How Long Does Flonase Stay in Your System?

Flonase is a corticosteroid (steroid) nasal spray that’s available over the counter (OTC). It’s commonly used to manage allergy symptoms. The two OTC versions available are Flonase (fluticasone propionate) and Flonase Sensimist (fluticasone furoate). Generic fluticasone propionate is also available with a prescription.

Because Flonase is a steroid nasal spray, many people want to know how long it stays in your body. It’s also common to wonder how long side effects may last. In short, your body clears Flonase within a few days. But while using it, very little of the medication reaches your bloodstream. So the risk of whole-body side effects is very low.

Here we’ll cover questions about how long Flonase stays in your system and whether you can suddenly stop it.

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How long does Flonase stay in your system?

Very small amounts of Flonase may stay in your system for about 2 days. The medication has a half-life of about 8 hours. This is the time it takes your body to remove half of the medication. It takes about five half-lives to fully clear a medication (called the duration). So in the case of Flonase, this process takes about 40 hours (almost 2 days).

Flonase Sensimist lasts longer in the body. It can stay in your system for about 3 days. Flonase Sensimist’s half-life is about 15 hours. This means it takes your body about 75 hours (just over 3 days) to fully clear it.

But keep in mind that the amount of medication your body absorbs from either Flonase product is minimal. Flonase primarily affects the areas around the nose. Your body absorbs less than 2% of the medication from the nasal spray. So the amount that stays in your system after a dose is extremely small. This lowers the risk of experiencing side effects throughout your body.

Does Flonase stay in your system longer than other nasal sprays?

Flonase stays in your system longer than other OTC steroid nasal sprays. But like with Flonase, your body doesn’t absorb much medication from other steroid sprays either. When looking at nonsteroidal allergy nasal sprays, Flonase lasts longer than some and shorter than others.

The table below shows the approximate half-lives and durations for common allergy nasal sprays. But keep in mind that healthcare professionals don’t typically recommend nasal sprays based on how long they last in your body. They usually consider your symptoms, medical history, and other medications you take when making a suggestion.

Are there factors that can affect how long Flonase stays in your system?

Possibly. Some medications are affected by how well your liver or kidneys work. These organs are often involved in helping remove medications from your body. With Flonase, it’s mainly processed by the liver, and very little of the medication is removed by the kidneys.

If you have liver problems, it’s possible that Flonase might stay in your system longer. But as mentioned, your body absorbs very little of the medication after using it. So this shouldn’t cause significant problems. Flonase’s label doesn’t state that people with liver issues should avoid it or use lower dosages.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• How long does Flonase take to work? Flonase may begin to relieve allergy symptoms in 2 to 4 hours after your first dose. But it may take up to 2 weeks to get the full effects.

• Possible side effects: Read what pharmacists say about Flonase side effects — from headaches to nosebleeds — and how to manage them.

• Flonase for allergy symptoms: Real people share their experiences with Flonase, including what happens if they forget to take a dose.

Using doses of Flonase that are higher than recommended may also cause it to stay in your body longer. A small study tested doses of Flonase Sensimist that were 8 times higher than the maximum daily dose. The medication lasted in participants’ systems twice as long as usual. Following the directions on your medication’s prescription or OTC label can help prevent this from being an issue.

What happens if you suddenly stop using Flonase?

If you use Flonase as recommended, it’s unlikely that you’ll experience any withdrawal effects if you suddenly stop using it. You should be able to stop using it whenever you need or want to. But you may experience a return of your allergy symptoms after the medication wears off. So it’s a good idea to ask a healthcare professional how long you should continue using Flonase.

There are rare cases of people having withdrawal symptoms after suddenly stopping Flonase. But keep in mind that they overused Flonase and greatly exceeded the recommended maximum dosages. This is not typical and has not been seen in people who use the nasal spray appropriately.

How long do Flonase side effects usually last?

How long Flonase side effects last can depend on the type of side effect and how long you use the product.

Flonase is typically tolerated well with few side effects. If side effects happen, they’re generally mild and can be managed at home. And, they usually resolve on their own or when you stop using Flonase.

Nasal side effects of Flonase include nosebleeds, irritation, and burning. Irritation and burning usually go away within a few minutes of using your dose. Nosebleeds should stop within 5 to 10 minutes of starting. You can help prevent these side effects by using Flonase properly.

If you do experience nosebleeds, let a healthcare professional know. They may want you to take a break from using Flonase. Or they may suggest using saline nasal spray a few minutes before Flonase.

Flonase side effects that don’t affect the nose include headache, sore throat, and nausea. These side effects may go away on their own after a day or two. But they could also happen as long as you’re using Flonase. Nausea and sore throat often happen when the medication drips down the back of your throat. Try leaning your head forwards slightly when using Flonase to help prevent them.

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Written by:

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP, is a board-certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist. In his early career, he provided direct patient care in a variety of settings, including hospital and community pharmacies, and in a primary care clinic as a clinical pharmacist.

Edited by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Jennifer Gershman, PharmD, CPh, PACS

Jennifer Gershman, PharmD, is a licensed pharmacist in Florida. She has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 15 years and is currently a medical writer.

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