Key takeaways
Flovent (fluticasone) and flunisolide are both corticosteroids, but they are used for different conditions and administered differently. Flovent is an inhaled corticosteroid used to manage asthma in people 4 years and older. It helps reduce lung inflammation and is taken twice daily using either an HFA or Diskus inhaler. In contrast, flunisolide is a nasal spray used to treat nasal allergy symptoms like congestion and sneezing in people 6 years and older. Flunisolide is typically used two to three times a day. While Flovent is available in a lower-cost generic form, flunisolide is also available as a generic but is not the same as Flonase (fluticasone), another common nasal spray. Flovent requires you to rinse your mouth after use to prevent thrush, whereas flunisolide may cause temporary nasal burning and stinging. Both medications need to be used consistently for the best results and have potential side effects related to long-term use, such as altered hormone levels and delayed growth in children.
