Researchers from the University of Chicago have found that fluticasone propionate (Flonase), a corticosteroid nasal spray, is more effective than a combination of popular anti-allergy drugs loratidine (Claritin) and montelukast (Singulair) when it comes to controlling seasonal allergies.

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

Robert Naclerio, M.D., professor of surgery at the University of Chicago and director of the study, remarked that the measures of inflammation were considerably better for Hay fever patients who were taking fluticasone propionate.

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.

During the study, it was found that the use of nasal spray results in fewer eosinophils in patients’ nasal passages and patients using steroid nasal sprays displayed minimal side-effects and had lower levels of eosinophil cationic protein, an inflammation sign.

Naclerio remarked that fluticasone may be a better first choice for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis because of its benefits and low cost.

Tags: claritin, corticosteroid nasal spray, eosinophil cationic protein, eosinophils, flonase, fluticasone propionate, hay fever, loratidine, montelukast, seasonal allergies, singulair

Posted in buy steroids, Steroid Cycles, steroid nation, Steroids and Anabolic Steroids