Pharmacist Sonja Keizers answers
Pharmacist Sonja Keizers answers questions about medicines. This time: nasal spray all year round?
I have been using Avamys nasal spray for several years now. I was prescribed this at the time for hay fever and later all year round after a severe ear infection. I have been using this remedy continuously ever since. Is that wise or should I switch to Otrivin?
Answer:
Avamys and other nasal sprays containing corticosteroids work well against inflamed nasal membranes. If hay fever is the cause of the inflammation, you only need to use the spray in the period of the year that you suffer from it. However, there are also many people who continuously have inflammatory complaints. They will therefore also have to use these medicines for a long time. In that case, use the lowest possible dose that is sufficiently effective. Instead of spraying twice a day, you could try once a day. If you want to stop completely, it is wise to taper off slowly. You should also keep in mind that long-term use can increase eye pressure. If necessary, have your eyes checked regularly and in any case make sure that the spray does not get into your eyes. Switching to cold nasal sprays (Otrivin, Xylometazoline) is a bad idea. They are unsuitable for long-term use.
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Sources):
- Plus Magazine