Flunisolide Nasal Inhalation

Flunisolide, a corticosteroid, is used to prevent allergy symptoms including sneezing, itching, and runny or stuffed nose. This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Flunisolide comes as an solution to inhale through the nose. It usually is inhaled one to four times a day at evenly spaced intervals. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use flunisolide exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Do not stop using flunisolide without talking to your doctor. Before you use flunisolide the first time, read the written instructions that come with it. Ask your doctor, pharmacist, or respiratory therapist to demonstrate the proper technique. Practice using the inhaler while in his or her presence. To use the inhaler, follow these steps:

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Wash your hands.</li>
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Gently blow your nose to clear your nasal passages.</li>
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Remove the cap from the nasal inhaler.</li>
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Shake the inhaler.</li>
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With the nasal sprayer aimed away from all people and animals, prime the pump before each use. Hold the sprayer by placing two fingers on the 'shoulders' of the bottle and your thumb on the bottom. Use your thumb to push the spray bottle firmly and quickly until a fine spray appears.</li>
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Insert the tip of the nasal inhaler approximately 1/4 inch (0.6 centimeters) into one nostril, pointing the tip toward the outer side of your nose.</li>
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Close your other nostril with your finger and tilt your head forward slightly.</li>
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Press down on the container to release the medication and sniff gently with your mouth closed.</li>
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Hold your breath for a few seconds.</li>
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Breathe out through your mouth.</li>
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Remove the nasal inhaler from your nose.</li>
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Clean the tip of the nasal inhaler with a tissue and replace the cap.</li>
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Repeat Steps 3 through 12 for your other nostril if directed to do so by your doctor.</li>
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Wash your hands again.</li></ul> Avoid blowing your nose for 15 minutes after inhaling the prescribed dose.

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Flunisolide may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

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headache</li>
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nasal irritation or dryness</li>
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sore throat</li>
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sneezing</li>
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nosebleed</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

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increased difficulty breathing</li>
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swollen face, lower legs, or ankles</li>
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vision problems</li>
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cold or infection that lasts a long time</li>
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muscle weakness</li></ul>If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before using flunisolide, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to flunisolide or any other drugs. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin), arthritis medications, aspirin, cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), digoxin (Lanoxin), diuretics ('water pills'), estrogen (Premarin), ketoconazole (Nizoral), oral contraceptives, phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), rifampin (Rifadin), theophylline (Theo-Dur), and vitamins. if you have a nose infection or a fungal infection (other than on your skin), do not use flunisolide without talking to your doctor. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had tuberculosis (TB); liver, kidney, intestinal, or heart disease; diabetes; an underactive thyroid gland; high blood pressure; mental illness; myasthenia gravis; osteoporosis; herpes eye infection; seizures; or ulcers.