I haven't been taking Flonase long (only a few days), so bear with me. I can't find instructions as they pertain to nose-blowing on the package anywhere; what I'd like to know is how long I should wait to blow my nose after taking my two daily spritzes. I don't want to blow the stuff right back out again, but I also don't want to be unable to breathe for very long.

Can anyone with experience in taking Flonase help me out with this? Thanks in advance.

Flonase is a steroid nasal spray and will not open up the air passages instantly like other type deconjestant nasal sprays do. Flonase will work on reducing inflammation over time.

It is best to blow nose before using Flonase and then wait as long as possible before blowing nose again in order for the Flonase have a chance to be absorbed into the nasal tissues.

Everything Misty said is right on. I would add though to use a saline spray first and blow your nose, then your nose will be more clear and the Flonase will reach further, plus you won't feel like you have to blow your nose right away. This is what my allergist told me to do.

sneezy, my doctor put me on astelin and told me to use the nasal saline spray ocean AFTER I spray the astelin. I even said AFTER not BEFORE and he said yes. It seems to be working but it does not make sense (seems counterintuitive to me) and I wondered if you had any knowledge or thoughts on this? Thanks.

There was a previous thread on this. I think it depends on whether you are using the saline spray as a "wash" or to keep your nasal passage moist.

My personal preferance is after. I wait about 15 minutes though.

sneezy, my doctor put me on astelin and told me to use the nasal saline spray ocean AFTER I spray the astelin. I even said AFTER not BEFORE and he said yes. It seems to be working but it does not make sense (seems counterintuitive to me) and I wondered if you had any knowledge or thoughts on this? Thanks.


Astelin can be really drying, so I agree with MoutainReader, the doctor probably told you to do that to keep your nasal passages moist. Maybe wait a little bit to give the Astelin a chance to absorb before using the saline. My allergist told me to give my Flonase a half hour to absorb, and then I could use the saline again if needed to clear congestion.

is it possible that flonase would cause sinus pain instead of reducing it?
And something I still did not get an answer for is:
IF I`m slightly congested, and CT scan shows there's nothing but swollen turbinates does it make sense that it causes me pain in forehead, that comes and goes everyday, but not a persistent one.

is it possible that flonase would cause sinus pain instead of reducing it?
And something I still did not get an answer for is:
IF I`m slightly congested, and CT scan shows there's nothing but swollen turbinates does it make sense that it causes me pain in forehead, that comes and goes everyday, but not a persistent one.


When the sinuses are draining, sometimes the pressure changes can cause a headache, so it is possible that the Floanse could cause a headache by causing the sinuses to open and drain.

Enlarged turbinates can indeed cause forehead headaches. I had a permenantly enlarged turbinate that was causing terrible headaches. That was the main reason I had my sinus surgery. My ENT told me my turbinate was causing my headache and the weird pressure I was feeling near my right eye.

Sneezydiva thanks for your reply, I`ve been to quite a few doctors who claimed that the one who will operate my turbinates will be a felon.
they said that turbinates are a necessary thing for stoping dryness filtering, etc.. they also said that while the turbinates are swollen cause of allergy, after as much as half a year the turbinates problem will reappear.
What do you think?
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Sneezydiva thanks for your reply, I`ve been to quite a few doctors who claimed that the one who will operate my turbinates will be a felon.
they said that turbinates are a necessary thing for stoping dryness filtering, etc.. they also said that while the turbinates are swollen cause of allergy, after as much as half a year the turbinates problem will reappear.
What do you think?
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Well, the technical term for my enlarged turbinate was a concha bullosa. And my turbinate was reduced, not removed entirely. I would agree that anyone who wants to totaly remove it, would not be trustworthy.

The turbinates do enlarge because of allergies, so they usually try to reduce the swelling with medicines, nosesprays and shots first. So you may just have to sit and wait awhile unitl the arrogant docotrs realize what you know in your gut, they aren't going to reduce on their own. I had been on allergy shots and meds for about 2 years before I finally saw the ENT, so he knew my turbinate wasn't going to improve without surgery.

Since the surgery, I've done really well. I did ask my doctor if it would enlarge again after surgery, and he said no. Sometimes at the height of pollen season, I still feel they swell up some, but it is nothing like before.

If I recall, you are in the military, as is my husband. It took a lot of persistance for me to get the ENT referral. I have a very low opinion of most military doctors. I recieve far superior treatment out in town. If you haven't seen an ENT, get a referral. And if you've seen one on base, get a referral for a second opinion. It is your right to have one.

Yeah, The army has become a nightmare for me.
I feel like CRAP all day long, I wake up go out of the house(stilling getting dizzy and stuffy) catching the dust mites train through the field of grass. INTO my office which is overloaded with DUST MITES!
I Feel like crap all day and No body cares.
They moved me from one place to another but both places are not clean even though they're offices with windows.
I really don`t know what to do... I really considered getting out of the army by a mental health officer because that no one cares.
My allergiest is a citizen, But he will never recommend my release from the army cause of allergy matters.
I, tomorrow, am going to get shots and meet him, I need him to give me some recomendation to help me out cause I feel like hell...
Release from military won`t be in his mind... I really need you to help me what to demand from him.
The driving on buses and train just get my allergy so worth...
and staying at an office kills me also.. I tend not to get much of my house on weekends also, because the sinus pressure and eye allergy are severe and frustrating. I tend only to go to open places.

Astelin can be really drying, so I agree with MoutainReader, the doctor probably told you to do that to keep your nasal passages moist. Maybe wait a little bit to give the Astelin a chance to absorb before using the saline. My allergist told me to give my Flonase a half hour to absorb, and then I could use the saline again if needed to clear congestion.

Thanks Sneezy and MountainReader I appreciate your insights. I have been doing them together but I am going to try waiting 15 to 30 minutes before using the saline. Makes more sense to me as it seems like I would just be washing the astellin out or at least diluting its effects the way I am doing it now. Thanks again!

Yeah, The army has become a nightmare for me.
I feel like CRAP all day long, I wake up go out of the house(stilling getting dizzy and stuffy) catching the dust mites train through the field of grass. INTO my office which is overloaded with DUST MITES!
I Feel like crap all day and No body cares.
They moved me from one place to another but both places are not clean even though they're offices with windows.
I really don`t know what to do... I really considered getting out of the army by a mental health officer because that no one cares.
My allergiest is a citizen, But he will never recommend my release from the army cause of allergy matters.
I, tomorrow, am going to get shots and meet him, I need him to give me some recomendation to help me out cause I feel like hell...
Release from military won`t be in his mind... I really need you to help me what to demand from him.
The driving on buses and train just get my allergy so worth...
and staying at an office kills me also.. I tend not to get much of my house on weekends also, because the sinus pressure and eye allergy are severe and frustrating. I tend only to go to open places.


remind me again, what you tested positive for. The biggest source of dustmites, believe it or not is your bed, you really need to get dustmite proof covers for them. The ventilation on the trains, and buses, and your office is probably pretty bad. Have you tried nasal irrigation? It can really help.

What kind of doctor is your allergist? Is he an immunologist or an ENT. You need to demand a CT scan, and if you already have one you need an ENT to look at it. If your allergist is an ENT then you need a second opinion from another ENT. You need to emphasize that you still feel like crap after all this time and nothing has changed.

How long have you been on the shots? Like I said, they follow a set procedure, and they will most likely make you get the shots at least a year, before they will reduce the turbinate, if that is the only unusual thing that appears on your CT.