Astepro Nasal Spray Side Effects

From Pharmacy Drug Guide

Astepro Nasal Spray 0.15% is a brand of azelastine hydrochloride, which is prescribed to patients age 12 and older seeking relief from the symptoms of perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR) and seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) such as sneezing, nasal congestion, and an itchy, runny nose. Astepro Nasal Spray differs from other allergy medications in that it does not contain pseudoephedrine and it is steroid-free.^[1]

Potential Astepro Nasal Spray side effects include nasal discomfort, sneezing, nosebleeds, and a bitter taste. Astepro can hamper mental alertness, and can also cause more serious side effects.^[2]

Meda Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the manufacturer of Astepro Nasal Spray, makes another prescription medication called Astelin. Astelin is also used to treat seasonal allergies, however, these drugs are not interchangeable as they have different indications and dosing schedules.^[3]

Contents 1 Common Astepro Nasal Spray Side Effects 2 About Drug Side Effects 3 Astepro Nasal Spray Allergic Reactions 4 Astepro Nasal Spray Precautions and Warnings 5 References

Common Astepro Nasal Spray Side Effects

• In clinical studies, fewer than 2 percent of patients using Astepro Nasal Spray experienced the following side effects: nasal irritation, sneezing, and a bitter taste.^[2]
• Some Astepro Nasal Spray users may experience nosebleeds, headache, and fatigue.^[4]
• Astepro Nasal Spray has been known to cause increased sleepiness in some patients.^[4]

About Drug Side Effects

Astepro Nasal Spray Allergic Reactions

Astepro Nasal Spray is contraindicated for patients with a known hypersensitivity or allergy to azelastine hydrochloride or to any of the following inactive ingredients: sorbitol, sucralose, hypromelloses, sodium citrate, edetate disodium, and benzalkonium chloride.

While allergic reactions to Astepro Nasal Spray are not common, it is recommended that patients seek medical help if they experience any of the following symtoms: difficulty breathing, hives, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, wheezing, hoarse voice, hives, rapid pulse or heart palpitations.^[5]

Astepro Nasal Spray Precautions and Warnings

• It is not safe to double-up on doses, even if a previous dose has been missed. Those who forget to take a dose are advised to take it as soon as they remember, unless it is close to the tome of the next dose.^[6]
• If a child accidentally ingests Astepro, the parent is advised to call a poison control center at once.^[6]
• Because Astepro can cause drowsiness, it may not be safe to engage in potentially-hazardous activity, like driving a car.^[1]
• Impairments of the central nervous system and a decreased alertness can occur if Astepro Nasal Spray is taken with alcohol or other central nervous system depressants.^[4]
• Astepro Nasal Spray is classified as FDA pregnancy category C, which means that there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, yet animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus. In particular, studies conducted with mice, rats, and rabbits have proven that azelastine hydrochloride, the main ingredient in Astepro Nasal Spray, can cause embryo-fetal death and fetal malformations. Still, it is not possible to ascertain how the drug behaves in humans by testing it on animals.^[4]
• It is not known if Astepro Nasal Spray is excreted in human milk.^[4]

Also See: Drug Side Effects, Astepro Coupons, Allegra Coupons, Allegra Side Effects, Claritin Coupons, Xyzal Side Effects, Zyrtec Side Effects, Zyrtec Free Samples, Zantac Side Effects

References

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} http://www.astepro.com/
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} http://www.astepro.com/patients/faq.html
3. ↑ http://www.astepro.com/physicians/faq.html
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4} http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=0e979fc0-353c-11dc-8dea-0002a5d5c51b
5. ↑ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000819.htm
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a697014.html#precautions