Nasal spray with cortisone for hay fever

Hay fever, which is called seasonal allergic rhinitis, affects a great many people. Due to the pollen count in the spring months, those affected suffer from a cold and eye itching. There are various drugs that are used to treat hay fever and can alleviate the symptoms.

These include nasal sprays with active ingredients similar to cortisone. These are intended for short-term use and can relieve the symptoms. They do not, however, lead to a cure or a loss of the allergy.

Contrary to many claims, nasal sprays with cortisone-like additives can be used for long-term treatment. However, as hay fever is limited to a certain time window in the year, treatment with nasal sprays is limited in time anyway. The allergy should, however, have been diagnosed at least once by a doctor.

Nasal sprays should not be used if you have an intolerance. The exact type of application should be clarified in advance with a doctor, even if the nasal sprays are available over the counter from a pharmacy. This avoids application errors and provides adequate information about possible side effects.

The effect of cortisone usually sets in after about 12 hours and can reach its maximum effect after 48 hours. Therefore, the application should be carried out regularly, preferably in the early morning. Usually one spray per day is sufficient.

Nasal spray with cortisone for colds

The use of nasal sprays containing cortisone is not recommended for a cold. A cold is an infectious disease, which is mostly caused by viruses and only in rare cases by bacteria. Nasal sprays with other additives, such as xylometazoline, are used to treat a cold.

Nasal sprays with this active substance, which belongs to the group of alpha-1- sympathomimetics, must not be used for longer than three weeks, otherwise the nasal mucosa may become dependent. Nasal sprays containing cortisone are not suitable for treatment, however, as they would actually encourage infection. Their benefit is the treatment of an allergic event.

Therefore, this type of nasal spray should be avoided in the case of an infectious rhinitis. Treatment with cortisone nasal spray does not usually have any significant side effects, even if used for a short period of time, as the active substance cannot usually penetrate the bloodstream from the nasal mucous membranes. In addition, it can be stated that a cortisone-based nasal spray is much gentler on the mucous membranes and therefore generally better tolerated than other decongestant sprays (e.g. Otriven).

Long-term and/or overly intensive use can lead to side effects. Some patients report dryness of the nasal mucosa and the occurrence of frequent nosebleeds. In addition, cortisone has an inhibitory effect on the body’s own defences and can therefore promote the development of fungal or bacterial infections. Furthermore, cortisone can increase intraocular pressure and/or trigger the development of cataracts.