Can Flonase cause adverse reactions to those allergic to cortisone?

Factual Questions
1

First off I know none of you are my or my wife’s doctor. (I think.) Her doctor, whom I believe knows of her adverse reaction (pretty severe) to cortisone, prescribed Flonase for her nasal allergies. The Target pharmacist, who is a very nice lady, questioned this since she said it is sort of a brother/cousin to cortisone. I believe it is technically a steroid, but does anybody know of any medical or anecdotal stories of it causing a reaction in cortisone sensitive people? The pharmacist called her doctor and he said not to worry about it. Thus far in her experience with cortisone on a few occasions it has caused a burning sensation that lasted upwards of five weeks, so she wants to be sure.

Thanks,
kjckjc

2

I think it’s sort of impossible to by truly allergic to cortisone. Cortisone is the body’s anti-allergy hormone, so it would be very paradoxical for cortisone to trigger a histamine reaction. Some folks may be allergic to inert ingredients or preservatives in the cortisone shot or pill, but not the cortisone itself.

Howeve, it’s quite possible to have nasty side-effects from cortisone pills. But depending on what they were, one might reasonably expect that said side-effects would be far less likely via steroid nasal spray use. Side-effects do not equal allergies.

At least that’s my semi-educated medical guess. NOT medical advice, you note.

QtM, MD