Nasacort

Nasacort

Nasacort is a nasal spray, marketed by Sanofi, that is used to treat nasal allergies and hay fever. It contains a corticosteroid (steroid) called triamcinolone acetonide.

The nasal spray prevents inflammation in the nose, which causes symptoms such as:

• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Nasal itching
• Redness

What is allergic rhinitis?

Allergic rhinitis is a condition in which the immune system mistakes a non-harmful substance as an infection.

When exposed to an allergen, the body’s immune system releases chemicals called histamines.

These histamines can cause a number of symptoms, including:

• Eye irritation
• Itchy nose
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Sore throat
• Watery eyes

When these symptoms interfere with your day-to-day life, you should speak to your doctor about appropriate treatment for your allergic rhinitis.

Knowing the cause of your allergy is an important part of your treatment. To determine this, your doctor may refer you for an allergy test. This exposes you to small quantities of suspected allergic and uses blood tests to look for antibodies which respond to these allergies. From this, advice can be sought on minimising your exposure to allergens.

The treatment you receive depends on the type of allergic rhinitis you have.

There are two types of allergic rhinitis; seasonal and perennial. Seasonal allergic rhinitis, commonly known as Hay fever, occurs when the pollen count is high. How long your hay fever symptoms last depends on the kind of pollen you are allergic to.

Perennial allergic rhinitis is triggered by stimuli which surround us year round, such as dust, mould and animal skin, fur, feathers or saliva.

While Hay fever can be avoided by taking precautionary measures, such as not going outside when the pollen count is high, perennial allergic rhinitis can be much more difficult to control. Keeping pets in one room, dusting with a damp cloth and using a vacuum cleaner with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter can help, though these do not always eliminate the problem.

For symptoms which interfere with your life, your doctor may recommend a nasal spray such as Nasacort to prevent the symptoms from arising, even during exposure to an allergen.

How does Nasacort work?

While the exact mechanism of Nasacort is unknown, it is believed that triamcinolone acetonide, the active ingredient of Nasacort, interacts with cells within the nasal wall to prevent them from producing chemicals which cause inflammation.

When taken routinely, Nasacort can prevent the symptoms of allergic rhinitis from developing.

How to take Nasacort?

Always follow the doctor’s advice when taking medicine. A typical dose of Nasacort for an adult is two sprays in each nostril daily.

Before using your Nasacort nasal spray for the first time, you will need to prime the bottle.

Priming Nasacort

1. Remove cap by pulling upwards
2. Shake the bottle gently
3. Hold the bottle upright
4. Holding the bottle away from you, depress the nozzle 5 times until a fine mist is produced.

The spray is now ready to use.

If you have not used your Nasacort spray for more than 2 weeks, you will need to re-prime it. To re-prime Nasacort:

1. Remove cap by pulling upwards
2. Shake the bottle gently
3. Hold the bottle upright
4. Holding the bottle away from you, spray into the air once before use.

Using Nasacort

1. Remove cap by pulling upwards
2. Shake the bottle gently
3. Close one nostril with your finger
4. Hold the bottle upright and put the nozzle into the other nostril as far as is comfortable
5. Breathe in gently through your nose with your mouth closed
6. While you are doing this, press the nozzle to deliver one spray
7. Breathe out gently through your mouth

Repeat steps 3 to 7 if you have to spray again in the same nostril and the other nostril.

Once you have used the spray, wipe the nozzle carefully with a clean tissue or handkerchief.

Replace the cap of the bottle and store the medicine in a cool, dry place.

Always store Nasacort out of sight and reach from children and pets.

For more information on how to use your Nasacort spray, including cleaning instructions, please read the patient information leaflet enclosed with the medicine.