Corticosteroid nasal sprays during pregnancy

[HNTA]

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to get some insight on the use of corticosteroid nasal sprays during pregnancy. Around 8 months ago I developed non-allergic rhinitis. My nose is chronically congested and theres an itchy feeling that causes me to sneeze all day further exacerbating the inflammation in my nasal lining. It's been so bad that the inflammation blocks my smell receptors and I cant smell for most of the day. What's helped me is a corticosteroid spray called with the active ingredient mometasone fuorate. It's similar to Flonase (active ingredient: Fluticasone). Since I've been thinking about pregnancy I decided to get off the spray about a month ago. Needless to say, it's been terrible. I can't smell, I wake up each day with cold-like symptoms and I feel exhausted and anxious from the lack of smell and the drowsiness. I dont think I can go through pregnancy without the help of a nasal spray to at least keep the sneezing and inflammation somewhat in check. Just want to see if any mamas out there used any corticosteroid sprays during pregnancy. My ENT said it is fine to use during pregnancy since its localized to the nose and much of it isnt absorbed in the bloodstream, but still the information for pregnant women on the internet is lacking or conflicting. It would be great to hear what others experiences have been like. Thank you!!!!

No advice but I just wanted to say, I feel for you. I inexplicably developed non allergic rhinitis years ago. It was horrendous for months on end then got a little better- no idea why. I still get regular flares but more usually just for a few days at a time and then it passes. I'm not taking my corticosteroid nasal spray during pregnancy but I probably would if it were every day like yours. I also find nasal washes help. I've read that a lot of people find capsaicin nasal spray effective - I imagine that would be a safe option (but you'd need to check) I tried it for a little bit for found it painful so probably didn't do it ongoing enough to know whether it was effective.

Just wondering, did your ENT ever say what caused you to develop non allergic rhinitis? @HNTA

Like PP no advice, but huge sympathy for you.
I’ve got chronic atopic dermatitis and my go to treatment is topical ointment mometasone furate (elocon) which like a nasal spray due to route of administration doesn’t get absorbed into the blood stream very much, but due to how much I need to use daily, I’ve paused treatment since getting a positive test. I know from experience that if I apply cream to one area I do get overall systemic reduction of inflammation in other areas of skin, so there is clearly some absorption into general circulation.
I’m around 6 weeks now, and it’s been really rough, lack of sleep, can’t concentrate, generally run down. I’m trying to pull every lever I can in terms of diet, sleep, hydration, reducing stress etc and for now I’m able to cope without treatment.
Im equally not that reassured by the advice I’m finding online so am playing it safe for now. I’m hoping to ask my GP at my next appointment, but honestly for my own piece of mind I’m not sure I’ll restart treatment if I can avoid it.
As a disclaimer I usually am a huge fan of medication and am over the moon with the results from the mometasone, but pregnancy has really thrown me on what’s the best thing to do!

Oh yes, I'm using the capsaicin sprays right now, but they help just minimally. I'm curious, were you using any sprays during those months in which you suffered? The fact that it did improve for your eventually gives me a bit of hope. Are you on anything now?

My ENT didnt give me a reason for my non allergic rhinitis, but i think for me it developed a few weeks after I recovered from covid. At first I thought i was getting sick all the time (sneezing and nasal congestion) but then eventually realized it was something else.

@Anoushka1986

Oh yes, I'm using the capsaicin sprays right now, but they help just minimally. I'm curious, were you using any sprays during those months in which you suffered? The fact that it did improve for your eventually gives me a bit of hope. Are you on anything now?

My ENT didnt give me a reason for my non allergic rhinitis, but i think for me it developed a few weeks after I recovered from covid. At first I thought i was getting sick all the time (sneezing and nasal congestion) but then eventually it dawned on me that it was something else. I got tested for allergies so it's not that.