Introduction
Nasacort and Flonase are two name-brand allergy medications. They’re corticosteroid drugs that can reduce inflammation caused by allergies. With so many allergy medications on the market, it can be hard to tell your options apart. Here’s what you need to know about how Nasacort and Flonase are similar and different.
Drug features
Both Nasacort and Flonase are used to treat symptoms of allergic rhinitis. This condition causes inflammation of the lining of the nose. You may recognize it by the sneezing and stuffy, runny, or itchy nose it causes. These symptoms can be seasonal (occurring during certain seasons, such as spring) or perennial (occurring throughout the year).
Rhinitis symptoms can also occur without allergies. This is called non-allergic rhinitis. While both Nasacort and Flonase can treat symptoms of allergic rhinitis, only Flonase can treat symptoms of non-allergic rhinitis. Flonase can also treat eye symptoms of seasonal and perennial allergies. These can include itchy, watery eyes.
The table below compares other key features of Nasacort and Flonase.
| Brand name | Nasacort Allergy 24 Hour | Flonase Allergy Relief |
| Is it prescription or OTC*? | OTC | OTC |
| Is a generic version available? | yes | yes |
| What is the generic drug name? | triamcinolone acetonide | fluticasone propionate |
| What other versions are available? | --- | Flonase Children’s Allergy Relief, Clarispray Nasal Allergy Spray, fluticasone propionate (prescription and OTC) |
| What does it treat? | symptoms of seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis | symptoms of seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis, nasal symptoms from non-allergic rhinitis |
| What form does it come in? | nasal spray | nasal spray |
| What strengths does it come in? | 55 mcg per spray | 50 mcg per spray |
| What is the typical length of treatment? | short-term** | Up to six months for adults, up to two months for children |
| How do I store it? | at room temperature between 68°F and 77°F (20°C and 25°C) | at a temperature between 39°F and 86°F (4°C and 30°C) |
** Talk to your doctor if symptoms last more than one week while taking Nasacort.
Cost, availability, and insurance
Nasacort and Flonase are available on most pharmacies’ shelves. You can find them in generic and brand-name versions. The generic versions of Nasacort and Flonase are likely to cost less than their brand-name versions. At the time this article was written, Flonase was less expensive than Nasacort, according to GoodRx.com.
Typically, Nasacort and Flonase Allergy Relief are not covered by prescription drug insurance plans because they're over-the-counter drugs. However, the generic of Flonase is also available as a prescription drug. Prescription generics are often covered by insurance plans.
Side effects
The side effects of Nasacort and Flonase are very similar. The charts below compare examples of their possible side effects.
| Common side effect | Nasacort | Flonase |
| headache | X | X |
| sore throat | X | X |
| bloody nose | X | X |
| cough | X | X |
| burning, irritation, or inflammation in the nose | X | X |
| nausea and vomiting | X | |
| asthma symptoms | X | |
| sneezing | X |
| Serious side effect | Nasacort | Flonase |
| nose bleeds and sores in nose | X | X |
| puncture of the nasal septum (flesh between the nostrils) | X | X |
| decreased wound healing | X | X |
| glaucoma | X | X |
| cataracts | X | X |
| severe allergic reaction | X | X |
| worsening of infections* | X | X |
| slowed growth rate in children and adolescents | X | X |
| yeast infections of the nose and throat | X | |
| wheezing or trouble breathing | X | |
| “pins and needles” feeling, especially in your hands or feet** | X |
** may be a sign of nerve damage
Drug interactions
Little information is available on drug interactions with Nasacort. Flonase, though, may interact with HIV drugs such as ritonavir, atazanavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, saquinavir, and lopinavir.
Before starting Nasacort or Flonase, be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs you’re taking. This information can help your doctor prevent any possible interactions.
Use with other medical conditions
Nasacort and Flonase can both cause problems for people with certain medical conditions. If you have any of the conditions marked in the table below, talk to your doctor about your safety before taking Nasacort or Flonase.
| Medical conditions to discuss with your doctor | Nasacort | Flonase |
| nose sores, injury, or surgery | X | X |
| eye problems such as cataracts or glaucoma | X | X |
| eye infections | X | |
| weakened immune system | X | |
| tuberculosis | X | |
| any untreated viral, bacterial, or fungal infection | X | |
| eye infections caused by herpes | X | |
| recent exposure to chickenpox or measles | X | X |
| liver problems | X |
Talk with your doctor
Nasacort and Flonase are similar allergy medications. However, they do have some differences. The key differences may be:
- What they treat: They both treat symptoms from allergic rhinitis. However, Flonase can also treat eye symptoms and non-allergic rhinitis symptoms.
- What conditions are concerns: Flonase has warnings for a few more health conditions than Nasacort does.
- Their possible drug interactions: Flonase has a slightly higher risk of drug interactions than Nasacort does.
Your doctor can help you decide if one of these drugs is a good match for you. You can show your doctor this article and ask them any questions you have. Together, you can decide if Flonase or Nasacort, or another drug, is a good choice to relieve your allergy symptoms.
