Fluticasone Propionate

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Harshi Dhingra, M.D.

Last Reviewed: Jul 12, 2022

Warnings

What are the risks of taking Fluticasone Propionate?

Fluticasone propionate can cause serious health problems, especially in certain high-risk patients. Some of the risks of fluticasone propionate use include:

EFFECTS ON A CHILD’S GROWTH: Fluticasone can lead to slowed growth, especially in children under 12 years of age and with long-term use. Talk to your child’s doctor for medical advice if your child is under 12 years of age and needs to use over-the-counter fluticasone propionate nasal spray for more than 2 months in a year, or if your child is over 12 years old and needs to use nonprescription fluticasone nasal spray for more than 6 months in a year.
WORSENING EYE PROBLEMS: Fluticasone can lead to increased eye pressure and worsening eye conditions such as glaucoma and cataracts. Tell your health care professional if you notice any blurred vision or vision changes while using fluticasone nasal spray.
SLOWED WOUND HEALING: Fluticasone can slow down wound healing after nasal surgery or nasal trauma. You should not use this medication until a nasal wound has healed completely.
WEAKENING OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM: Like oral corticosteroids, nasal corticosteroids can lower your body’s ability to fight infections. Be careful to avoid contact with anyone who has chickenpox, measles, or tuberculosis while you’re using fluticasone nasal. The risk of contracting these infections is higher if you are not up-to-date with your vaccinations, taking other steroid medicines, or using fluticasone for a long time.
NOSE AND THROAT INFECTIONS: Using fluticasone for more than 3 weeks can increase your risk of getting a fungal infection called oral thrush. Stop using fluticasone nasal spray and contact your health care professional if you notice redness, white patches, or pain in your nose or mouth.

Fluticasone can also lead to worsening existing infectious conditions such as tuberculosis, ocular herpes simplex, and other fungal, bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections. This medicine should be used with caution in patients with these conditions.
LOCAL NASAL EFFECTS (EPISTAXIS AND NASAL ULCER): Rarely, using fluticasone for a long time can lead to nasal ulcers (sores in the nose). This can lead to nasal septal perforation (holes in the cartilage between your nostrils). The risk is greater if you use fluticasone nasal for a long time or if you have had surgery or injuries to the nose. Tell your doctor if you experience pain, frequent nosebleeds, or if you notice painful sores in the nose while using fluticasone nasal.

If you are at a high risk of adverse effects or complications from fluticasone propionate use, talk to your pharmacist or doctor for medical advice. There may be other medicines for your condition.

What should I tell my doctor before starting Fluticasone Propionate?

Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had an allergic reaction to fluticasone propionate, any active or inactive ingredients in fluticasone propionate nasal spray, or any other medications. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients.

Give your healthcare provider a complete medical history. Fluticasone propionate may not be right for people with certain medical conditions. Tell your doctor if you have had surgery on your nose, injured your nose, or have sores in your nose. Also, tell your healthcare provider if you have glaucoma, cataracts, asthma, herpes infection of the eye, or any kind of infection. Tell your doctor if you have tuberculosis, chickenpox, or measles or will be around someone with such an infection.

Give your doctor a complete list of all your medications, including prescription drugs, nonprescription medicines, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products. This can help avoid possible drug interactions between fluticasone propionate and your other medications.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, plan to get pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

Precautions During Use of Fluticasone Propionate

Keep all your appointments for medical tests, doctor’s visits, and eye exams while on fluticasone propionate.

Call your doctor if you become pregnant while using fluticasone propionate.

Stop using fluticasone propionate and contact your doctor if you develop signs and symptoms of oral thrush.

Seek emergency treatment if you develop severe adverse effects or serious symptoms of allergic reactions, such as skin rash, hives, swelling in the face or lower legs, or trouble breathing.

What drugs can interact with Fluticasone Propionate?

Taking fluticasone propionate with certain other drugs can affect how each medication works. Interactions between medications can also increase the risk of serious side effects. Your physician may choose a different drug combination, change the dose or frequency of one or both medicines, and/or closely monitor you for side effects if there are known interactions between fluticasone propionate and your other drugs.

Fluticasone propionate can have potential drug interactions with the following medications:

Antibiotics like clarithromycin (Biaxin, in PrevPac)
Antifungal medications like ketoconazole (Nizoral, Extina, Xolegel), itraconazole (Sporanox, Onmel), and voriconazole (Vfend)
Conivaptan (Vaprisol), a drug used to treat low sodium levels
HIV medications like indinavir (Crixivan), atazanavir (Reyataz), lopinavir (Kaletra), ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra), nelfinavir (Viracept), and saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase)
Antidepressant medications like nefazodone
Other steroid medicines like methylprednisolone (Medrol), dexamethasone, and prednisone (Rayos)

This list does not describe all possible fluticasone propionate drug interactions. Give your healthcare professional a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, nonprescription medicines, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products. Also, tell your health care provider if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription drugs.

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