Flonase Sensimist

Flonase Sensimist is an allergy medicine that works directly in your nose to relieve a broad range of nasal allergy symptoms  caused by pollen, mold, dust, and pet dander. Flonase Sensimist is available without a prescription and is in a class of medications called glucocorticoids. It works directly in your nose to help block your allergic reaction right at the source, by acting on multiple inflammatory substances including histamine, prostaglandins, cytokines, tryptases, chemokines, and leukotrienes.

Flonase Sensimist comes in a nasal spray and is used once a day. 

Common side effects of Flonase Sensimist include cough, nosebleeds, and nasal burning or irritation.

Flonase Sensimist is an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine used to treat seasonal and year-round allergy symptoms in adults and children 2 years old and older.  Flonase Sensimist may also help red, itchy, and watery eyes in adults and teenagers with seasonal allergic rhinitis. 

Common side effects of Flonase Sensimist include:

• headache
• nosebleeds
• irritated or burning nose
• runny nose
• cough
• nausea
• stomach pain
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• dizziness

This is not a complete list of Flonase Sensimist side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescripion and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• Some antibiotics and some antifungals, including: clarithromycin (Biaxin); erythromycin (Ery-Tab); isoniazid (Nydrazid); itraconazole (Sporanox); ketoconazole (Nizoral); telithromycin (Ketek).

• Protease inhibitors, including: amprenavir (Agenerase); atazanavir (Reyataz); fosamprenavir (Lexiva); indinavir (Crixivan); nelfinavir (Viracept); ritonavir (Norvir); saquinavir (Invirase).

This is not a complete list of Flonase Sensimist drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Flonase Sensimist may cause serious side effects including:

• slow wound healing. Do not use Flonase Sensimist until your nose has healed if you have a sore in your nose, if you have surgery on your nose, or if your nose has been injured.
• eye problems including glaucoma and cataracts. You should have regular eye exams.
• decreased ability to fight infection. This will make you more likely to get an infection. Tell your doctor if you are exposed to chickenpox or measles.
• slow growth in children. A child taking Flonase Sensimist should have his/her growth checked regularly.
• allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). Call your doctor and stop Flonase Sensimist right away if you have any symptoms of an allergic reaction:
  • swelling of the face, throat and tongue
  • hives
  • rash
  • breathing problems

Flonase Sensimist can cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how Flonase Sensimist affects you.

To avoid withdrawal side effects, do not stop using Flonase Sensimist spray at once. Discuss with your doctor about slowly decreasing the dose before stopping use of this medication altogether.

Do not take Flonase Sensimist if you:

• are allergic to Flonase Sensimist or any of its ingredients
• are taking ritonavir (Norvir)
• have an injury or surgery to your nose that has not fully healed

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Flonase Sensimist there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving Flonase Sensimist.

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you are: 

• pregnant or breastfeeding
• have or had glaucoma or cataracts
• taking medications for HIV infection
• are taking ketoconazole (an antifungal medication)
• are using a steroid medication for asthma, allergies, skin rash, allergic reactions, inflammation or eye conditions

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Flonase Sensimist and other medicines may affect each other, causing side effects. See "Drug Interactions" section.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

There are no adequate and well-controlled studies with Flonase Sensimist in pregnant women. Flonase Sensimist should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the unborn baby.

It is not known whether fluticasone furoate (the active ingredient in Flonase Sensimist) is excreted in human breast milk. However, other corticosteroids have been detected in human milk. Since there are no data from controlled trials on the use of this medication by nursing mothers, caution should be exercised when Flonase Sensimist is administered to a nursing woman.

• This medicine is for use in the nose only. Do not spray it in your eyes or mouth.
• An adult should help a young child use this medicine.
• Do not take extra doses or stop taking Flonase Sensimist without telling your healthcare provider.
• Flonase Sensimist may begin to work within 24 hours after you take your first dose. It may take several days before it has its greatest effect.
• You will get the best results if you keep using Flonase Sensimist regularly each day without missing a dose. If you miss a dose by several hours, just take your next dose at the usual time. DO NOT take an extra dose.

Take Flonase Sensimist exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully. 

Adults and Adolescents Aged 12 Years and Older

• For people aged 12 years and older, the usual starting dosage is 2 sprays in each nostril, once a day. After you begin to feel better, your healthcare provider may tell you that 1 spray in each nostril once a day may be enough for you.

Children Aged 2 to 11 Years

• For children aged 2 to 11 years, the usual starting dosage is 1 spray in each nostril, once a day. Your healthcare provider may tell you to take 2 sprays in each nostril once a day. After you begin to feel better, your healthcare provider may change the dosage to 1 spray in each nostril once a day. An adult should help a young child use this medicine.

If you take too much Flonase Sensimist, call your doctor or local Poison Control Center right away.

• Store the device in the upright position with the cap in place between 15° and 30°C (59° and 86°F).
• Do not freeze or refrigerate.
• Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.