Is As-Needed Nasal Corticosteroid Use Needed for Allergic Rhinitis Management?

Allergic rhinitis affects millions of children and adults. Indeed, it is the fifth most common chronic disease in the United States.  Although people do not die from allergic rhinitis, it sure can make you feel miserable, disturb sleep, and impair daily activities. Guidelines recommend the use of intranasal corticosteroids on a daily basis since the onset of action takes a few days. In reality, however, patients adjust their treatment according to the severity of their symptoms. As-needed corticosteroid use is effective for the treatment and prevention of asthma symptoms. Can we apply this same concept to allergic rhinitis? Could the as-needed use of intranasal corticosteroids achieve the same outcomes as daily use?

Guest Authors: Lalitha Sukumar, PharmD; Alyssa Gallipani, PharmD, BCACP; and Rahul Jacob, PharmD

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