Flonase (allergy relief)

humbird753 · Post by **humbird753** » Fri May 22, 2015 9:22 pm

Hi - I had an annual physical a week ago. I told my doctor about a head cold I got the end of April, and the fact that although the cough had gone away I was still very congested in my head which was making it very difficult for me to hear. She recommended Flonase, or if I wanted something more natural I could try the Neti Pot. Since the inability to hear very well was making it difficult for me at work, I decided to try the Flonase without even reading what it was about. 3 or 4 days prior to that doctor visit, I stopped taking magnesium in pill form and now use spray, or baths or soak my feet in Epsom salts. I noticed a decrease in having to go to the bathroom, which for me was at most 2 times a day, so decided it's possible that was a key that prevented me from seeing Norman for any length of time. Then.... I started taking Flonase (1 time a day) nasal spray which comes in two strengths - 50 mcg per spray or 120 mc per spray. I am using the 50 mcg per spray. The last time I went to the bathroom was 2 days ago so I am getting a little concerned. I tried looking up Flonase on their original site but couldn't find a list of side effects on there. It did show a comparison with Allegra and Clariten so I am thinking it is okay if it's for allergies. Does anyone know anything about this over-the-counter allergy nasal spray?

Thank you.

Paula

humbird753 · Post by **humbird753** » Fri May 22, 2015 9:32 pm

I just looked up the ingredient I could barely read on the Flonase. It's called glucocorticoid. Below is a site describing it, but unfortunately I don't understand if this is a bad thing or not. Sounds like what people experience when they take Entocort, but I'm not sure because I never used it.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9854452

Paula

Post by **tex** » Fri May 22, 2015 9:53 pm

Hi Paula,

Glucocorticoids are a type of corticosteroid. Budesonide is a glucocorticoid steroid, so that's why the Flonase is causing constipation.

Tex

humbird753 · Post by **humbird753** » Fri May 22, 2015 10:48 pm

Interesting... especially since I specifically told her I didn't want any drugs like that. I assumed it was just for allergies, especially when looking at Flonase's web site showing how it compared with Allegra and Claritin. I must admit, though, that those who choose to take Budesonide are definitely masking food sensitivities. In spite of how great I feel, I will probably stop taking it. Hopefully by eliminating the Magnesium pills and replacing it with Mag foot soaks, baths, and also spray mag, I will still find a noticeable improvement.

Thank you, Tex, as always, although I was hoping for a more positive explanation for this.

Paula

Post by **tex** » Sat May 23, 2015 7:13 am

Well, fluticasone propionate is only sold to treat allergies, and inhaled corticosteroids don't usually have serious digestive system side effects, but a small percentage of users do have such side effects. You are apparently one of the unlucky ones.

I's sorry that it didn't work out for you.

You're most welcome,
Tex

humbird753 · Post by **humbird753** » Sat May 23, 2015 12:16 pm

What was even more interesting is that it has not helped me with the head congestion.

Paula

Post by **tex** » Sat May 23, 2015 12:29 pm

That's a heck of a note. Apparently most of it went to your gut.

Tex

ldubois7 · Post by **ldubois7** » Mon May 25, 2015 7:12 am

Paula,

I have had allergies this season with congestion....sometimes over the counter nasal sprays won't unclog me so I can get a good nights rest!

I have noticed that I am more dehydrated than usual....be sure you're consuming enough water during the day!

humbird753 · Post by **humbird753** » Mon May 25, 2015 11:12 am

Linda,

Thank you for the reminder about staying hydrated.

Paula

UkuleleLady · Post by **UkuleleLady** » Tue May 26, 2015 7:07 am

I think when you use a nasal spray, you end up swallowing it at some point. So you were probably swallowing the steroid and it ended up in your gut. Either way, Flonase did nothing for me!!

Oddly I am using this homeopathic spray now, when I feel a tingling and it seems to take the edge off and prevent a total sinus infection. You can take it as often as you like:

http://www.similasanusa.com/nasal-allergy-relief

I'm not crazy about using a neti pot because I'm terrified of getting some kind of brain eating amoeba up there... I'm paranoid, probably. That said my husband uses it all the time and gets good results.

His allergies are worse than mine and he takes zyrtec, flonase, the neti, and clortrimeton at night.

Erica P-G · Post by **Erica P-G** » Tue May 26, 2015 10:23 am

Is Sudafed not recommended? I thought I was just having bad allergies two weeks ago and it turned into a cold with lots of mucus, nose blowing, stuffy sinuses and during the hardest hit stuffies I took Sudafed during the day and a Benedryl at night with Vicks on my nose so I could breath. I didn't notice any difference in my BM while doing this, but I still have D (but not as bad as it has been).

I am just now getting to a point I don't need any benedryl at night, having MC sure makes your body take a lot longer to heal that's for sure.

I am also having Achy Hips this has crept up on me over the last two weeks too----where's that coming from?? If I do to much during the day by night my hips ache so bad that I can't lie on my sides only on my back and then they hurt for a while until I'm assuming the inflammation dies down a bit. I've never felt this before so it has kinda scared me, but I'm rolling with the flow at the moment.

I've been drinking lots of water though, that has probably been one of my saving moments for my body during all this.

I wish you healing and answers soon Paula

Cheers
Erica

humbird753 · Post by **humbird753** » Tue May 26, 2015 8:13 pm

UkuleleLady - Thank you for your recommendation. You're probably right in that I am more than likely swallowing some of the Flonase. It never did help the congestion.

Erica - I'm sorry to hear you've caught something also. I hope someone chimes in with some suggestions about the achy hips you've had going on. I agree that it is unsettling when "new" symptoms crop up, whether they are from MC or not.

I'm going to just try the sodium/water nasal spray for my congestion for now. I've been thinking about the order of how things happened for me. I finally stopped taking oral magnesium, and in less than a week had my appointment with my doctor, started taking Flonase, and then was on vacation for a week (just back to work today). This all happened in less than 2 weeks. Although my diet never changed, and I am now off of Flonase, I am only going once a day which appears to be pretty normal. I am now wondering if it was removing the oral magnesium or possibly a combination of all of it... I'll have to see how it goes.

Erica - I wish you healing and answers soon also. BTW, I don't think Sudafed is recommended for those of us with MC. I thought I heard at one time that the coating itself could be suspect, in addition to the pain reliever that is one of the active ingredients. When looking it up on the computer, I found this:

http://www.sudafed.com/products/adult/s ... ngredients

I see that it has magnesium stearate as one of the ingredients as well.

Paula

Erica P-G · Post by **Erica P-G** » Wed May 27, 2015 7:09 am

Ah ha, Thanks Paula, I'll be sure to make note of this, I sure hope I don't have to worry about it for a long while! What a hectic two weeks it's been.
Cheers
Erica

JFR · Post by **JFR** » Wed May 27, 2015 9:26 am

humbird753 wrote:
I see that it has magnesium stearate as one of the ingredients as well.

Paula

Magnesium strearate is added to many supplements. It keeps powders from sticking so makes manufacture easier. Some claim it's bad for you and others say it's harmless. Chris Kresser, for one, says not to worry about it.

Jean

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Thu May 28, 2015 6:13 am

Good morning!

I prefer Mucinex for any head/chest congestion. It keeps the secretions fluid so that they may more easily be eliminated. Decongestants only make the problem worse in the long run, in my experience. Also, using the Neti pot (or Neil-Med squeeze bottle) before bed each night washes out pollutants/pollen/etc. that have collected in the nose during the day and really helps reduce ongoing inflammatory reactions.

Polly