Using nasal sprays is one way to alleviate the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Also known as hay fever, allergic rhinitis is an allergic reaction to dust, pollen, pet dander, and other allergens. The most common symptoms are nasal congestion, itchiness, inflammation, and sneezing. If you frequently experience these, nasal sprays may be your best bet to manage them.
With the plethora of nasal sprays available on the market, it might be a challenge to look for one that will work for you. Worry not because, in this article, we will provide you with a detailed buying guide on how to choose the right nasal spray for allergic rhinitis. We’ve also created a list of 10 of the best brands available online.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The products and services listed are ranked independently by the editorial team based on the points mentioned in our thoroughly researched buying guide (as of 01-16-2023).
Here are some key points to consider:
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
Some nasal sprays for allergic rhinitis may be bought over the counter, while others need prescriptions. The general types are saline, decongestant, antihistamine, and steroid sprays. These contain different active ingredients, the most common of which we’ve listed below.
Saline sprays are used to cleanse your nasal passages from allergens like dust, pet dander, pollen, and more. They also help moisturize your nasal passages and flush out mucus blocking them. This way, they may help relieve rhinitis and even sinusitis. Saline sprays can be made of sodium chloride or seawater and can be purchased over the counter.
Antihistamine sprays block histamines, the chemicals from our body that trigger allergic reactions. Azelastine and olopatadine are the most common ingredients in this type of nasal spray.
With either of these components, antihistamine sprays relieve the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, like runny nose, sneezing, and itching, among others. However, a prescription is needed when purchasing azelastine and olopatadine nasal sprays.
Aside from working as a decongestant, dexpanthenol helps moisturize nasal passageways. This leads to less dryness and irritation. Dexpanthenol is also well-tolerated, so it is also suitable for children and pregnant women.
As a mucoprotective agent, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose works on blocking particles that can trigger mild to moderate allergic rhinitis. It can reduce sneezing, runny nose, and enhance the effect of decongestants. It usually comes in a powder form and may also be suitable for children.
Fluticasone and budesonide are the most common kinds of steroid nasal sprays. They are also called corticosteroid sprays, which have anti-inflammatory properties that reduce swelling in nasal passageways. Steroid sprays can also be used to treat other conditions such as sinusitis and nasal polyps, among others.
However, they may have more side effects than other types of nasal sprays like dryness, stinging sensations, or even nosebleeds. Thus, they may not be suitable for children, lactating women, or pregnant women. Plus, a prescription is needed to purchase fluticasone.
When purchasing a nasal spray, remember to take a look at its label for contraindications, side effects, and usage instructions, among others. This is to ensure that it is safe for you to use, or if it is safe for children, pregnant women, or people with medical conditions.
Nonetheless, it is very important to consult your doctor, especially if you have allergies or other medical conditions. You can also ask your doctor to recommend a trusted nasal spray to relieve your allergic rhinitis.
Having other benefits on your nasal spray aside from relieving allergic rhinitis can give you more value for your money. Some nasal sprays can also help alleviate colds, sinusitis, and other nasal conditions.
There are also non-drowsy versions that won’t make you feel sleepy even if you use them in the daytime. You can also try mint-scented ones if you’re looking for further relief.
This nasal spray contains fluticasone furoate, which is specially formulated to treat the symptoms of both seasonal and chronic allergic rhinitis. This includes nasal symptoms like sneezing, itching, and breathing difficulties, and ocular symptoms like eye redness, tearing, and more.
Fluticasone is a very potent ingredient, which is why a prescription is needed before you can purchase this product. It can be used by adults, adolescents, and children from 2 to 11 years old, provided it is prescribed by a doctor. You'll begin to feel its effects around eight hours after the first spray, but it may take a few days of usage to get its full benefits.
This nasal spray is manufactured by Vicks, a brand that's trusted by Filipinos in relieving common colds and flu-like symptoms. With only sodium chloride and purified water as its ingredients, this decongestant spray makes sure that your nasal passages are clean from dust, allergens, and irritants sans the potentially harmful chemicals and preservatives.
Because of its minimal formulation, it is safe to use every day for adults and children above 2 years old. It is also hygienic to use because its applicator is designed with a one-way flow system that prevents the product from flowing back inside the bottle.
From ₱899
If you're looking for a nasal spray that can give you relief from allergic rhinitis for a long period of time, this may be your best bet! This steroid spray prevents and lessens allergy symptoms like runny nose, itching, congestion, and sneezing from 12 to 24 hours by reducing nasal inflammation.
This product is also non-drowsy, so you can use it any time you prefer. But because it is a steroid-type spray, it is not suitable for children and for those with hypersensitivity to budesonide. Pregnant or breastfeeding women also need to consult a doctor before using this product.
If you're looking for a fast-acting spray, check out this one from Stada. This nasal spray makes use of a combination of 5% dexpanthenol and seawater to provide relief for allergy sufferers. Dexpanthenol helps promote wound healing and regeneration of damaged epithelial cells, while seawater loosens nasal secretions and moistens the nasal mucosa.
Together, they work to cleanse and moisturize your nasal passages and relieve congestion. Satisfied users also love how its effect is almost instant. Moreover, this nasal spray promises relief not only from allergic rhinitis but also from rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps. It's also suitable for adults, children, pregnant women, and even elderly people.
Those who prefer natural products would love this spray from Xlear. Its all-natural saline formulation aims to give you relief from sinusitis, allergies, and more. It's one of the best-selling nasal sprays in the U.S and is often recommended by doctors and healthcare professionals.
With xylitol and sodium chloride as the main components, it can clean and moisturize your sinuses and nasal passageways to prevent irritants from clinging to your nasal tissues. It also has a drug-free and non-GMO formula, so it is safe not only for adults but for children, too!
Formulated with seawater from the Adriatic Sea, this decongestant spray promises to relieve nasal congestion and mild breathing problems caused by allergies, flu, or colds. It is a hypertonic solution, which means it has a high concentration of salt for optimum effect.
The high salt content helps remove excess fluid from the nasal mucous membranes to reduce swelling and ease breathing. Aside from that, it is free from preservatives. Therefore, it is suitable for pregnant women, nursing moms, and children over three years old. You can also use it as needed up to four times a day.
Specially made to promote good nasal hygiene, this 100% natural nasal spray intends to clean your nasal passageways from dust, pet dander, and other irritants. It is made with purified seawater from France using a microdiffusion technology. This allows the trace elements in seawater to penetrate the nasal mucosa for optimum effect.
Another thing to love about this nasal spray is that it is preservative- and drug-free, making it a safe choice for adults, children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding women. It has a mild concentration level of salt, so it is extremely gentle and can be used up to 6 times a day. No wonder it's recommended by doctors all over the world!
Contrary to other nasal sprays that give relief to allergic rhinitis symptoms, this one is a preventive treatment that blocks allergens from entering your nasal passages. This spray is in a powder form that turns into a gel once in the nose to create a shield against irritants.
Aside from being a preventive treatment, its active ingredient, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, enhances the effect of decongestants. This means you can also use it in combination with decongestant sprays. It is also suitable for adults, pregnant women, breastfeeding moms, and children above 18 months old.
Managing your symptoms during allergy season need not be expensive with this affordable option from Unilab. For less than Php 100, you can have a product that alleviates your symptoms and makes breathing easier. Made with 0.65% sodium chloride, this nasal spray provides relief from nasal congestion, colds, flu, and allergies.
In addition, it also helps relieve postnasal drip syndrome, a condition in which the upper airways are irritated after exposure to allergens, dust, and chemicals. This saline spray is also suitable for children and adults alike. Spray it two to four times in each nostril up to three times a day for best results!
If your nasal passages feel dry or congested, this nasal spray is for you! It contains 0.65% sodium chloride, which works to moisturize your nostrils and alleviate that dry, crusted, and stuffy feeling. Because of this hydrating action, it helps restore your nasal mucosa's natural barrier and humidifies dry air entering your nasal passageways to lessen the irritation.
It is also drug-free, so you can use it along with other medications for colds or allergies. Satisfied users claim that this product has been really effective for getting rid of nasal irritation. It's also good for clearing the nasal passage after a nosebleed.
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.
Yes, saline sprays are great for reducing the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. They are used to clean nasal passageways from pollens, pet dander, dust, and other allergens that may cause allergic rhinitis.
For over-the-counter saline nasal sprays, we recommend the brands Sterimar, Vicks, MarPlus, Xlear and Aqua Maris. If you want to go for a steroid spray, you can purchase Rhinocort’s nasal spray without a prescription.
Allergic rhinitis is a lifelong condition; there is really no cure for it. It may improve over time, but it does not completely go away. Fortunately, you can alleviate its symptoms by using nasal sprays or by taking medications.
Dealing with allergies and respiratory issues can be really difficult, especially if you don't have the right tools to help you. Browse through the links below for more products that can help improve your air quality and protect you and your family!
Author: Kate Basa
Editor: R. Umlas
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
When you purchase products mentioned in the article, part of the sales may be returned to mybest.
The descriptions of each product is referenced from the content available from the manufacturer, e-commerce sites etc.
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