Avamys Nasal Spray

What is Avamys?

Allergy symptoms cause a wide variety of symptoms mostly as a result of swelling. Avamys is a nasal spray that’s used to treat allergy symptoms. It contains an active ingredient called fluticasone furoate.

Avamys is delivered directly to your nasal passages to reduce swelling, congestion, runny nose, sneezing and eye irritation. It can be used to treat seasonal allergies like hay fever, or allergies to irritants that are present all year, like pets, dust, mold, and more.

How does Avamys work?

Hay fever and other allergies are caused when your body’s immune system wrongly perceives a substance (like pollen) to be a threat. When your body detects this ‘trigger’ it produces a chemical called histamine which causes inflammation and other typical allergy symptoms.

Avamys works to reduce this inflammation through its active ingredient fluticasone furoate, which is a glucocorticoid. Glucocorticoids are a kind of corticosteroid that interfere with the proteins responsible for triggering inflammation. The result is reduced inflammation associated with allergies.

When you take a glucocorticoid, it suppresses cytokines, chemokines, and other molecules. These molecules promote inflammation in your body. By limiting them, glucocorticoids reduce inflammation to make you more comfortable. And because one of the most common symptoms of sinusitis is swelling and inflammation, Avamys can be used to treat the symptoms of sinusitis as well.

What doses of Avamys are there?

Each spray of Avamys contains 27.5 mcg of fluticasone furoate. It’s a single dose treatment, so this is the only dose that’s available. If it isn’t an effective medication for your allergies, or it causes side effects, our clinician may suggest a different treatment.

How to take Avamys

Using Avamys for the first time can be intimidating since it’s applied directly to your nostrils. Here are some instructions on how to use it.

• Hold Avamys in one hand and shake it for at least 10 seconds.
• Squeeze to remove the top.
• While pointing the tip of the nozzle away from you, push the spray button several times until it sprays a fine mist.
• Before applying Avamys, you will need to blow your nose to make sure it’s clean.
• Carefully insert the nozzle into one of your nostrils. Point it away from the bridge of your nose.
• Inhale through your nose while you press the spray button to apply Avamys to your nostril.
• Repeat this process if your dose is two sprays in each nostril, then repeat again to apply Avamys to your other nostril.
• Once you've finished applying Avamys, use a clean tissue to wipe the nozzle and top. Don’t use water when you’re cleaning the Avamys spray bottle.
• Put the top back on Avamys and store it in a clean, dry place out of the reach of children. Don’t refrigerate it.

How long does it take Avamys to work?

Avamys should start working after about eight hours. After a few weeks, the ingredients in Avamys should be fully effective. If you’re not achieving satisfactory relief from Avamys, discuss it with our clinician. They may tell you to take two sprays in each nostril instead of one, or recommend another treatment.

What should I do if I make a mistake when using Avamys?

You should be taking your Avamys everyday. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take it at your regularly scheduled time.

Taking glucocorticoids like Avamys for your allergy symptoms can lead to a variety of side effects. These side effects are more likely to happen if you take more than directed. If you think you’ve taken more Avamys than you should, contact a clinician. They can let you know what to do and if you’ll need medical attention.