Azelastine nasal and Drowsiness: What Users Say

• Kri...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 21, 2019

For Allergic Rhinitis "Azelastine has worked at reducing my nagging post-nasal drip, congestion, and sinus pressure. I have several sinus infections each year and seasonal allergies, both with terrible post-nasal drip, but certain OTC and Rx oral allergy meds as well as nasal sprays such as Nasonex, Nasacort, and Flonase all gave me horrible heart palpitations, but thankfully the Azelastine does not. I have no side effects from this med at all, not drowsy, no headaches, it has done wonders for me, I highly recommend trying."

• Joh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 16, 2024

Azelastine nasal for Allergic Rhinitis "I have used it a few days now. I think it provides some relief with relatively mild side effects. Mostly drowsiness for myself. I found it interesting that my review on the Astepro site was rejected by a review panel. Guess I mentioned side effects and gave it only an average rating. Seems like a medical site should allow honest reviews from people rather than filtering out the reviews. I think the spray is an option, but I am not sure it's any better than other types."

• Liz...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 22, 2024

Azelastine nasal for Allergic Rhinitis "I have been taking Astepro as needed for about one year. At first, it made me drowsy. I got used to it, and it does provide temporary relief from allergens as long as I use it right away when symptoms begin. I also take Montelukast sodium (prescribed by Pulmonologist) daily for allergy-induced asthma. I cannot take steroidal medication as it raises my blood pressure to dangerous levels, so Montelukast was prescribed with success. I also have a rescue inhaler that I have not needed with this combination of drugs."

• Max...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 19, 2023

Azelastine nasal for Allergic Rhinitis "This was just awful for me. From the very first use, I only did one spray per nostril as directed. I had immediate burning, itching, a bad taste in my throat, lots of tearing, runny nose. As soon as it calmed down, I started feeling drowsy. Like I could hardly keep my head up. I may be allergic to an allergy medication. That seems so wrong!"

• Not...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 14, 2012

Azelastine nasal for Allergic Rhinitis "I have allergies along with daily vertigo. Not only did this help extremely with the allergies, it virtually eliminated my daily vertigo. My ENT recommended this for my vertigo mainly. I have noticed others complain about sleepiness. I only use this at night."

• JZe...
• April 15, 2017

Azelastine nasal for Allergic Rhinitis "Azelastine nasal spray has finally ended the stuffy nose and coughing that I've been dealing with forever. Taste isn't an issue if used correctly. It's much easier to wake up in the mornings without the never-ending drowsiness that comes with some of the other antihistamines."

• All...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 23, 2022

Azelastine nasal for Allergic Rhinitis "Caused intense delayed drowsiness and grogginess - as bad or worse than Benadryl, even using a half dose. I took for 3 days in the morning, and every day on Astepro I had to nap in the afternoon because I was unable to maintain consciousness. I never nap normally. Reduces nasal allergies, but at what cost? Also, it's a huge metered dose with a very unpleasant taste."

• Mis...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 11, 2019

For Allergic Rhinitis "My husband and I both used azelastine nasal spray with different results. He experienced the sneezing, which others have referenced. Azelastine was a big help to me and allowed me to stop using Benadryl and headache meds for sinus headaches. But we both noticed after daily use that the drowsiness is debilitating, so I use it 'as needed.' The drowsiness is different than Benadryl and other meds... we felt it made us 'stupid'... and made me question if it's in the class of antihistamines that crosses the blood barrier to the brain. I don't think it's in that class, but we felt like it should be because of the strong side effect. Still use it for relief on bad days."

• Suf...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 14, 2019

For Allergic Rhinitis "Just had to share my experience on this medication. I suffer from very bad post-nasal drip. This has been the only thing that gets it to stop. Will say, the drowsiness on this medication is unlike anything I have ever felt. I took my dosage last night around 11. It is now 1 pm the following day, and I am still feeling like a sloth. It’s almost a feeling of being hungover."

• Ohi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 14, 2019

For Allergic Rhinitis "I had a negative CT scan, blood work was all clear. Was prescribed this and almost instant relief!! I did get a little drowsy, but I have a hard time sleeping, so maybe this will help. The other thing, the taste... that didn’t bother me at all compared to the nasty flower taste of Flonase. This is the first time in years that I can actually breathe!"

• Min...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 28, 2019

For Allergic Rhinitis "I had been using Flonase with incredible success until I started getting nosebleeds. My ENT told me to stop with the Flonase and prescribed this azelastine: 2 sprays each nostril 2x per day. I used it this morning, and it will definitely be the last time I ever do. The bitter taste was unbearable, but I should have read the directions for how to administer more closely. I'm sure I can figure out a workaround for that. But not the headache. I am sitting here with a massive headache and groggy feeling that is literally wrecking my workday. As you can see, I'm sitting here reading instead of getting any work done. This is one of the worst headaches I've had in a long time, and I just want to lay down on the floor of my office and go to sleep. I would highly recommend trying it at home during a weekend in case you have a similar experience."

• How...
• June 26, 2018

For Allergic Rhinitis "Year-round congestion, sneezing, runny nose, and sinus infections lead my complaints. I began azelastine per my ENT's strong suggestion and am now in my seventh month of use and feel virtually allergy-free. Most surprising for me has been the dramatically reduced congestion, something no antihistamine has ever done for me. And no side effects for me-a first among the most effective allergy meds I've tried-and no steroid worries. Actually makes me a bit worse for 5-10 minutes right after spraying, then rapidly better and hitting full stride for hours 2-10, sometimes longer. Mildly bitter taste until I improved my spray technique. I have rarely thanked a doctor so sincerely for recommending a med. I'll likely be using this spray and technique (1 spray/side, twice daily) every day for many years to come. How nice to breathe fresh air again, without drowsiness."

• CHH...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 22, 2019

For Allergic Rhinitis "I have been prone to sinus infections for years, relying on Nasacort and Claritin for the most part, and antibiotics when infections turn nasty. The core problem is a deviated septum and one side of my sinuses that are as convoluted as a rabbit warren. They just tend to not drain very well. Typically, I would get a sinus infection in Oct/Nov or Dec/Jan and end up on antibiotics for a month. I was considering surgery to 'open up' my sinuses but my new ENT doctor put me on Singulair and Azelastine instead. Since then, I have been breathing freely, and so far, have not had the usual swelling/inflammation that precedes an infection. I'm rating the Azelastine at 8 because, although it works great, it does make me drowsy. I'm going to chat with the ENT about that, hoping that I can 'flex' the dosing somehow to minimize that side effect. Otherwise, this stuff is great!"

• Mel...
• February 3, 2020

For Allergic Rhinitis "I had issues with it since day one and only took it for a week and had to call it quits. I had a bitter taste in my mouth for hours or all day/every day because I was prescribed it two times a day. I also had sneezing, an itching nose, felt like I had dry cotton mouth all day, and night was bad, drowsiness, really bad headaches, and the worst part was my nosebleeds came back by like day three of being on it. I went to see a doctor because I was tired of nosebleeds and found out I have a 16mm nasal polyp with post-nasal drip. I took it for like a week and it bled every day, and I tried just regular saline nasal spray to put moisture back in my nose, and it doesn't help. I had no choice but to stop. Even after I stopped, it took a week or two to feel like I was back to normal, but now I'm wondering if I did some damage to my nose because it's been about two weeks off, and I had a bad nosebleed just yesterday, and I barely blew my nose. So, my experience was not so good."

• mjh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 17, 2023

Azelastine nasal for Allergic Rhinitis "I suffered for years with post-nasal drip. Tried everything. Then I tried Astepro. It worked the first time, and now I can sleep. Yes, it tastes yucky and makes me a bit drowsy and does sting slightly at first, but I split the dose, and it is much more tolerable. These effects do go away after a short while. Minor inconvenience for an entire day without a runny nose. It has been a miracle for me."

• mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 24, 2023

Azelastine nasal for Allergic Rhinitis "It somewhat works, however, my nose runs 12 hours later, so I have to use it twice a day. After 3 days of trying, I dumped it because it's like snorting Benadryl. It made me very drowsy. I went back to good old Flonase."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 6, 2016

For Allergic Rhinitis "I had a very extreme adverse reaction to azelastine. I took one spray in my right nostril. Immediately, I had intense nasal burning, terrible pressure over my sinuses, and a severe headache, muscle spasms in calves and shoulders, drowsiness, and increased blood pressure. Days later, I developed nerve irritation and occipital neuralgia and dizziness due to pinched nerves from the muscle spasms in my shoulders. My mouth became extremely dry with a bitter taste, but luckily that only lasted a couple of days. The occipital neuralgia has been the worst part. It has been almost two weeks, and I still have the neuralgia. Massage and stretching help relieve it temporarily, but then the pain comes back."

• MBa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 18, 2020

For Allergic Rhinitis "My doctor prescribed this due to extremely dry nasal passages and cough, as well as itchy eyelashes and constant sneezing. As soon as I take this, I feel immense pressure on my chest and complete drowsiness like a zombie. Sometimes it helps my extremely dry nose, other times it makes it way worse. Makes me feel out of focus so much so that I can't even drive, but that may be in combination with my anxiety and ADD."

• poi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 3, 2017

For Allergic Rhinitis "Started working in a new office in basement Manhattan. Immediately seemed like I caught a flu. After a month, realized it was allergies. When I wasn't there, I would feel better. When I was there, the symptoms returned: runny nose, headache, head stuffiness, sinus pressure, lymph pressure, pain along sides of neck, and ear infection pain. So I switched from exploring cold/ear medicines (Theraflu and Cioprodex helped) to allergy medicines. Flonase and Allegra didn't seem to do much of anything. Now trying Azelastine, which seems to just create more problems: head stuffy, ear pressure, headache, groggy, tired, muscle pain in lower neck (the ones connecting to torso). The best solution for me was leaving the job."

• bis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 4, 2023

Azelastine nasal for Allergic Rhinitis "Astepro medication was partially effective for my allergies. I had side effects like feeling super drowsy all the time and sinus when I was taking it. While it seemed to work at daytime with side effects, it did not work at nighttime. My nose was still stuffed and runny at night. I stopped taking it after a while and opted for Allegra, which worked better with fewer side effects."

• Anonymous
• November 9, 2009

Azelastine nasal for Allergic Rhinitis "This drug helps with my nasal symptoms, but it makes me drowsy, might be because of other medications I take on a daily basis (Cymbalta and Stahist). It has helped with my symptoms because if I don't use it, along with Flonase, I get headaches and stuffiness. I'm happy with it and will continue using it. Hopefully, the drowsiness effect will get better with time. It did when I used to use Asteline."

• Kaz...
• October 14, 2011

For Allergic Rhinitis "Good product! Takes my terrible sinus and ear pain right away! I do need to remember, though, to use it at night because the only side effect I get is drowsiness. I do take Ativan and Zyrtec as well, and it does interact with them both, causing CNS depression, so that could explain the fatigue."

• Rxh...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 23, 2023

For Allergic Rhinitis "I have found this drug to be the only thing that addresses my post-nasal drip year-round. Lots of reviews complain about the sleepiness. My doctor advised that over time it should make me less and less tired. In the beginning, I took it only at night. I now take it during the day, and it does not make me half as tired as it did in the beginning. So if it works, stick with it, the tiredness gets better! The taste in the back of the throat comes and goes, but you really do have to stick your head down for a good minute. It’s worth the wait. Also, in certain scenarios, such as if I’m going to have a few cocktails, I cannot take it. Wish I could so I don’t have a runny nose while having drinks with my friends!"

• Tas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 8, 2021

For Allergic Rhinitis "This stuff appears to work, although it says there is a major interaction with another medication that I take daily and am dependent upon. Furthermore, the way that it tastes is like a strong drug, and that's very strange. It does seem to work, and I keep reading that it causes drowsiness, but I am experiencing no drowsiness whatsoever. The reason I have been switched to this is that I cannot take Zyrtec or Allegra or any of the other medications except Benadryl, which does cause extreme drowsiness."

• Tas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 8, 2021

For Allergic Rhinitis "This stuff appears to work, although it says there is a major interaction with another medication that I take daily and am dependent upon. Furthermore, the way that it tastes is like a strong drug, and that's very strange. It does seem to work, and I keep reading that it causes drowsiness, but I am experiencing no drowsiness whatsoever. The reason I have been switched to this is that I cannot take Zyrtec or Allegra or any of the other medications except Benadryl, which does cause extreme drowsiness."