. The antihistamine in Astepro blocks a chemical called histamine, which is responsible for allergy symptoms like sneezing and runny nose.
Astepro (azelastine 0.15%) nasal spray has been approved for nonprescription use in those 6 years and older. Azelastine 0.1% is a prescription version approved for use in younger children.
This type of nasal spray can cause:
Because this medication can make you drowsy, you should avoid operating machinery until you know how you respond to it.
Check with your healthcare provider if you have any injuries to your nose, if you have sores in your nose, or if you have recently had nasal surgery. Make sure your healthcare provider knows about any other medications you’re taking, including supplements.
FlonaseNasal steroidPrescription and OTC; generic availableOne to two sprays per nostril once a dayAzelastineAntihistamineOTCOne or two sprays per nostril twice a day
FlonaseNasal steroidPrescription and OTC; generic availableOne to two sprays per nostril once a day
Nasal steroid
Prescription and OTC; generic available
One to two sprays per nostril once a day
AzelastineAntihistamineOTCOne or two sprays per nostril twice a day
Antihistamine
OTC
One or two sprays per nostril twice a day
Combining Flonase and Astepro
Using Flonase with azelastine is considered a second-line option, which means that the combined treatment approach is only used when you don’t experience adequate improvement of your symptoms with use of just one of these sprays.
Using Flonase plus azelastine gives you the benefit of two different mechanisms of action that reduce inflammation. The body’s inflammatory reaction is lower when a combination, rather than one, of these therapies is used.
Whether or not that level of treatment is necessary to tame your symptoms depends, in part, on the severity of your allergies. Symptoms are generally so bothersome and noticeable that you should be able to judge your response to treatment well.
Combining Flonase and Astepro is considered safe and does not add to side effects outlined for each medication.
Combination drugs like Dymista include more than one medication. The advantage of this type of treatment is that it is faster and more convenient to use a single medication than to use them separately.
If your healthcare provider prescribes Dymista, you would also take it on a schedule to prevent your symptoms from occurring.
Dymista nasal spray suspension delivers 137 mcg of azelastine hydrochloride and 50 mcg of fluticasone propionate (137 mcg/50 mcg) in each 0.137 mL spray. The recommended dose is one spray per nostril twice daily.
This medication can also cause sleepiness or drowsiness, so you need to be careful about driving or using heavy machinery.
How to Stop a Bloody Nose
Summary
Flonase contains a corticosteroid, and Astepro contains and antihistamine. Because these two medications work differently, it is generally considered safe to use them together. However, you should only try this if using either medication alone does not help your symptoms.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Stjarne P, Strand V, Theman K, Ehnhage A.Control of allergic rhinitis with MP-AzeFlu: a noninterventional study of a Swedish cohort.Rhinology.2019;57(4):279–86. doi:10.4193/Rhin18.028National Library of Medicine.Fluticasone nasal spray.Flonase.Flonase dosage directions for allergy relief.National Library of Medicine.Azelastine nasal spray.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves a nasal antihistamine for nonprescription use.Astepro Allergy.Frequently asked questions for healthcare providers.Debbaneh PM, Bareiss AK, Wise SK, McCoul ED.Intranasal Azelastine and Fluticasone as combination therapy for allergic rhinitis: Systematic review and meta-analysis.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019;161(3):412–8.doi:10.1177/0194599819841883Roca-Ferrer J, Pujols L, Pérez-González M, et al.Superior effect of MP-AzeFlu than azelastine or fluticasone propionate alone on reducing inflammatory markers.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol.2018;14:86.doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0311-4U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Dymista label.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Stjarne P, Strand V, Theman K, Ehnhage A.Control of allergic rhinitis with MP-AzeFlu: a noninterventional study of a Swedish cohort.Rhinology.2019;57(4):279–86. doi:10.4193/Rhin18.028National Library of Medicine.Fluticasone nasal spray.Flonase.Flonase dosage directions for allergy relief.National Library of Medicine.Azelastine nasal spray.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves a nasal antihistamine for nonprescription use.Astepro Allergy.Frequently asked questions for healthcare providers.Debbaneh PM, Bareiss AK, Wise SK, McCoul ED.Intranasal Azelastine and Fluticasone as combination therapy for allergic rhinitis: Systematic review and meta-analysis.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019;161(3):412–8.doi:10.1177/0194599819841883Roca-Ferrer J, Pujols L, Pérez-González M, et al.Superior effect of MP-AzeFlu than azelastine or fluticasone propionate alone on reducing inflammatory markers.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol.2018;14:86.doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0311-4U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Dymista label.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Stjarne P, Strand V, Theman K, Ehnhage A.Control of allergic rhinitis with MP-AzeFlu: a noninterventional study of a Swedish cohort.Rhinology.2019;57(4):279–86. doi:10.4193/Rhin18.028National Library of Medicine.Fluticasone nasal spray.Flonase.Flonase dosage directions for allergy relief.National Library of Medicine.Azelastine nasal spray.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves a nasal antihistamine for nonprescription use.Astepro Allergy.Frequently asked questions for healthcare providers.Debbaneh PM, Bareiss AK, Wise SK, McCoul ED.Intranasal Azelastine and Fluticasone as combination therapy for allergic rhinitis: Systematic review and meta-analysis.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019;161(3):412–8.doi:10.1177/0194599819841883Roca-Ferrer J, Pujols L, Pérez-González M, et al.Superior effect of MP-AzeFlu than azelastine or fluticasone propionate alone on reducing inflammatory markers.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol.2018;14:86.doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0311-4U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Dymista label.
Stjarne P, Strand V, Theman K, Ehnhage A.Control of allergic rhinitis with MP-AzeFlu: a noninterventional study of a Swedish cohort.Rhinology.2019;57(4):279–86. doi:10.4193/Rhin18.028
National Library of Medicine.Fluticasone nasal spray.
Flonase.Flonase dosage directions for allergy relief.
National Library of Medicine.Azelastine nasal spray.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves a nasal antihistamine for nonprescription use.
Astepro Allergy.Frequently asked questions for healthcare providers.
Debbaneh PM, Bareiss AK, Wise SK, McCoul ED.Intranasal Azelastine and Fluticasone as combination therapy for allergic rhinitis: Systematic review and meta-analysis.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019;161(3):412–8.doi:10.1177/0194599819841883
Roca-Ferrer J, Pujols L, Pérez-González M, et al.Superior effect of MP-AzeFlu than azelastine or fluticasone propionate alone on reducing inflammatory markers.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol.2018;14:86.doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0311-4
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Dymista label.
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