Allergy Nasal Sprays?

[LilyR]

Anyone use any over the counter (or prescription) allergy nasal sprays (ones that help with congestion) that are gluten-free?  I am not sure sprays could contain gluten (or corn, or soy), but I now need to find out.  I figured before I started my lengthy search of emails and phone calls to all the nasal spray companies, I would check to see if anyone here uses a nasal spray that is safe?  I know the spray goes into your nose, not your stomach, but years ago when I had been using a spray, some of it often drained down into my stomach.  I am not sure if a fine mist that enters your blood system (but not your digestive system) would bother a food sensitivity? 

[cyclinglady]

I can not help with an allergy spray, but my family uses a Nedi Pot which is just a saline solution.  It works and is very safe.  Boil the water and cool.  Do not use tap water.  

[LilyR]

6 hours ago, cyclinglady said:

I can not help with an allergy spray, but my family uses a Nedi Pot which is just a saline solution.  It works and is very safe.  Boil the water and cool.  Do not use tap water.  

Thanks for the info.  I have debated trying one of those for sinus issues, although always feel squeamish like you are getting a nose full of water, lol! But I am needing something also for allergies though. Someday I should brave up and try the neti pot for sinus issues, and I bet it does at least help clear out allergens in your nasal passages. 

 

[LilyR]

Flonase got back to me via email.  I might give it a try, although it's so hard right now, since I just got glutened and am healing.  I hate to try a product while still such a mess, although I am desperate for allergy relief.  My chest is all congested and makes breathing uncomfortable.  My nasal passages feel all constricted as well. I am full of phlegm.  So, I guess I have to decide whether to try it now, or wait out these horrible allergy issues until my stomach heals (which is seems to be taking it's own sweet time). But ragweed season is a doozy for me.

 

Email from Flonase:

"Thank you for your enquiry regarding Flonase Nasal Spray.
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (GSKCH) only uses high quality ingredients in its products. Following a review of the product formulations and detailed supplier documentation, we can confirm that Flonase Nasal Spray does not contain gluten and soy or their derivatives as direct ingredients. GSKCH does not test for the presence of these materials, so cannot guarantee that product is ‘free-from’ trace amounts, as a result of third party manufacturing processes.

However,  we can confirm that one of the ingredients in Flonase Nasal Spray & Flonase Sensimist Nasal Spray are derived from corn [1]. The suppliers of the ingredient declare that it is highly processed, and corn protein is not expected in the final product. In addition, consumers with known allergy to corn are advised to discuss with their doctor if unsure of the suitability of the products.

Prior to using a product, we recommend you always check the list of ingredients printed on the pack and follow the product label. If you are unsure whether a product is suitable for you, please ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice prior to use.

We recognize our consumers to be a very valuable asset and appreciate your taking the time to contact us.
If we may be of future assistance, please call us at 1-844-356-6273 weekdays between 8:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. EST."

[GFinDC]

Thanks for the Glaxo response LilyR.  I did use Flonase years ago and never had a problem with t myself.  But I don't have a corn issue either.

Now i take Afrin sometimes.  There is also an eye drop product called Equate Eye Itch Relief that I've used.

How about a hot steamy shower?  That might help too.

[cyclinglady]

I do not have issues with corn, so I take normal OTC antihistamines that are gluten free, but those often contain cornstarch as a binder.   Consider trying a compounding pharmacy.  They can make you one without corn.  

Pour Nedi pots are invaluable.  They do help!  

[LilyR]

On 8/31/2018 at 7:52 AM, GFinDC said:

Thanks for the Glaxo response LilyR.  I did use Flonase years ago and never had a problem with t myself.  But I don't have a corn issue either.

Now i take Afrin sometimes.  There is also an eye drop product called Equate Eye Itch Relief that I've used.

How about a hot steamy shower?  That might help too.

Thanks.  Yes, a steamy shower and I have one of those table top inhaler things.  You sit in front of it and breathe in the steam. It helps a bit. The past few days I seemed less congested in  my chest, but now back to hot weather with fans and a/c and we shall see.  I wish I could get allergy shots but my dr said they only do that for severe allergies. I am beginning to wonder though....I read that allergies can cause fatigue in some people, and that seems to be me.  And since allergy meds don't seem to help me much, and I have year long allergies (indoor and out), but spring tree pollen and this time of year with ragweed truly is horrible for me, I don't understand why they can't try shots.  Maybe it's insurance?  They seem to control a lot. 

On 8/31/2018 at 8:40 AM, cyclinglady said:

I do not have issues with corn, so I take normal OTC antihistamines that are gluten free, but those often contain cornstarch as a binder.   Consider trying a compounding pharmacy.  They can make you one without corn.  

Pour Nedi pots are invaluable.  They do help!  

I should try the nedi pot. It just looks so uncomfortable or like you'd choke on a nose full. 

[Beverage]

I can't take any steroid based things of any kind, including the nasal sprays, they all give me high blood pressure and mess with my beauty sleep. To get started on the nedi pot, you could first try the Neilmed Nasamist Saline Spray.

https://www.amazon.com/Neilmed-Nasamist-Saline-Spray-Fluid/dp/B00I8NKNZ8/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1536014722&sr=8-4&keywords=neti+nasal+spray

It is the saline in an aerosol and easier to start with and see how it goes. 

I have a friend who had not breathed air through her nose in years and years but was really ooked out by the nedi pot.

I got her to try the aerosol and she got past her eebie jeebies and now is doing well with the bottles (this is what I use instead of the actual nedi pot

https://www.amazon.com/NeilMed-Sinus-Rinse-Bottles-Premixed/dp/B00Y0VYCTU/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1536014888&sr=1-4&keywords=neilmed+bottle

Neilmed nasal rinses products are usually available at drug stores and grocery stores.

[LilyR]

18 hours ago, Beverage said:

I can't take any steroid based things of any kind, including the nasal sprays, they all give me high blood pressure and mess with my beauty sleep. To get started on the nedi pot, you could first try the Neilmed Nasamist Saline Spray.

https://www.amazon.com/Neilmed-Nasamist-Saline-Spray-Fluid/dp/B00I8NKNZ8/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1536014722&sr=8-4&keywords=neti+nasal+spray

It is the saline in an aerosol and easier to start with and see how it goes. 

I have a friend who had not breathed air through her nose in years and years but was really ooked out by the nedi pot.

I got her to try the aerosol and she got past her eebie jeebies and now is doing well with the bottles (this is what I use instead of the actual nedi pot

https://www.amazon.com/NeilMed-Sinus-Rinse-Bottles-Premixed/dp/B00Y0VYCTU/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1536014888&sr=1-4&keywords=neilmed+bottle

Neilmed nasal rinses products are usually available at drug stores and grocery stores.

So those spray bottles you posted from amazon, you spray them directly into your nose and don't need the nedi pot?  Is it a nice mist, or does it tend to squirt up your nose and then drain down your throat?  I had tried a saline type nasal spray for awhile, but it was not a mist, but tended to squirt a bunch up your nose, and seems most of it just drained down my throat than really mist my nasal area much.  Just curious how the squirt comes out of these? 

[Beverage]

LilyR, the bottle works like the nedi pot, the saline water goes in one nostril and comes out the other. If your sinuses are plugged, it can drain down to your mouth (instead of out the other nostril).  But you do this with your head bent over the sink with your mouth slightly open anyway, so anything that doesn't make the round trip comes out your mouth and you just let it run out your mouth into the sink, NOT down your throat.

With the aerosol. you don't put as much in your sinuses, it doesn't totally flush the sinuses like the nedi pot or bottle.  Depending on how much you spray, it may or may not get to the back of your throat.  I usually use it when I have a cold as an additional cleanse that I can keep near wherever I am resting and dab with a kleenex for anything that comes back out the nose, then throw the can away when I'm past the cold.

These are not like regular nose sprays with are either decongestant which you are not supposed to used more than 3 days or you get totally addicted to them, or steroid which can harm you and if you read the little enclosure you are not supposed to use long term, but doctors still prescribe them long term.

The saline rinse, by whatever method you get it through your sinuses, works to clear our allergens and infections and restore a healthy sinus environment.  A much healthier choice.  

As I suggested, try the aerosol to see how it works and get the hang of it.  Then try the bottle or neti pot (I think the bottle is easiest of these 2).  My Costco carries the bottle version with 2 bottles and a huge supply of the little saline packets and sometimes it even has 1 can of the aerosol included inside.

Normal use is 1 saline packet each time you rinse, but when I have a cold or flu or really bad allergies, you can use 2.  It works great to get the sinuses working before you get a full blown infection.

Good luck.

 

[LilyR]

On 9/4/2018 at 6:26 PM, Beverage said:

LilyR, the bottle works like the nedi pot, the saline water goes in one nostril and comes out the other. If your sinuses are plugged, it can drain down to your mouth (instead of out the other nostril).  But you do this with your head bent over the sink with your mouth slightly open anyway, so anything that doesn't make the round trip comes out your mouth and you just let it run out your mouth into the sink, NOT down your throat.

With the aerosol. you don't put as much in your sinuses, it doesn't totally flush the sinuses like the nedi pot or bottle.  Depending on how much you spray, it may or may not get to the back of your throat.  I usually use it when I have a cold as an additional cleanse that I can keep near wherever I am resting and dab with a kleenex for anything that comes back out the nose, then throw the can away when I'm past the cold.

These are not like regular nose sprays with are either decongestant which you are not supposed to used more than 3 days or you get totally addicted to them, or steroid which can harm you and if you read the little enclosure you are not supposed to use long term, but doctors still prescribe them long term.

The saline rinse, by whatever method you get it through your sinuses, works to clear our allergens and infections and restore a healthy sinus environment.  A much healthier choice.  

As I suggested, try the aerosol to see how it works and get the hang of it.  Then try the bottle or neti pot (I think the bottle is easiest of these 2).  My Costco carries the bottle version with 2 bottles and a huge supply of the little saline packets and sometimes it even has 1 can of the aerosol included inside.

Normal use is 1 saline packet each time you rinse, but when I have a cold or flu or really bad allergies, you can use 2.  It works great to get the sinuses working before you get a full blown infection.

Good luck.

 

Thanks for all the info. I'll consider it.  I'd have to be brave to give it a try, lol.  It just always sort of freaks me out thinking about water up my nose.  I know it's not like getting a nosefull of water when like swimming, but my brain just keeps thinking of that. If it helps a lot though, I hope I can just suck it up and try it sometime.  I'll have to look into cost also.  Super tight budget.  For now I use my table top thing where I breath in steam to clean out.  An old remedy from a few decades ago was my father's dr saying to breath in steam over the stove, adding some vinegar to the pan of water.  I use that when I get a bad sinus headache and it works like 90% of the time to totally clear it up.  

[Posterboy]

On 9/6/2018 at 7:52 AM, LilyR said:

Thanks for all the info. I'll consider it.  I'd have to be brave to give it a try, lol.  It just always sort of freaks me out thinking about water up my nose.  I know it's not like getting a nosefull of water when like swimming, but my brain just keeps thinking of that. If it helps a lot though, I hope I can just suck it up and try it sometime.  I'll have to look into cost also.  Super tight budget.  For now I use my table top thing where I breath in steam to clean out.  An old remedy from a few decades ago was my father's dr saying to breath in steam over the stove, adding some vinegar to the pan of water.  I use that when I get a bad sinus headache and it works like 90% of the time to totally clear it up.  

LillyR,

Thank you for the information at about flonase possibly having corn as one of it's ingredients my sister had a bad reaction to flonase once and that might explain it.

On 8/31/2018 at 6:31 AM, LilyR said:

However,  we can confirm that one of the ingredients in Flonase Nasal Spray & Flonase Sensimist Nasal Spray are derived from corn [1]. The suppliers of the ingredient declare that it is highly processed, and corn protein is not expected in the final product. In addition, consumers with known allergy to corn are advised to discuss with their doctor if unsure of the suitability of the products.

Prior to using a product, we recommend you always check the list of ingredients printed on the pack and follow the product label. If you are unsure whether a product is suitable for you, please ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice prior to use.

We recognize our consumers to be a very valuable asset and appreciate your taking the time to contact us.
If we may be of future assistance, please call us at 1-844-356-6273 weekdays between 8:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. EST."

I am going to be sure to share this information/thread with her.

Also it might be your have low Nitric Oxide levels. ... try summmm humming.

see this recent research about how being lowing in Nitric Oxide can possibly trigger chronic rhinosinusitis.

I just found the research for it entitled "Reduced nasal nitric oxide levels in patients with eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis".

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30348485

the reason humming can help sinus problems is because it increases Nitric Oxide (NO) production by 15X in your airways helping NO fight inflammation and infection in your nasal cavity.

I ran across this research a few years ago illustrated in this funny article about "How Humming  is good for your Sinuses" but few people are willing to try it.

http://www.myneworleans.com/New-Orleans-Magazine/June-2011/HUMMING-FOR-YOUR-SENSES/

But it helps me and the few people among my friends who will try it.

I hope this is helpful but IT is not medical advice.

 “Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things” this included.

2 Timothy 2: 7 

Posterboy by the grace of God,