Hay fever treatment possible with corticosteroid nasal spray

A corticosteroid nasal spray, fluticasone propionate (Flonase), can show its efficacy when it comes to controlling seasonal allergies when compared to a combination of popular anti-allergy drugs loratidine (Claritin) and montelukast (Singulair), according to researchers from the University of Chicago.

The study was presented at the 58th annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

From News.Bio-Medicine.Org:

"Because of the effect on inflammation, we prefer fluticasone," he added, "but for patients, the choice may come down to cost and whether they would prefer a pill or a spray."
Since one out of five people in the United States suffers from seasonal allergies, such preferences have financial implications. Antihistamines are prescribed three times as often, even though intranasal corticosteroids are less expensive than the non-sedating antihistamines. Combining loratidine with montelukast increases the cost difference.
A daily dose of Claritin, the leading antihistamine, costs $2.92 at the University of Chicago Hospitals pharmacy. Singulair, which works by blocking leukotrienes -- substances that trigger inflammation -- costs $4 per day. Flonase, the leading prescription nasal spray, costs $2.21 per day.

Robert Naclerio, M.D., professor of surgery at the University of Chicago and director of the study, remarked that inflammation measures were improved for patients with hay fever and administered with fluticasone propionate. It was also remarked that fluticasone is an amicable option to treat seasonal allergic rhinitis because of its benefits and low cost.