What is Dymista Nasal Spray?

Dymista is an allergy medication that's sprayed inside the nose. It contains two active ingredients: fluticasone propionate and azelastine hydrochloride. One spray administers 137 micrograms of azelastine hydrochloride and 50 micrograms of fluticasone propionate.

Fluticasone propionate is a type of steroid and azelastine hydrochloride is a type of antihistamine that's usually used in the nose or eyes. Together, they work to reduce inflammation and allergy symptoms related to allergic rhinitis.

How Does Dymista Nasal Spray Work?

What is Allergic Rhinitis?

Allergic rhinitis is a condition where the body has an allergic response to specific triggers - pollen is one of the most common. If your body has this type of allergic response to pollen, it's known as seasonal allergic rhinitis (or hay fever). This is because hay fever symptoms tend to be worse around spring and summer.

Other triggers like pet hair, dust, and mould may also trigger the condition. As these can happen at any time of the year, this condition is known as perennial allergic rhinitis.

The trigger causes a localised allergic reaction, leading to histamine release. Histamine can irritate the blood vessels in your nose, as well as the mucus-secreting glands, which is what causes the itching, runny nose, congestion, and sneezing. Other inflammatory chemicals are also released, causing swelling and discomfort.

How Does Dymista Treat Allergic Rhinitis?

As there are two active ingredients in Dymista, it works in two different ways. Together, the two active substances help relieve symptoms of allergic rhinitis quickly.

Azelastine hydrochloride is an antihistamine that works by reducing the inflammatory reaction happening in the nose. One way it does this is by blocking the release of a chemical called histamine that's responsible for the allergic reaction. It also prevents the release of other inflammatory chemicals and limits the activity of cell types involved in inflammatory reactions.

The steroid fluticasone propionate also reduces inflammation by limiting the release of inflammatory chemicals and activity of inflammatory cells.

Benefits of Using Dymista Nasal Spray

By using a dual action nasal spray, you get the benefits of both an antihistamine and a steroid.

Four different studies have shown that Dymista nasal spray treats nose-related symptoms more effectively than either an intranasal antihistamine or steroid nasal spray alone. Itching, nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing were all improved when using Dymista nasal spray.

A nasal spray allows the drugs to be administered directly into the nasal passages where the inflammation and allergic reactions are happening. This helps provide fast symptom relief in as few as 15 minutes.

By targeting just the nose, there are fewer side effects that impact the rest of the body. The nasal spray is formulated to work effectively in the nose, but is poorly absorbed if swallowed. This helps bypass some of the side effects that are associated with oral steroids, like weight gain and bone thinning.

How to Use Dymista?

Before use, shake the bottle gently, moving it up and down for around 5 seconds. If this is the first time you're using the spray, you need to prime the pump by pressing it down and letting it release six times until a fine mist appears. If it's been more than 7 days since the last use, you need to prime the pump once before use.

Remove the protective cap, blow your nose well, then insert the tip into one nostril and keep the head tilted down. Close the other nostril, then administer one spray with the bottle upright, sniffing in as you spray. Breathe out through your mouth, then repeat the process again for the other nostril.

Unless otherwise instructed by your doctor or pharmacist, Dymista nasal spray should be taken once in the morning and once in the evening. After use, wipe the nozzle clean and reapply the protective cap. Keep the Dymista spray in a cool, dry place.

Who Can Use Dymista Nasal Spray?

Dymista nasal spray is suitable for adults and teenagers aged 12 years and older. Unless prescribed by a doctor, the nasal spray isn't suitable for children younger than 12 as there's some evidence that it can stunt growth. Teenagers taking the nasal spray may need to have their growth monitored whilst using the medication.

This nasal spray is used to treat adults with moderate to severe seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis (otherwise known as hayfever and non-seasonal allergies). Before taking Dymista, an individual should have tried either a steroid nasal spray or antihistamines alone and found it to be ineffective.

Potential Side Effects of Dymista

The most common side effects of Dymista nasal spray are a headache, nosebleed, unpleasant smell, or bitter taste. Other less common side effects include:

• Nasal irritation and/or nasal dryness

• A dry throat, sore throat, or throat irritation

• A dry mouth

• Damage to the skin and membranes of the nose

• Dizziness

• Drowsiness, weakness, fatigue

• A rash

These symptoms aren't serious, but you should speak to your doctor if they're bothering you.

Rarely, some people develop vision loss and/or a painful, red eye. This may be a sign of increased ocular pressure (pressure in the eye), cataracts, or glaucoma and requires medical attention.

Impaired adrenal function is another rare side effect of Dymista, especially in individuals taking more than the recommended dose. This means the adrenal gland isn't working properly to produce essential hormones, and requires medical treatment. Symptoms to look out for include weight loss, fatigue, muscle weakness, and low blood sugar.

Very rarely, individuals experience an allergic reaction to Dymista. If breathing is affected or there is swelling of the airways, seek urgent medical attention.

Precautions and Warnings

Allergies

Patients with known allergies to any of the ingredients should not take Dymista nasal spray, including to the preservative benzalkonium chloride. If you develop an allergy whilst administering Dymista nasal spray, contact a healthcare professional or call 999 if it's an emergency.

Dymista and Other Medications

Dymista should not be taken with other types of dual action nasal spray or steroid nasal spray. The risk of side effects is increased if this medication is taken with other types of steroids, including oral steroids, or at a higher dose than prescribed. High doses of steroids can lead to adrenal suppression, Cushing's Syndrome, and other issues.

Fluticasone propionate, one of the active ingredients in Dymista nasal spray, is known to interact with more than 80 different medications including antibiotics, painkillers, vaccines, and anti-fungal medicines. It's important to discuss the medications you're taking with a healthcare professional before taking Dymista to make sure it's safe for you.

The other active ingredient, azelastine hydrochloride, may interact with other drugs that affect the central nervous system. However, most studies are based on azelastine tablets rather than the nasal spray. Again, it's best to discuss this with a healthcare professional to be sure.

Other Health Conditions and Dymista

As the substance is broken down by the liver, Dymista may cause more significant side effects in individuals with severe liver disease. In these cases, it's important to discuss your medical history with a doctor or pharmacist before starting the medication.

Dymista nasal spray shouldn't be used if you have an active untreated infection, if you've ever had tuberculosis, or if you've recently had surgery to the nose or mouth. People with a history of glaucoma, cataracts, or increased pressure in the eyes may be at an increased risk of developing eye problems when using Dymista nasal spray so may wish to discuss this with a doctor before use.

Drinking alcohol while using Dymista nasal spray may make the sedative side effects of Dymista worse, so it's best avoided. More information can be found in the patient information leaflet here.

Where to Buy Dymista Nasal Spray?

Dymista nasal spray is a prescription-only medication that can be purchased from a high street pharmacy, or an online pharmacy like QuickMeds.

Whether you already have prescription or not, QuickMeds can help. Send your prescription to us, and after our team run a few checks, your prescription will be delivered safely straight to your door.

Don't have a prescription? Book an online appointment with one of our prescribers. They'll ask you some questions about your symptoms, medical history, and medications, then prescribe the most suitable medication for you. We'll then send your prescribed medication quickly and discreetly to your home.

QuickMeds are a UK-licensed online pharmacy. This means we're registered with the GPhC and MHRA, so our products and staff are all highly regulated. You know you're getting quality-assured medicines from a reliable prescribing team.