Rhinocort Aqua

Rhinocort Aqua relieves nasal symptoms due to allergies such as runny or stuffy nose. It is very important that you use Rhinocort Aqua regularly.

Rhinocort Aqua Overview

Reviewed: August 20, 2012
Updated: 

Rhinocort Aqua is a prescription medication is used to treat seasonal and year-round allergy symptoms. Rhinocort Aqua belongs to a group of drugs called corticosteroids which help to decrease inflammation to relieve symptoms.

This medication comes in a nasal spray. It is typically used once per day, one to four sprays per nostril. 

Common side effects of Rhinocort Aqua include nose bleeds, sore throat, and cough. 

How was your experience with Rhinocort Aqua?

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What tips would you provide a friend before taking Rhinocort Aqua?

What are you taking Rhinocort Aqua for?

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  • Other
  • Nasal Polyps
  • Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial

How long have you been taking it?

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  • Less than a week
  • A couple weeks
  • A month or so
  • A few months
  • A year or so
  • Two years or more

How well did Rhinocort Aqua work for you?

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Uses of Rhinocort Aqua

Rhinocort Aqua is a prescription medication is used to treat seasonal and year-round allergy symptoms such as stuffy and runny nose.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

 

Manufacturer

Rhinocort Aqua Drug Class

Rhinocort Aqua is part of the drug class:

Side Effects of Rhinocort Aqua

Serious side effects have been reported with Rhinocort Aqua. See the “Drug Precautions” section.

Common side effects of Rhinocort Aqua include:

  • nosebleeds
  • sore throat
  • breathing difficulties such as wheezing, or chest tightening
  • coughing
  • nasal irritation

Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all of the side effects of Rhinocort Aqua. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Rhinocort Aqua Interactions

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Using Rhinocort Aqua with certain other medicines may affect each other causing side effects.

Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take:

  • corticosteroid medicines
  • anti-seizure medicine (anticonvulsants)
  • medicines that suppress your immune system (immunosuppressant)
  • ketoconazale (Nizoral)
  • ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra)
  • atazanavir (Reyataz)
  • clarithromycin (Biaxin)
  • indinavir (Crixivan)
  • itraconazole (Sporanox, Onmel)
  • nefazodone
  • nelfinavir (Viracept)
  • saquinavir (Invirase)
  • telithromycin (Ketek)

This is not a complete list of Rhinocort Aqua drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Rhinocort Aqua Precautions

Serious side effects of Rhinocort Aqua have been reported including the following:

  • damaged cartilage inside the nose (nasal septal perforation). Tell your healthcare provider if you have a whistling sound from your nose when you breathe.
  • slow wound healing. You should not use Rhinocort Aqua until your nose has healed if you have a sore in your nose, if you have had surgery on your nose, or if your nose has been injured.
  • fungal infection in your nose.
  • allergic reactions. Tell your healthcare provider or get medical help right away if you have skin rash, redness or swelling, severe itching, and swelling of the face, mouth and tongue.
  • immune system problems that may increase your risk of infections. You are more likely to get infections if you take medicines that weaken your body’s ability to fight infections. Avoid contact with people who have contagious diseases such as chicken pox or measles while using Rhinocort Aqua. Symptoms of infection may include fever, pain, aches, chills, feeling tired, nausea and vomiting.
  • adrenal insufficiency. Adrenal insufficiency is a condition in which the adrenal glands do not make enough steroid hormones. Symptoms of adrenal insufficiency may include tiredness, weakness, nausea, vomiting and low blood pressure.
  • slowed or delayed growth in children. A child’s growth should be checked regularly while using Rhinocort Aqua.
  • eye problems, such as glaucoma and cataracts. Tell your healthcare provider if you have a change in vision or have a history of increased intraocular pressure, glaucoma, and/or cataracts.

Do not use Rhinocort Aqua if you are allergic to Rhinocort Aqua or any of its ingredients. 

Rhinocort Aqua Food Interactions

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Rhinocort Aqua and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor before using them if you are taking Rhinocort Aqua.

Inform MD

Before using Rhinocort Aqua tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions and especially if you:

  • are allergic to Rhinocort Aqua or any of its ingredients
  • have recently been around anyone with chicken pox or measles
  • have liver problems
  • have any untreated infections
  • have ever had an infection called tuberculosis
  • have an eye infection
  • have recently had surgery or an injury to your nose
  • have any other medical conditions
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Rhinocort Aqua Nasal Spray will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Rhinocort Aqua Nasal Spray can pass into your breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take Rhinocort Aqua Nasal Spray.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

 

Rhinocort Aqua and Pregnancy

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

This medication falls into category B. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given Rhinocort Aqua, and some babies had problems. But in human studies, pregnant women were given this medication and their babies did not have any problems related to this medication.

Rhinocort Aqua and Lactation

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. 

The active ingredient in Rhinocort Aqua is excreted in human breast milk. Because of the possibility for adverse reactions in nursing infants from Rhinocort Aqua, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or to stop use of this medication. The importance of the drug to the mother should be considered.

Rhinocort Aqua Usage

Use Rhinocort Aqua exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. 

Rhinocort Aqua comes in nasal spray form and is typically taken once daily.

Rhinocort Aqua is for use in your nose only. Do not spray it in your eyes or mouth.

It is very important that you use Rhinocort Aqua regularly. Do not stop using Rhinocort Aqua or change your dose without talking to your healthcare provider, even if you are feeling better.

Talk to your healthcare provider if your symptoms do not improve after taking Rhinocort Aqua for 2 weeks or if your symptoms get worse.

An adult should help a young child use this medicine.

Rhinocort Aqua Dosage

Use this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

Starting dosage: 

  • Adult and children 6 years of age and older: 64 mcg (one spray per nostril) once daily. 

Maximum dosages: 

  • Adults 12 years of age and older: 256 mcg (four sprays per nostril) once daily. 
  • Pediatric patients (6 to <12 years of age): 128 mcg (two sprays per nostril) once daily. 

Rhinocort Aqua Overdose

If you use too much this medication, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

 

Other Requirements

  • Store Rhinocort Aqua Nasal Spray at 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C).
  • Do not freeze Rhinocort AquaNasal Spray.
  • Protect Rhinocort Aqua Nasal Spray from light.
  • Do not use Rhinocort Aqua Nasal Spray after the labeled number of sprays have been used (does not include priming) or after the expiration date shown on the carton or bottle label.
  • Keep the green protective cap on Rhinocort Aqua Nasal Spray when not in use. 
  • Keep Rhinocort Aqua Nasal Spray and all medications out of the reach of children.