(BPT) - The departure of the colder winter months and the arrival of spring sparks excitement. For some, you no longer have to be confined to the indoors or bundled up in a winter coat, hat and gloves. Trees and flowers bloom and grass begins to grow. Spring is a beautiful time of year, but for the 30 percent of adults and 40 percent of children who suffer from seasonal allergies, this can also be a time of discomfort.

Allergic rhinitis, commonly known as nasal allergies, can be triggered by a variety of environmental allergens, such as trees, grass or weed pollens and outdoor mold. Just one ragweed plant alone can produce one billion grains of pollen. These allergens can cause chronic nasal inflammation, which can lead to symptoms like congestion, sneezing and an itchy, runny nose. To better manage nasal allergies, prepare in advance of the season.

Nasal allergy sufferer Steve from Minnesota enjoys the fresh air spring brings. However, Steve’s persistent nasal allergy symptoms earned him the nickname “Snuffles” at work. Now, to help with his nasal allergy symptoms, Steve’s doctor recommended QNASL^® (beclomethasone dipropionate) Nasal Aerosol, which has allowed Steve to reduce both his nasal allergy symptoms and the “Snuffles” jokes. Steve believes in getting ahead of his nasal allergy symptoms before pollen levels reach their peak.

QNASL^® Nasal Aerosol is a prescription medication that treats seasonal nasal and year-round nasal allergy symptoms in patients 4 years of age and older. A once-daily, waterless (non-aqueous) intranasal corticosteroid, it delivers a consistent amount of medicine which stays in the nose where it is sprayed.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: In clinical studies, nosebleeds and nose ulcers were more common in patients treated with QNASL^® Nasal Aerosol than patients who received placebo. Some nosebleeds were more severe in patients treated with QNASL^® Nasal Aerosol than in patients who received placebo. Tell your healthcare provider if you start to have nosebleeds or nasal ulcers after using QNASL^® Nasal Aerosol. Please read additional Important Safety Information below.

QNASL^® is an aerosol spray that does not require the patient to sniff the medicine into the nose. Instead, each patient can hold his or her breath and spray in the nose.

Dr. Ketan K. Sheth, MD, MBA of Lafayette Allergy and Asthma Clinic believes it is important to be proactive when it comes to managing seasonal nasal allergies. “Patients with seasonal nasal allergies need to make sure they are taking the proper steps to ensure they are effectively managing their symptoms. This means being aware of what specifically triggers your symptoms, working with an allergist to find an appropriate treatment for yourself and making sure your prescriptions are filled on time before the allergy season kicks in,” Dr. Sheth says.

So, before the ground is completely thawed and the trees and grasses start shedding pollen, be proactive this spring and discuss with your doctor the best steps to take to prepare for the season.

Selected Important Safety Information

• Thrush (Candida), a fungal infection in your nose, mouth, or throat may occur. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any redness or white colored patches in your mouth or throat
• You should avoid using QNASL Nasal Aerosol until your nose is healed if you have a sore in your nose, you have had recent surgery on your nose, or if your nose has been injured, because QNASL Nasal Aerosol may cause slow wound healing
• Some people who use corticosteroids may have eye problems such as increased pressure in the eye (glaucoma) or cataracts. If you have a history of glaucoma or cataracts or have a family history of eye problems, you should have regular eye exams while you use QNASL Nasal Aerosol
• Serious allergic reactions can happen in people taking QNASL Nasal Aerosol. Stop using QNASL Nasal Aerosol and call your healthcare provider right away or get emergency help if you experience shortness of breath or trouble breathing, skin rash, redness, swelling, severe itching, or swelling of your lips, tongue or face
• People are more likely to get infections if they have immune system problems or use drugs, including corticosteroids, which may weaken the body’s ability to fight infections. Avoid contact with people who have infections like chickenpox or measles while using QNASL Nasal Aerosol. Speak to your healthcare provider before using QNASL Nasal Aerosol if you have tuberculosis or untreated fungal, bacterial, or viral infections, or eye infections caused by herpes. Symptoms of an infection include: fever, pain, aches, chills, feeling tired, nausea and vomiting
• A condition in which the adrenal glands do not make enough steroid hormones may occur. Symptoms can include tiredness, weakness, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. Tell your healthcare provider if you experience these symptoms
• Children taking QNASL Nasal Aerosol should have their growth checked regularly, since corticosteroids may slow growth in children
• The most common side effects with QNASL Nasal Aerosol 80 mcg in patients 12 years of age and older are nasal discomfort, nosebleeds, and headache
• The most common side effects with QNASL Nasal Aerosol 40 mcg in patients 4 to 11 years of age are headache, fever, infection of the nose and throat, and inflammation of the nose and throat
• Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away
• These are not all of the possible side effects of QNASL Nasal Aerosol. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist

Click here to view full Prescribing Information.

You are encouraged to report side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

To learn more about the treatment option QNASL^® Nasal Aerosol, visit www.QNASL.com.

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