Clarispray (Fluticasone Propionate) will be available soon by the makers of Claritin. Clarispray is essentially Flonase just with a different name. Most nasal steroid sprays have become over the counter as we have discussed in previous posts.
Most recently Nasonex became generic although it is not OTC and still requires a prescription.
Clarispray is exactly the same medication as Flonase but under new marketing by Bayer. This is similar to what the makers of Zyrtec did, they took Rhinocort nasal spray and rebranded it under their umbrella. Although Clarispray has a new name now instead of Flonase or Fluticasone Propionate.
Nasal steroids such as Clarispray are used to treat the symptoms of seasonal and/or perennial allergic rhinitis. Common allergy symptoms that are treated are, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, itchy nose and they also have been found to help eye allergy symptoms as well.
The most common triggers of allergies are pollens, such as trees, grasses and weeds. There are also indoor allergens such as dust mites, molds (can be outdoor as well), cat dander and dog dander. If you see an allergy doctor, they can perform allergy testing to better understand what your allergic triggers are. If you are found allergic, your allergist can discuss specific avoidance measures with you to decrease your exposure, discuss medications with you such as Clarispray, or allergy immunotherapy (allergy shots) to desensitize you to the specific allergens.
Your allergy doctor can best discuss your treatment options and come up with the best plan for you. Clarispray (Fluticasone) will add to the crowded market of nasal steroid sprays, Nasocort is another nasal steroid that recently became OTC too.
At this point the other nasal steroid sprays that are prescription only are, Beconase (beclomethasone dipropionate), Flunisolide Nasal Solution, Omanaris (ciclesonide), Qnasl (beclomethasone dipropionate) Nasal Aerosol, Veramyst (fluticasone furoate), Nasonex (mentioned above), Zetonna (ciclesonide) Nasal Aerosol and Dymista (combination of fluticaonse propionate and azelastine).
With all the different options available, speak to your allergy doctor to see which is right for you. In terms of efficacy, there has never been a study that showed one nasal steroid spray better than others. Although, some patients do have preferences, the side effect profile seems to be the most determining factor in choosing the most appropriate one.