My ENT wants me to take Flonase. I feel that he prescribed it rashly since he didn't even finish reading the list of symptoms which I typed up and brought
to the visit.
After he prescribed it, I told him that I have rice-krispie-like crackling in both ears when I make yawning motions. He said that might be eustachian tube dysfunction, and that the Flonase might clear it up. When I asked "yea, but will it help the tinnitus?", he said "maybe".
I went home and read GSK's PDF on Flonase (Fluticasone Propionate): http://us.gsk.com/products/assets/us_flonase.pdf
Apparently even GSK doesn't know how it really works, just that it seems to have an effect in trials. From the PDF:
==== BEGIN SNIP ====
The precise mechanism through which fluticasone propionate affects allergic rhinitis symptoms
is not known. Corticosteroids have been shown to have a wide range of effects on multiple cell
types (e.g., mast cells, eosinophils, neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes) and mediators
(e.g., histamine, eicosanoids, leukotrienes, and cytokines) involved in inflammation. In 7 trials in
adults, FLONASE Nasal Spray has decreased nasal mucosal eosinophils in 66% (35% for
placebo) of patients and basophils in 39% (28% for placebo) of patients. The direct relationship
of these findings to long-term symptom relief is not known.
==== END SNIP ====
Apparently it has also exhibited negative effects on growth in children. Again, from the PDF:
==== BEGIN SNIP ====
Intranasal corticosteroids may cause a reduction in growth velocity when administered
to pediatric patients
==== END SNIP ====
Even though my ENT said that I wouldn't be taking it long enough to experience side-effects, after carefully reading GSK's whole PDF, I'm a bit scared to take it.
I had a massive allergy attack about a week before the tinnitus started. Should I:
A) Take the Flonase?
Or
B) Place my bets on the idea that the eustachian tube dysfunction is allergy related, wait for winter, and just hope the tube dysfunction and tinntius go away?
What would you do?
-Patrick
P.S. There's also the unfortunately possibility that if allergies are causing the tinnitus, then the allergy symptoms could be of a year-round variety. In which case waiting for winter will not work, and I'd have to take medication. Or maybe move?
After he prescribed it, I told him that I have rice-krispie-like crackling in both ears when I make yawning motions. He said that might be eustachian tube dysfunction, and that the Flonase might clear it up. When I asked "yea, but will it help the tinnitus?", he said "maybe".
I went home and read GSK's PDF on Flonase (Fluticasone Propionate): http://us.gsk.com/products/assets/us_flonase.pdf
Apparently even GSK doesn't know how it really works, just that it seems to have an effect in trials. From the PDF:
==== BEGIN SNIP ====
The precise mechanism through which fluticasone propionate affects allergic rhinitis symptoms
is not known. Corticosteroids have been shown to have a wide range of effects on multiple cell
types (e.g., mast cells, eosinophils, neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes) and mediators
(e.g., histamine, eicosanoids, leukotrienes, and cytokines) involved in inflammation. In 7 trials in
adults, FLONASE Nasal Spray has decreased nasal mucosal eosinophils in 66% (35% for
placebo) of patients and basophils in 39% (28% for placebo) of patients. The direct relationship
of these findings to long-term symptom relief is not known.
==== END SNIP ====
Apparently it has also exhibited negative effects on growth in children. Again, from the PDF:
==== BEGIN SNIP ====
Intranasal corticosteroids may cause a reduction in growth velocity when administered
to pediatric patients
==== END SNIP ====
Even though my ENT said that I wouldn't be taking it long enough to experience side-effects, after carefully reading GSK's whole PDF, I'm a bit scared to take it.
I had a massive allergy attack about a week before the tinnitus started. Should I:
A) Take the Flonase?
Or
B) Place my bets on the idea that the eustachian tube dysfunction is allergy related, wait for winter, and just hope the tube dysfunction and tinntius go away?
What would you do?
-Patrick
P.S. There's also the unfortunately possibility that if allergies are causing the tinnitus, then the allergy symptoms could be of a year-round variety. In which case waiting for winter will not work, and I'd have to take medication. Or maybe move?
