Elonide Special Precautions

ELONIDE Nasal Spray should be used with caution, if at all, with active or quiescent tuberculous infections of the respiratory tract, or in untreated fungal, bacterial, systemic viral infections or ocular herpes simplex.
Following 12 months of treatment with ELONIDE Nasal Spray there was no evidence of atrophy of the nasal mucosa; also, mometasone furoate tended to reverse the nasal mucosa closer to a normal histologic phenotype. As with any long-term treatment, patients using ELONIDE Nasal Spray over several months or longer should be examined periodically for possible changes in the nasal mucosa. If localised fungal infection of the nose or pharynx develops, discontinuance of ELONIDE therapy or appropriate treatment may be required. Persistence of nasopharyngeal irritation may be an indication for discontinuing ELONIDE Nasal Spray.
Although ELONIDE Nasal Spray will control the nasal symptoms in most patients, the concomitant use of appropriate additional therapy may provide additional relief of the symptoms, particularly ocular symptoms.
There is no evidence of hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis suppression following prolonged treatment with ELONIDE Nasal Spray. However, patients who are transferred from long-term administration of systemically active corticosteroids to ELONIDE Nasal Spray require careful attention. Systemic corticosteroid withdrawal in such patients may result in adrenal insufficiency for a number of months until recovery of HPA axis function. If these patients exhibit signs and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency, systemic corticosteroid administration should be resumed and other modes of therapy and appropriate measures instituted.
During transfer from systemic corticosteroids to ELONIDE Nasal Spray some patients may experience symptoms of withdrawal from systemically active corticosteroids (e.g. joint and/or muscular pain, lassitude, and depression initially) despite relief from nasal symptoms and will require encouragement to continue ELONIDE Nasal Spray therapy. Such transfer may also unmask pre-existing allergic conditions, such as allergic conjunctivitis and eczema, previously suppressed by systemic corticosteroid therapy.
The safety and efficacy of ELONIDE Nasal Spray has not been studied for use in the treatment of unilateral polyps, polyps associated with cystic fibrosis, or polyps that completely obstruct the nasal cavities.
Patients receiving corticosteroids who are potentially immunosuppressed should be warned of the risk of exposure to certain infections (e.g. chickenpox, measles) and of the importance of obtaining medical advice if such exposure occurs.
Following the use of intranasal corticosteroids, instances of nasal septum perforation or increased intraocular pressure have been reported very rarely.
Systemic effects of nasal corticosteroids may occur, particularly at high doses prescribed for prolonged periods. Growth retardation has been reported in children receiving nasal corticosteroids at licensed doses.
It is recommended that the height of children receiving prolonged treatment with nasal corticosteroids is regularly monitored. If growth is slowed, therapy should be reviewed with the aim of reducing the dose of nasal corticosteroid if possible, to the lowest dose at which effective control of symptoms is maintained. In addition, consideration should be given to referring the patients to a paediatric specialist.
Treatment with higher than recommended doses may result in clinically significant adrenal suppression. If there is evidence for higher than recommended doses being used, then additional systemic corticosteroid cover should be considered during periods of stress or elective surgery.