Nasacort AQ Nasal Spray (Triamcinolone acetonide)

Usual dose:

Follow the Instructions for Use: described below. If you have any problems tell your doctor or pharmacist.

• It is important that you inhale each dose through the nose as instructed. The label will usually tell you how many doses to take. If it does not, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• DO NOT inhale more doses or use your nasal spray more often than your doctor advises.
• It takes a few days for this medicine to work. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU USE IT REGULARLY. DO NOT STOP treatment even if you feel better, unless told to do so by your doctor.
• If your symptoms have not improved after three weeks of treatment with NASACORT AQ, tell your doctor.
• Adults and children 12 years of age and older: The usual dose is two sprays into each nostril once daily (220 micrograms).
• Children 4 to 12 years of age: The recommended dose is 110 µg per day given as one spray in each nostril once a day.
• NASACORT AQ is not recommended for children under 4 years of age.

Overdose:

If you think you have taken too much NASACORT AQ or accidentally ingested it orally, contact your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, hospital emergency department or regional Poison control Centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.

Missed dose:

If you miss a dose, do not worry; take a dose if you remember within an hour or so. However, if you do not remember until later, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

What to do if you stop your medicine:

If your doctor decides to stop your treatment, do not keep any left over medicine unless your doctor tells you to.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Contact your physician as soon as possible if any of the following occur:

• If you notice that any discharge from your nose is yellow or green; which may be a nasal infection.
• If you experience an unpleasant taste or smell;
• If your nose or throat becomes painful or if you have a severe nose bleed after using the nasal spray;
• If you feel unwell or have any other problems.

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. They may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

• Sneezing;
• Headaches;
• Burning, dryness or other irritation inside the nose (lasting only a short time after applying the medication).

NASACORT AQ may have an effect on how fast children grow. If your child is taking Nasacort AQ, your healthcare provider will need to regularly check the height of your child and adjust the dose as appropriate.

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

BEFORE you use NASACORT AQ talk to your doctor or pharmacist if:

• you have already taken NASACORT AQ or any other corticosteroids and developed an allergy or intolerance to any of them;
• you are allergic to any other substances, such as food, preservatives or dyes;
• you are pregnant or breast feeding, or likely to become pregnant or breast feed. Your doctor may decide not to prescribe this medication in these circumstances;
• you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines;
• you suffer from any other medical problems or if you have had a recent injury, surgery to your nose, or nasal infection with Candida albicans (a fungal infection).

Glaucoma (increase in eye pressure that cause visual problem) or cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eye) have been reported in patients receiving nasal corticosteroids. If you notice any visual problems, talk to your doctor.

Slower rate of growth has been reported in some children receiving treatment. You and your doctor should monitor your child’s growth.

NASACORT AQ can lower the blood cells that help your body fight infections. This can make it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being around others who are ill.

Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Call your doctor for preventive treatment if you are exposed to chicken pox or measles. These conditions can be serious or even fatal in people who are using steroid medicine.

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:

• cancer medicine (chemotherapy);
• cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf);
• sirolimus (Rapamune), tacrolimus (Prograf);
• basiliximab (Simulect), efalizumab (Raptiva), muromonab-CD3 (Orthoclone);
• mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept);
• azathioprine (Imuran), leflunomide (Arava), etanercept (Enbrel); or
• other steroids such as prednisone, fluticasone (Advair), mometasone (Asmanex, Nasonex), dexamethasone (Decadron, Hexadrol) and others.

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with NASACORT AQ. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over the counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.