FDA Approves Nasal Antihistamine to Treat Allergy Symptoms

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• The Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of Astepro, an over-the-counter nasal antihistamine, to treat allergy symptoms.
• Experts say the approval gives people with allergies an easily accessible medication to help reduce symptoms such as runny noses and sneezing.
• They note the nasal spray can cause drowsiness and its effectiveness can fade over time.

There is some hopeful news for the millions of people in the United States experiencing allergy symptoms.

They can now get an antihistamine nasal spray for adult and childhood seasonal allergies. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the over-the-counter use of Astepro (azelastine hydrochloride nasal spray, 0.15 percent) last week.

Dr. Theresa Michele, director of the office of nonprescription drugs in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a press release that the approval provides people with an option for a safe and effective nasal antihistamine without requiring the assistance of a healthcare professional.

The 0.1 percent-strength version of Astepro, which includes the year-round allergy indication for children 6 months to 6 years old and a seasonal allergy indication for children ages 2 to 6, will still require a prescription.