Patanase – Allergy Nasal Spray
What is Patanase?
Does Patanase Really Work?
Patanase is a prescription Allergy Nasal Spray used to treat seasonal allergies. In medical terms, Patanase is described as an H1 Receptor Antagonist. Basically, this means that Patanase is an antihistamine that blocks allergy symptoms. Patanase is unlike Nasonex, Flonase and Rhinocort which are steroidal nasal sprays. These older prescription, steroidal allergy medications have have been on the market for quite a number of years, and I have a little bit of experience with all of them. Patanase was approved for market by the FDA in April of 2008, making it the newest prescription, nasal allergy spray on the market. What all of the other steroidal prescription nasal, allergy sprays have in common is that they need to be used for a few days or more before they become effective at reducing seasonal allergy symptoms. Unlike an over-the-counter antihistamine which goes to work on your allergy symptoms within an hour, these prescription steroidal nasal sprays require regular use for 1-2 weeks before they become effective at blocking your allergies. Steroidal sprays, seemed well suited for people like me whose allergies persist through every season. They are used to prevent allergy symptoms over long periods of time. One of their advantages is is that they do not cause the drowsiness associated with over-the-counter antihistamines. Patanase, on the other hand, will go to work right away on your stuffy or sneezy nose, without the risk associated with long-term side effects of nasal steroids. The other over-the-counter choice for nasal allergies
Decongestant Nasal Spray
are Decongestant Nasal Sprays which have short-term side effects that are even worse than antihistamines. Prolonged use of these decongestant nasal sprays will almost always result in an addictive, chronic stuffy nose. Once you've started using a decongestant nasal spray, it is extremely hard to break the habit. Over-the-counter antihistamines are a choice that should never be used if you plan on being active or need to stay awake. Most of us just can't function during the day when using these non-prescription types of antihistamines. I frequently suffer from sinus congestion regardless of the season or time of year. When I first heard about Patanase I was curious as to how it compared to these other prescription nasal sprays. How effective is Patanase at relieving allergy symptoms and what kinds of side effects or long term risks are associated with using this new, allergy drug?
Patanase vs Nasonex
Nasonex vs Patanase
I have shamelessly used Nasonex regularly for several years to help keep my nose clear enough to sleep at night. Knowing that it is never a good idea to use any drug for a prolonged period of time, I finally weened myself of Nasonex about a month ago. I made the decision when my doctor finally refused to refill my prescription without a check-up. Having been off of Nasonex for a few weeks now, I've realized that there are many night when I can breathe well enough without the help of any drugs at all, thanks mostly to the alkalol sinus rinse, described here: Alkalol Sinus Remedy. I often wondered if there was something else I could take on a short-term, as needed basis, that wouldn't be addictive or have long term side effects. That's when I discovered Patanase. Patanase is advertised as a fast-acting, long-last, non-steroidal allergy reducer for adults 12-years of age and older. Like any drug, there are some described side effects such as bloody nose, dizziness, sleepiness, etc. However, unlike steroidal nasal sprays, Patanase does not have to be used regularly to be effective. In fact, Patanase can be used as needed just like any over-the-counter spray or antihistamine pill. The recommended dosage for Patanase is two sprays per day in each nostril twice a day as opposed to two sprays per nostril once a day for Nasonex. The makers of Patanase indicate that two sprays in each nostril should provide prompt relief of allergy symptoms within 30 minutes. If that is truly the case, then the big advantage Patanase has over Nasonex is that you don't have to continue taking it everyday to prevent allergy symptoms. Instead, you can use Patanase only when your allergy symptoms act up and your nasal passages require some relief.
Patanase Side Effects
I can say with absolute certainty that any and all drugs have side effects that are understated by doctors and drug companies. Prolonged use of Nasonex, for example, was causing my nose to bleed and even making me feel slightly edgy. Antihistmines like Claritin and Alavert make me feel a little drowsy and depressed. When I asked my doctor about these side effects a few years ago, he referred to a chart which indicated that an insignificantly small number of people experience these symptoms (less than 1%). I have a hard time believing this because many people I know describe the same side effects. If there is one big minus for Patanase, it's that it has a rather daunting side effect list. While none of the side effects seem serious, a significantly large number of users sampled (12%) reported bitter taste in the mouth. I imagine that this particular side effect is one that would bother me. If they say 12%, my guess is at least half of the people are noticing this. Other, less frequent side effects include headaches, bloody nose, sores in the nose, and the most serious; a hole in the nasal septum. Because this is not a drug that you take all the time, I am willing to put up with a few of the side effect risks associated with Patanase.
Does Patanase Really Work?
Patanase is recommended for seasonal allergies. My allergies are random, unpredictable and seem to persist throughout all four seasons; spring, summer, fall and winter. I believe, however, that my symptoms are still the result of the same kinds of things that irritate seasonal allergy sufferers. Because Patanase is an antihistamine, it should be able to prevent the symptoms associated with my year long allergies that stuff up my nose and make it hard to sleep at night. Patanase is something I could spray in my nose to get fast relief from the stuffiness, associated with these seasonal allergies that bother me at night. Sudafed is very effective at clearing up my nose, but it also keeps me awake at night. In the past, I've used antihistamines before I go to bed to stop them from occurring, and that seems to be a pretty effective way to keep allergies at bay. However, there were two problems with the antihistamine tablets: One, I don't want to be taking them everyday. Two, they aren't really effective at reducing my most prominent symptom which is a stuffy nose. My big question about Patanase is whether or not it is a good short-term solution for clearing a stuffy nose in the middle of the night. According to the drug company's website, a stuffy nose and sinus pressure are among the symptoms that Patanase does address. I have no doubt that Patanase is very effective at treating the seasonal allergies most people suffer, but how will it do with my chronic problem with night time nasal congestion? I will be making a trip to the doctor this week to ask for a Patanase Prescription and find out. I will use Patanase for a couple of weeks before I present you with my verdict on how well it works. Please check back soon. Meanwhile, those of you who have used or are using Patanase, please leave us some feedback in the comment section.
Before Leaving your feedback, please rate Patanase below:
Patanase User Ratings
See Comments Below
Something that DOES Work: Sinus Buster Nasal Spray
Sinus Sufferers: Update
I've located some great deals on Alkalol
Not only that, I now noticed that the makers of Alkalol even sell their own sinus rinse kit.
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Tagged with: allergy prescription • nasal spray antahistamine
Filed under: Health & Fitness
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i went to doctor thinking I was really sick with a cold. He prescribed me patanase. I thought he was crazy but the nose spray is wonderful. It makes me very sleepy and I feel the rush of the medicine working right away. Its wonderful. I will give this an A+.
Wow, Kelly. You say the Patanase Nasal Spray makes you sleepy. This would be bad news for people who need to clear their nasal passages up during the day while they are at work or driving their car or some other form of dangerous machinery. As for me, Patanase Nasal Spray sounds perfect. My nose is only stuffed up at night and I often have trouble sleeping. LOL. I think I need to go see my doctor about a Patanase Prescription. Thanks for your feedback, Kelly.
I just used Patanase for the first time yesterday and I was overjoyed at how well it cleared up my sinuses. I suffer from sometimes severe sinus pressure and headaches due to allergies and this is the first product that has made a noticable difference. I’ve been reluctantly using flonase for years. it seemed like flonase was the only choice i had from what all the doctors told me. I was also prescribed Astepro (another antihistamine nasal spray) which i don’t think had much effect on my symptoms. I just gave myself another dose of Patanase today because I felt that headache coming on this morning. I hope this continues to work without any serious side effects. I was expecting to feel drousy, because the label listed drousiness as a side effect, but i actually felt more energetic (probably because my headache went away)
Wow, Celia! Thanks, this is exactly the type of information I was looking for. Your sinus severe sinus pressure sounds so similar to what I experience. I was a chronic Flonase user too, and I didn’t like using a drug so regularly for so long, so as my article mentioned, I finally stopped taking it. It sounds as though you can take Patanase as needed and it gives you instant relief.
Those allergy-related sinus headaches are just so irritating and sometimes nothing I do works, including the aleve and sudafed combo. I have been holding off because I dread doctors visits. You’ve just talked me into making an appointment for Patanase.
4 months later and I finally went to see my doctor about Patanase. I am clogged up in the head and haven’t had a decent night sleep in 3 days. To my surprise, my doctor never heard of Patanase. She wrongfully told me it was simply another steroidal nasal spray. When I insisted that the Flonase was doing me no good, she blindly called in a prescription for the Patanase. When I went to the Pharmacist I learned my insurance carrier wouldn’t pay for it. They wanted $140.00!… When I got home I remembered, I had just switched to a new insurance plan with my wife’s company, Kaiser.. They will pay for over half of it, but it will still cost me $62.00 for the little bottle of Patanase. I will go back this evening and fork over the $62.00 because it’s worth it if it helps me sleep. I’ll report back later.
24 hours after taking Patanase the first time and here are the results:
The next morning (8 hours later), the painful pressure behind my right eye was completely gone.
My nasal passages were clear while I slept. There was some slight stuffiness in my right side, but much better than the night before.
All throughout the following day, my head felt lighter and easier to carry around.
The Patanase did seem to give me a feeling as though my sinus passages had this extra breathing cavity that I didn’t even know existed before. My pulse returned back to normal after the severe sinus pressure that had raised it previously. I felt more relaxed as if I was finally getting the oxygen I need and deserve.
The described side effect of bitterness of taste was only temporary (from the medicine draining back from my nose into my throat and it was not even noticeable while I slept.
I noticed no other side effects. I am anxious to see how things go after a couple of nights using the Patanase. Perhaps, my right nasal passage will continue to improve when I sleep on the right side. I’ll report back later. So far, the results using Patanase for just 24 hours are very encouraging.
At $60 a pop (And that’s after insurance), I probably won’t be renewing my Patanase prescription. Does it help my allergies? Some, but it still doesn’t completely clear the right side of my nose. I’m probably one of those candidates for a deviated septum procedure. The Patanase, just like the flonase did, keeps things cleared up enough to help me sleep, but it’s not the perfect cure. My doctor recommended a couple of other types of anthistimine sprays that are more affordable through insurance carriers: Astelin and Asterpro. I may give one of those a try.
As for side effects, other than the bitter after-taste which goes away after a while, the Patanase didn’t bother me. Nor, did it cause the sleepiness that some people complained about, but maybe that’s because I was taking it at night. Come to think of it, I have been sleeping pretty good.
I used the two samples given to me by my doctor. The product works great and fast.
I then went to CVS to fill the prescription and found that the product is not covered and my cost per spray dispenser was $137.00. The pharmacist then recommended NASONEX.
That is the exact same thing that happened to me. My insurance company didn’t cover Patanase, but luckily I had just switched to my wife’s Kaiser plan which paid half of it. It still cost me $62.00.
Nasonex is what I had been using for a few years prior and I felt I needed to try something new. Unlike Patanase, Nasonex is a steroidal nose spray not an antihistamine. To tell you the truth, the Patanase didn’t really address my problem of right-side stuffiness. I am going back to steroidal nasal sprays. IN fact, just yesterday got a prescription for Flonase (essentially the same thing as Nasonex). I’ll be doing a follow up review on Flonase vs. Nasonex, soon.
Thanks for your comments.
Rob
If the doctor you saw (who hadn’t heard of Patanase) was an allergist or ENT, I’d get a new doctor. It would be unexcusable that either of those professions would not be up to date on a medication that has been out for more than 2 years at that time. If it was just your primary care physician, then it’s understandable, but you should probably be seeing a specialist for this type of reoccuring problem.
My ENT prescribed it to me and I have really enjoyed it. My ENT also gave me a coupon for it (to reduce the cost). My excellent insurance does cover it, so with the coupon and insurance I know I didn’t pay more than $25-$30 for my prescription. HOWEVER, my ENT also gave me to sample bottles of Patanase and those lasted me a while before I even went and got the prescription filled.
Patanase for me:
I really like that I don’t have to take a steroid nasal spray every day! It is really fast acting. Agree, bitter taste in mouth is very temporary, right after using it and only it some of it drains into your throat. Drinking water at that time eliminates the bitter taste. If I’m outside for a while and go back in and shortly start to feel that aggravation in my nose from that exposure to pollen or whatever, it’s Patanase to the rescue! And boy does it rescue me…quickly. Without it I’d be in the docs office a few days later with a full blown sinus infection or ear infection. With Patanase…none of that. I’ve used it for about 6 months or so, now and I’m loving it.
Doesn’t make me sleepy.
PS-if you want your right ear to clear and drain, sleep on your LEFT ear.
Heather,
Thanks for sharing your experience with Patanase. Patanase really does work for allergy symptoms, but doesn’t seem to do too much for my chronic congestion problem on the left side. It was a doctor, not an ENT, who didn’t know anything about Patanase. She thought it was similar to Flonase or Nasonex; a steroidal nasal spray. There is really no excuse for any doctor not knowing a common allergy nasal spray.
Thanks again,
Rob
Hello, I just started taking Patanase because I am having severe congestion. It worked immediately. Didn’t relieve all of my symptoms, but they improved greatly. I still have to see the ENT Dr. to see what more is wrong. I do experience bad taste in my throat for a few minutes and a headache on the first two mornings after I took the Patanase. My Dr. prescribed for me to take 2 sprays in each nostril at bedtime. I wait 1 to 2 minutes between each spray in each nostril. I will keeep you all updated on how long I have to take this medication. Hopefully not forever. Take Care of yourselves. Thank you.
Monica,
Thanks for sharing your experiences with Patanase. Glad the Patanase is working for you. Have you noticed any additional side effects besides the head ache and bitter taste? Please stop by again and keep us up to date on Patanase.
Kind regards,
Rob
Rob, it sounds to me you have what is called Vasomotor Rhinitis, this is a non-allergenic rhinitis and is what I have been diagnosed to have. I have suffered with this for almost ten years now. I have had two surgeries which have helped my daytime condition but made my sleeping much worse. I recently went to my fourth ENT and he prescribed my two drugs one is Patanase and the other is Singulair. Singulair is not a nasal spray, but is a tablet. I haven’t got either one yet, but intend to. I have, however, found the pricing, Singulair is fairly inexpensive, but my insurance wants $370.40 for a three month prescription. I have found a Canadian company that would give it to be for about $300 for 3 months. That’s the best I could find so far. I wish I could have gotten some samples, but no luck.
Opps, I mentioned that my insurance company wants $370.40, but this was for Patanase not Singulair, For Singulair it only wants $37.04 for three months. Sorry for the error, I should proof read better.
Carl,
Thanks for the informative post on non-alergenic rhinitis. That probably is exactly what I have. I will mention one observation I’ve had among all those who have surgeries for sinuses and these types of things: I’ve yet to meet one person who said the surgery was a complete success. I will not go that route – especially if the risk is that it could make the night-time condition worse. The $37.04 for Singulair for 3 months seems very reasonable. I will keep that in mind. So far, though, I’ve been using something that really works, is cheaper than anything, has no side effects and doesn’t require a prescription. A couple of sniffs of this in each nostril twice a night keeps me breathing reasonably well. I definitely recommend giving this a try: Sinus Buster Capsaicin Nasal Spray
Please check back and let me know how well either the Patanase or Singulair works. I was really not that impressed with the Patanase. It worked only slightly.
Always feeling like im on the verg of a sinus infection, my nose burns, runs, gets really stuffy and itchy, my throat is sore and scratchy, dye eyes, shortness of breath and mild chest congestion not to mention headaches. I was given patanase today by my doctor so I have used my two sprays to each nostril about 30 minutes ago for the 1st time. I will report back how i feel tomorrow. I thought I needed antibiotics and my doctor said no try this 1st……………
Tami,
Your symptoms sound very much like what I go through when I’m fighting sinus infections. I was on Patanase for a while. It eased the symptoms a bit, but I really don’t think the Patanase helped cure the source of the problem. I do a couple of natural remedies that I think would really help you.
First off, do you do a sinus rinse? I strongly recommend doing the Neilmed Sinus rinse twice a day: I’ve been doing this for 3 years now and it’s done a world of good:
Sinus Rinse Remedy
Finally, the last thing that I most recently discovered has been amazing. For years, I’ve been unable to sleep at night due to congestion in my right nostril. This all-natural product called, Sinus Buster has practically cured my stuffy nose at night and made all of my day-time sinus problems nearly vanish. It took about 3-4 weeks of using the Sinus Buster to get the full benefits.
Sinus Buster
Continue to use your Patanase while you add these natural remedies to your daily routine. Let us know how it works and good luck!
Well I’m reporting back about my use of Patanase.
It only seems to help with congestion during the day which is most likely the cause of the overuse of Afrin which is the only thing that lets me sleep. I tried Sinus Buster, it helped with the congestion also, but neither Patanase or Sinus Buster helps with the sagging turbinates which is the result of having a non-allergenic Rhinitis (Vasomotor Rhinitis).
From my 10 years of research about this, there doesn’t seem to be a cure. I even had two surgeries which made my night time condition worse, but my day time condition better. Go figure! The doctors really are very ignorant about Vasomotor Rhinitis unless they suffer with it also. They treat it as an allergenic issues even though they know better.
Afrin is a vasomotor constrictor which shrinks the blood vessels in the turbinates. Normally the turbinates alternate from side to side–they slightly dilate–which is part of the process of cleaning the air we breath, but with a person with Vasomotor Rhinitis the turbinates will dilate with gravity as we lay on one side or the other. As the turbinate drop down the blood rushes in behind it keeping it out causing congestion making it hard to breath. However, Afrin WILL rebound in only a few days making your day time condition worse.
Carl,
Thanks for reporting back on the Patanase. Your experience with it sounds very much like mine and so does your ailment. I’ve been suffering a right-side, blocked up stuffy nose during my sleep at night for about 8-10 years, myself. I think it does sound very much like the Vasomotor Rhinitis. However, in my case, the Sinus Buster has done wonders. Now, I’m not going to tell you that it keeps my nasal passages completely, 100% clear at night, but it has made the problem significantly better. One important thing, however: The Sinus Buster had an accumulative benefit for me. I didn’t experience the full benefits of Sinus Buster overnight, or even after 1 to 2 weeks. After 6-8 weeks, however, I was beginning to notice fewer and fewer disrupted nights of sleep – and even able to sleep for 2-3 hours on my right side which I normally could never do. The Sinus Buster is not perfect, but it has made sleeping for me possible again. I don’t know if the Sinus Buster actually shrinks those turbinates over time or maybe by keeping the congestion clear makes it more bearable? If you haven’t stuck with it for 6-8 weeks, give it another try. Use it in the morning and use it at night before bed. And if you wake up stuffed-up, use it again.. Like you, I know the Afrin works, but the rebound effect after 2-3 days is a horrible experience. One time, I was completely stuffed up in both nasal passages for 2 days getting over the afrin addiction.
PS: What you said about doctors ignorance on this condition is right on the money. Maybe I’m not as bad off as you because I never tried surgery or demanded something else, but time after time, the only thing doctors do is prescribe nasal steroid sprays: Nasonex, Flonase, etc.. And they will tell you that stuff doesn’t have side effects, but they are wrong. I’ve been using those drugs long enough to know that they cause anxiety and irritable stomach problems.. I try to stay away from prolonged use of prescription drugs.
If you decide to give sinus buster another try or find anything else that works, let me know!
Rob
Rob
Our pediatrician gave Patanase for our then 5 yr old suffering MAJOR seasonal allergies. He suffered to the point where he had b.b.-looking knots under his eyes, swollen, red eyes, runny nose, etc. Sneezing constantly. He was pitiful and I was willing to try whatever for him. The Patanase worked IMMEDIATELY. It costs us $90 with insurance (we have a high deductible) and I have noticed it expires quickly, but we’ve used 2 bottles (last fall, past spring…now using our 3rd). Pretty often the dr. has rebate coupons which are GREAT. Also, we use Pataday eye drops (same company) and they also work wonders on his eyes. He looks like he has pink eye if we do not use them during allergy season. Hoping he outgrows most of this (although my husband really has not), because it bothers me giving him so many meds during allergy season (fall is the worst).
Lisa,
Thanks for your feedback on Patanase. Sorry your kid is having such allergy problems. I don’t like taking too many drugs either but you gotta do what you gotta do and it sounds like the Patanase is really effective for him. One thing Patanase users all seem to like about the drug is that it works fairly immediately. The $90.00 cost is about what I paid for mine with insurance. That’s an outrageous price, but Patanase does work.
hello everyone..I have the worst allergic rhinitis which affects me day and night….does sinus buster really work?
Jane,
It works really well for me. It has no side effects and keeps my nose just clear enough that I can sleep at night:
There are actually two products now: Check out my reviews
Sinus Buster Review
Allergy Buster Review
I’m one who delayed for decades having the deviated septum surgery. Had it done this year and it truly is the answer for people like Rob sounds….chronic issues on one side. Go to a specialist in sinus surgery, go online & see a video on what they do..it’s NOT like the old days, blood & gore! I wish I’d done it yrs. ago! Allergies remain, but Patanase does the trick for occasional rhinitis that used to lay me low regularly because the bent septum & structural swelling wouldn’t allow good sinus drainage. Enough with the chronic suffering I say to anyone who’ll listen! The surgery works & life can be good! Truly! Don’t fear the surgery as I did so long. Check it out with a GOOD ENT. Blessings! Jean
Jean,
Thanks for your comments. I’ve heard both good and bad things about the deviated septum surgery. Some people have complained it was very uncomfortable. Some have told me that it helped for a little while then things got worse again. You’re the first to tell me it was a huge success. Great to hear!
Rob
Same advise as Jean. The septum repair isn’t a magic bullet, but it certainly has been a big improvement. A deviated septum and allergies is a one two punch that makes life miserable. I had a turbinate reduction as well, but allergies still get me stuffed up. My ENT predicted this, and wanted me to start the allergy injections.. but I don’t have the ability/desire to commit to that right now.
I thought the Patanase wasn’t working, but I was only doing one spray per nostril each morning. That’s only a quarter of what is recommended..oops. I think I mixed it up with the steroid dosages!
Sinus buster did NOTHING for me, I really think that people who are pushing this product are affiliated with Sinus Buster. Many many people I know have the same results, Nothing but a horrible sting. The best spray I’ve found so far is a mixture of hydrogen peroxide diluted in water. This PATANASE has me excited and I will go to the Doctor and see if he can give me a script.
Bill
Bill,
Honestly, I have no affiliation at all with Sinus Buster. The product is not a fool-proof cure for clearing up my nose, but it helps. The burning sensation is followed by partial and temporary clearing of the nasal passages when I get stuffed up at night. It makes it possible to sleep at night. The Patanase is not perfect either, so don’t get too excited about it. I would like to hear more about your hydrogen peroxide solution. How much do you use? What is the ratio of peroxide per water?
Patanase seems to help a lot of people. It clears your nasal congestion and allergies without making you addicted and doesn’t have to be taken regularly to work. On the other hand, Nasonex, is only partially effective; has to be taken every day for two weeks to work and leaves a bad odor in your nose after continued use. My Kaiser Permanente insurance plan doesn’t cover Patanase. My doctor will not even prescribe it. If I went to an urgent care center I could get a prescription for it, but would have to pay $150 for one small bottle that lasts 3 weeks. There is something very wrong with this picture. Why is Nasonex so popular? My wife went into the doctor because she was having allergy problems in her eyes and I’ll be darned if they didn’t prescribe Nasonex! They seem to prescribe nasonex fro everything, yet it takes a very special doctor, insurance company and miracle to get the one thing that afford-ably works: Patanase.
I too have very bad allergies all year round. My ENT prescribed Patanase to me for use when I have congestion problems. With insurance I used to pay $85 it went up, and now I pay $110. It’s worth it to feel better. I do not get it monthly so it makes it better. I also use Mucinex for congestion and sinus rinse 2 times a day. I just finished Flonase and my doctor won’t give me another prescription until I see him. Since I cannot make it there soon, I’m going to try sinus buster too. I’m so sick of being on meds all the time. I also use Zyrtec when not using Patanase. Thank you for your posts!