Rhinitis may be caused due to common allergy from pollen and dander. Rhinitis occurs so commonly in the U.S. that about 10 to 30 percent of the Americans are affected by rhinitis annually.
Rhinitis is a condition characterized by the inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the inner side of nose. Nasal sprays, that are decongestants, are usually administered to treat rhinitis caused due to allergy.
Symptoms of Rhinitis
Some of the common symptoms of rhinitis include stuffy nose; running nose; postnasal drip; sneezing; nasal itching; headache; coughing; watery, itching eyes; and puffiness around the eyes. Most of the symptoms of rhinitis are caused due to allergy that spreads to the nose and eyes, causing inflammation of the mucous membrane inside the nose. Nasonex is effective in relieving all these symptoms of rhinitis when used as a nasal spray.
Nasal Sprays for Treating Rhinitis
Nasonex is one of the many nasal sprays available to treat rhinitis caused due to allergy.
Rhinitis may be treated with variety of nasal sprays such as:
- Antihistamine nasal spray (Astelin, Patanase): The antihistamine nasal sprays work by reducing histamine as a part of reaction in the body when there is an allergy. This, in turn, helps in controlling the symptoms of allergy and inflammation associated with rhinitis.
- Topical decongestant nasal spray (Afrin): Decongestant nasal sprays work by constricting the blood vessels in the lining of the nose. Thus, they relieve symptoms of rhinitis by quickly opening up nasal passages.
- Corticosteroid nasal spray (Nasonex, Flonase, Rhinocort Aqua, Nasarel, Naslide, Beconase, Vancenase, Nasacort): Corticosteroid nasal sprays can be used to relieve symptoms of hay fever, rhinitis. They work by reducing histamine production and inflammation in the nasal passage and thus alleviating rhinitis symptoms, such as: sneezing, sinus pain, running nose, nasal congestion, and headache.
- Natural nasal spray (saline, ginger/lemon/tea-tree oil derived nasal spray): Natural nasal sprays are effective in treating rhinitis only in mild cases.
However, of all these types, corticosteroid nasal sprays such as Nasonex are more effective since they combine the effectiveness of antihistamine nasal sprays and decongestant nasal sprays.
Nasonex vs. Other Decongestant Nasal Spray for Treating Rhinitis
Decongestant nasal sprays are effective in treating symptoms of rhinitis. However, though the allergy involved in rhinitis is controlled, damage to the mucous membrane inside the nose is caused that often leads to increased inflammation. This side effect of decongestant sprays is often referred to as rebound effect. Alternatively, corticosteroid nasal spray like Nasonex has fewer and rarer side effects such as nausea and nose bleeds.
Decongestant nasal sprays are only prescribed to be used for a maximum of three days to ensure there is not much damage to the mucous and symptoms of rhinitis do not worsen.
For this reason, Nasonex is preferred over decongestant nasal sprays since it does not cause the rebound effect. Nasonex nasal spray can be administered for a longer period of time of even a week or two without having to worry about the rebound effect that is often caused by decongestant nasal sprays.
Nasonex is effective in alleviating the symptoms of rhinitis arising from allergy. Also, Nasonex can help reverse the rebound effect caused by taking decongestant nasal sprays to treat rhinitis.
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