Astepro nasal spray, anybody used this??

Happy New Year to Everyone!!! Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with using Astepro nasal spray. Went to my ENT with a minor sinus infection this week and during the course of the visit I told her that I often had trouble with my nose being stopped up but with no real signs of mucus in my nose only in the back of my throat. She suggested using Astepro every night before bed to help reduce the swelling in my nasal passages. She said many of her cpap users also used this spray. Well, after two nights of using this stuff I can breathe again but I am sooooo tired and lethargic from it that the stopped up nose seems like the least of my problems. I have always been sensitive to antihistamines of any kind but she promised that this was different and I would not feel "hung over" from it. WRONG!!

Anyone else had a similar experience with this stuff?? Any thoughts or suggestions?? Thanks-GG

I too have a plugged nose. I have asthma so it is very common for me. I have tried all the drugs but decided to try a nasal wash. I went to the Mayo clinic site and searched, they provide a recipe for making your own. You can also get an over the counter saline solution's (jug) and they provided me with a king size syringe with out needle.

Let me tell you it is messy, but it works well, but do it at least an half to hour before you go to bed, or it will plug you up. If you search you will find all kinds of info on this method, and how to use.

Astepro is an antihistamine and one of its side effects is tiredness. I use it during my bad allergy months and take it at bedtime. I have some tiredness during the day from it, but since I slept during the first 8 hours of the dose, it isn't too bad. I only use one spray per nostril. Some Rx are for 2 per side so you might try 1 if you are using 2. Astepro, if you Google it, has other side effects so be aware of them.

Have you tried a nasal rinse using a good product like Alkolol? http://www.alkalolcompany.com/index.php It is especially good at reducing mucus.

I too tries this and it's cousin Asteline. I had to stop because of the terrible taste and it turned me into a zombie. Tiredness is a typical side effect, more are listed here: http://www.drugs.com/astepro.html

I have better results with OTC Allegra and one of the nasal steroids like Flonase or the generic. Takes some time for them to work, but with regular use and a use of the nasal rinse products I keep my nose under control.

I also had terrible side effects with Astepro and generic astelin, drowsy and awful taste for hours. My Dr told me about these side effects and was reluctant to prescribe it but I broke his arm! I do better with Flonase, Zyrtec and saline rinses. I also have asthma and take Advair and Singulair.

retrodave15 wrote:I have better results with OTC Allegra and one of the nasal steroids like Flonase or the generic.

This is what my Dr recommended, OTC Allegra-D and Flonase along with a nasal wash. I use a NetiPot, This is the Unit I have: SinuCleanse Nasal Wash System. It works great. Not as messy as the Ball syringe.

Though I need to find the Allegra-D in a Generic as 10Tabs is $15!

Scott<-

Hmmm... I am on Astepro (and Nasonex) and never thought about Astepro making me tired. I'm tired anyway, so it's hard for me to detect patterns where medication is sedating because it's not like I'm alert and go on a medicine and become tired. Now I'm wondering about this... I would have thought that the sleepiness would be minor, as it's not systemically absorbed. I've tried Patanase too, but Astepro works better for allergies.

The prescribing information indicates a rate of somnolence of 1% with 1 spray twice a day and 2% with 2 sprays twice a day compared to 0% with placebo.

sleepingugly wrote:

The prescribing information indicates a rate of somnolence of 1% with 1 spray twice a day and 2% with 2 sprays twice a day compared to 0% with placebo.

Remember that the side effect profiles are results of tests on healthy males that are 18-40 years old, most don't any health issues. put in us folks, many who have a shoebox full of med, and who knows what will happen in our internal "chemistry set" of a body.

grumpygirl,

I've had good results with Flunisolide, an anti-inflammatory glucocorticosteroid. I also use an over the counter nasal lubricant--there are several on the market--a gel with Sodium Hyaluronate.

Mac

Try Neilmed Sinus Rinse salt water rinse. You can buy it at Walgreen's and other drug stores. It's cheap to try and the only drugs involved are water, salt, and baking soda. It's similar to neti or other nasal irrigation systems.

I find the Sinus Rinse system is easier for me to use. It takes you a while to get used to putting water into your nose, and the idea is a little disgusting, but being able to breathe is worth it.

Be sure to use distilled water or boil the water first. (Let the boiled water cool first.) There are very rare cases where someone may have gotten an infection from nasal irrigation from using tap water.

I used to use Asteline, and it never made me feel sedated.

Astelin is more sedating than Astepro.