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What is fluticasone nasal?

Fluticasone is a steroid. It prevents the release of substances in the body that cause inflammation.

Fluticasone nasal is used to treat nasal symptoms such as congestion, sneezing, and runny nose caused by seasonal or year-round allergies.

Fluticasone may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Precautions

Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you have been sick or had an infection of any kind. You may not be able to use fluticasone nasal until you are well.

Also tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

  • glaucoma or cataracts;
  • liver disease;
  • herpes simplex virus of your eyes;
  • tuberculosis or any other infection or illness;
  • sores or ulcers inside your nose; or
  • if you have recently had injury of or surgery on your nose.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether fluticasone passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use fluticasone nasal without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give this medication to a child younger than 4 years old without the advice of a doctor. Steroid medicines can affect growth in children. Talk with your doctor if you think your child is not growing at a normal rate while using fluticasone nasal.

Avoid getting this medication in your eyes. If this does happen, rinse with water and call your doctor.

Fluticasone nasal can lower the blood cells that help your body fight infections. Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Call your doctor for preventive treatment if you are exposed to chicken pox or measles. These conditions can be serious or even fatal in people who are using fluticasone nasal.

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Instructions

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

An overdose of fluticasone nasal 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, impotence, or loss of interest in sex.

Use the medication as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and wait until your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

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Side Effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

  • severe or ongoing nose bleed;
  • sores in the nose that won't heal;
  • vision problems; or
  • fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms.

Less serious side effects may include:

  • headache, back pain;
  • minor nose bleed;
  • menstrual problems, loss of interest in sex;
  • sinus pain, cough, sore throat; or
  • sores or white patches inside or around your nose.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

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Interactions

Before using fluticasone nasal, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

  • certain antibiotics such as ketoconazole (Nizoral); or
  • HIV medicines such as ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with fluticasone nasal. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

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Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version 2.05. Revision date 8/23/04