Here are my thoughts on omnaris nasal spray.
I was recently diagnosed with allergies in September of 2010. My doctor gave me a sample of omnaris and it worked really well. I only ever did one spray in each nostril and it was enough for me. Then in October 2010 I became pregnant. After my doctor told me it was safe to continue with the spray and some of my own research I did continue the spray. It was still working well. So I thought. Of course my allergies got more aggravated because of my pregnancy and I developed this dry hacking cough and 8 months later am still coughing. My doctor kept telling me that it was my allergies and post nasal drip. Recently I forgot to take my daily dose of spray and noticed I had coughed less that day. So I decided to stop the omnaris spray and see what happens. Six days have gone by and my coughing has been considerably less, almost non existent. I used to wake up in the middle of the night coughing for 45 minutes at a time. Now of course my nasal congestion has started to come back. So thus evening I took a dose of nasal spray to try it again and my nasal congestion was better but lo and behold I am sitting here at 2:00 am writing this as I've been coughing for the last 15 minutes. It's to much of a coincidence for me to not think it's the omnaris spray. I will now stop the dose again until I see my doctor next week and get her thoughts. I can deal with the nasal congestion better than this coughing.
This is of course just my theory.
Thanks so much for your response! Two quick questions...if it is relatively benign, which the pharmasist told me as well, why would you not want to take it indefinitely? I am just curious. Also, what is the lowest dose? The only dose that I was told was 2 sprays in each nostril daily. Thank you again for your response!
Omnaris is an inhaled corticosteroid. Despite being a steroid, it is relatively benign, without adverse effects on other parts of your body. However it is not a medicine you would want to take indefinitely. You might want to ask your doctor if you could try the lowest dose and, if that is effective, if you might try using it every day. Or ask if you might alternate it with a nasal antihistamine.
More to the point however, would be to determine what is in your home that caused this problem in the first place. Indirect evidence that there is something in the home acting either as an allergen or an irritant, would be relief of symptoms while on vacation. You could be allergic to residual animal dander, insect debris, mold or any of a number of chemicals/cleansers you use in your home. You should ask the allergist for his/her best guess about what, in the home, you might be allergic to. You might also consider having your home surveyed by an industrial hygienist.
I am glad that you have gotten relief but the best approach to chronic symptoms, be they from allergens, infectious agents or chemicals, is separation from them or avoidance and, if you could find the cause, the expense of such a survey would be well worth it.
Good luck.