If you have allergies, you know the worst time of year is when the seasons begin to change. Allergies leave your nose runny, your sinuses stuffed and your mood completely miserable.
Did you know that one in five people in the U.S. have allergies or asthma symptoms? In fact, 55 percent of the U.S population tests positive for more than one allergen.
Usually you'd have to get a prescription from your physician in order to get your allergies in control.
Not anymore.
Recently, the FDA voted 10-6 in a favor to allow the steroid triamcinolone acetonide (TAA) to be sold over the counter, allowing allergy sufferers more easily available treatment options.
Nasal steroids are the most common relief for allergy sufferers, giving release to itchy, runny, stuffy and dry nose. Nasal sprays that contain triamcinolone acetonide are the only products used to eliminate ALL these symptoms in one prescription and is considered a first line treatment for allergy sufferers.
Are there any concerns when using nasal spray with triamcinolone acetonide?
One major risk is the use in children. Even though it is approved to be used in children ages two and up, the possible side effect of slow growth rate is a concern. Some other concerns regard those patients who also use asthma medication, prescription steroid medicine, infections or if you've had nasal surgery.
As always, it is very important to discuss any concerns or questions you have before taking or allowing your children to take the medicine.
Executive Associate Dean, Professor and Head of the Department of Pharmacy Practice at University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy, Janet P. Engle, PhD joins Melanie Cole, MS to discuss the recent changes with OTC allergy nasal spray, risks, effectiveness and other ways to reduce your symptoms of allergies.
Triamcinolone Acetonide Nasal Spray Moves OTC
FDA approves steroid triamcinalone acetonide (TAA) nasal spray to be sold over-the-counter. Are there any risks?
Additional Info
- Segment Number: 5
- Audio File: staying_well/1416sw1d.mp3
- Featured Speaker: Janet P. Engle, PharmD, PhD
- Organization: Educate Before You Medicate
- Guest Facebook Account: https://www.facebook.com/UICPharmacy
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Guest Bio:
Janet P. Engle is Executive Associate Dean, Professor and Head of the Department of Pharmacy Practice at University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy.
She is past president of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). She serves as a voting member of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Nonprescription Drug Advisory Committee which advises FDA on OTC medication issues.
Dr. Engle was elected as a Distinguished Practitioner in the National Academies of Practice in Pharmacy which only includes 150 pharmacists world-wide.
Dr. Engle received her BS in Pharmacy from Rutgers University and a Pharm.D. from the University of Illinois. She completed a specialized residency in ambulatory care and emergency medicine at University of Illinois and served as Chief Resident. She received an honorary Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Khon Kaen University in Thailand.
Dr. Engle has also received the APhA Distinguished Achievement Award for Clinical/Pharmacotherapeutic Practice.
Dr. Engle is very active in international pharmacy. She currently is serving as the Chair of the International Commission for the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.
Dr. Engle is also serving a 3 year term as overseas expert and member of the Post Graduate Allied Health Institute Board at Singapore General Hospital.
Dr. Engle worked with National Taiwan University and was a guest professor at Harbin Medical University in China where she has taught topics in ambulatory pharmacy practice and pharmacy education.
She worked with the Pharmacy Council of Thailand and many faculties of pharmacy in Thailand and served as a consultant to the Western Pacific Region of the World Health Organization in Manila.
Dr. Engle is an internationally recognized expert on the topics of nonprescription medicines, pharmacy education, ambulatory care pharmacy practice and leadership. She has given over 100 presentations and published more than 60 papers on these topics both in the US and abroad.
Dr. Engle has received several teaching awards including the Teaching Recognition Award from the University of Illinois at Chicago for excellence in teaching.
Dr. Engle has served as a medical expert on a number of pharmacy and medical issues, appearing on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," " Dr. Oz", "World News Tonight with Peter Jennings", and many other TV newscasts and has participated in interviews with the Washington Post, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, LA Times, Cosmopolitan, Readers Digest and Prevention Magazine among many others.
Besides her current practice in academia, Dr. Engle has also practiced in community, hospital, pharmacy directed ambulatory clinic and long term care settings. - Length (mins): 10
- Waiver Received: No
- Internal Notes: eWaiver
- Host: Melanie Cole, MS
Published in
Staying Well