Astelin® Nasal Spray Two Sprays Per Nostril Twice Daily
Adverse experience information for Astelin® Nasal Spray is derived from six well-controlled, 2-day to 8-week clinical studies which included 391 patients who received Astelin® Nasal Spray at a dose of 2 sprays per nostril twice daily. In placebo-controlled efficacy trials, the incidence of discontinuation due to adverse reactions in patients receiving Astelin® Nasal Spray was not different from vehicle placebo (2.2% vs 2.8%, respectively). In these clinical studies, adverse events that occurred more often in patients treated with Astelin® Nasal Spray versus vehicle placebo included bitter taste (19.7% vs. 0.6%), somnolence (11.5% vs. 5.4%), weight increase (2.0% vs. 0%), and myalgia (1.5% vs. 0%).
The following table contains adverse events that were reported with frequencies ≥2% in the Astelin® Nasal Spray 2 sprays per nostril twice daily treatment group and more frequently than placebo in short-term (≤2 days) and long-term (2-8 weeks) clinical trials.
| ADVERSE EVENT | Astelin® Nasal Spray n = 391 | Vehicle Placebo n = 353 |
| Bitter Taste | 19.7 | 0.6 |
| Headache | 14.8 | 12.7 |
| Somnolence | 11.5 | 5.4 |
| Nasal Burning | 4.1 | 1.7 |
| Pharyngitis | 3.8 | 2.8 |
| Dry Mouth | 2.8 | 1.7 |
| Paroxysmal Sneezing | 3.1 | 1.1 |
| Nausea | 2.8 | 1.1 |
| Rhinitis | 2.3 | 1.4 |
| Fatigue | 2.3 | 1.4 |
| Dizziness | 2.0 | 1.4 |
| Epistaxis | 2.0 | 1.4 |
| Weight Increase | 2.0 | 0.0 |
Astelin® Nasal Spray One Spray Per Nostril Twice Daily
Adverse experience information for Astelin® Nasal Spray at a dose of one spray per nostril twice daily is derived from two placebo-controlled 2-week clinical studies which included 276 patients. None of the patients receiving Astelin® Nasal Spray were discontinued from these studies due to adverse reactions. Three patients receiving vehicle placebo were discontinued due to adverse reactions. Bitter taste was reported in 8.3% of patients compared to none in the placebo group. Somnolence was reported in 0.4% of patients compared to none in the placebo group.
A total of 176 patients 5 to 12 years of age were exposed to Astelin® Nasal Spray at a dose of 1 spray each nostril twice daily in 3 placebo-controlled studies. In these studies, adverse events that occurred more frequently in patients treated with Astelin® Nasal Spray than with placebo, and that were not represented in the adult adverse event table above include rhinitis/cold symptoms (17.0% vs 9.5%), cough (11.4% vs 8.3%), conjunctivitis (5.1% vs 1.8%), and asthma (4.5% vs 4.1%).
The following events were observed infrequently (<2% and exceeding placebo incidence) in patients who received Astelin® Nasal Spray dosed at 1 or 2 sprays per nostril twice daily in U.S. clinical trials.
Cardiovascular: flushing, hypertension, tachycardia.
Dermatological: contact dermatitis, eczema, hair and follicle infection, furunculosis, skin laceration.
Digestive: constipation, gastroenteritis, glossitis, ulcerative stomatitis, vomiting, increased SGPT, aphthous stomatitis, diarrhea, toothache.
Metabolic and Nutritional: increased appetite.
Musculoskeletal: myalgia, temporomandibular dislocation, rheumatoid arthritis.
Neurological: hyperkinesia, hypoesthesia, vertigo.
Psychological: anxiety, depersonalization, depression, nervousness, sleep disorder, thinking abnormal.
Respiratory: bronchospasm, coughing, throat burning, laryngitis, bronchitis, dry throat, nocturnal dyspnea, nasopharyngitis, nasal congestion, pharyngolaryngeal pain, sinusitis, nasal dryness, paranasal sinus hypersecretion, post nasal drip.
Special Senses: conjunctivitis, eye abnormality, eye pain, watery eyes, taste loss.
Urogenital: albuminuria, amenorrhea, breast pain, hematuria, increased urinary frequency.
Whole Body: allergic reaction, back pain, herpes simplex, viral infection, malaise, pain in extremities, abdominal pain, pyrexia.
The recommended dose of Astelin® Nasal Spray in adults and children 12 years and older with seasonal allergic rhinitis is one or two sprays per nostril twice daily. The recommended dose of Astelin® Nasal Spray in children 5 years to 11 years of age is one spray per nostril twice daily.