Azelastine nasal and Headaches: 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."

• Anonymous
• July 25, 2019

For Allergic Rhinitis "I have non-allergic rhinitis and have anxiety, so I can't use steroids, so I thought I would give azelastine hydrochloride a try. Because I've been through months of drugs that made me worse, I was very cautious. So I put 2 squirts in my right nostril. Immediately, the congestion was worse. So I waited, and nothing. It dried my nose out so bad it would get stuck shut. I also woke up with a bad headache, tingling in my arms, and dizziness. Probably from not breathing well all night."

• All...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 28, 2025

Azelastine nasal "I have exercise-induced rhinitis, especially from running or intense workouts. Before Astepro, I dealt with an intensely runny, burning nose that forced me to breathe through my mouth, constant sneezing, red, watery eyes, headache, cough, brain fog, and increased sinus pressure. Astepro is the only medication that gives me fast relief once symptoms start. Within minutes, my nose stops running, the burning fades, and I can finally breathe through my nose without pain. Not only that, but it helps my headache and red eyes. It works much faster than Flonase or Claritin, which are only useful as preventatives. The biggest downside is that the effects fade within a couple of hours, and I often feel the need to use it more than recommended. I wish the manufacturer would consider different dosing guidelines for those using Astepro as a rescue treatment for exercise-induced rhinitis."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 10, 2020

For Allergic Rhinitis "I swear I'm allergic to this nose spray. Used it for months, every time I did use it, I would have a sneezing fit, then it was followed by a headache and a bloody nose. I just thought I had a sinus and upper respiratory infection I could never get rid of. Stopped using it, and I feel great. Took a few days, but no more... what doctors thought was the sinus and upper respiratory infection."

• 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."

• Flo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 19, 2019

For Allergic Rhinitis "Horrible experiences. Used the nasal spray at 10 pm and then had violent sneezing, followed by nose and eyes running after, headache pain so bad after lasted all night, entire next day severe reaction. Irrigated with distilled water next day set nose on fire. Nothing helps except time. READ all info before taking this. Happened in 2016, too. Won't try this drug again, listed on allergies."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 19, 2023

Azelastine nasal for Allergic Rhinitis "I have been diagnosed with mild allergies, every season change is sort of like a big challenge. Since I started using this product, my allergies go away for 3-4 days, if not longer. The last time I used it was in May, and I am back using it again the third week of June. It is a good product that works for me, the nose gets clear, the sinus headache goes away, and I can manage."

• 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."

• 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."

• Jos...
• May 8, 2017

For Allergic Rhinitis "The taste is sharp, bitter, and nearly impossible to cover, but because I could barely breathe out of my nose, I wanted to see if the spray would help. After three days, the congestion wasn't decreased, and I developed a dull headache that would last all day. I stopped taking it, waited a few days, and used the spray again to see if the headache was just coincidental, but I got the ache almost instantly. I have also tried Zicam and Clear, and they didn't help either; just to provide comparison, but the allergy season on the East Coast has been fairly severe."

• 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."

• Hon...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 21, 2020

For Allergic Rhinitis "Have been using for a couple of years with little relief from post-nasal drip and blocked nasal breathing. Also now giving me headaches and nosebleeds, plus the awful aftertaste. I wake up with muscle pain and general fatigue, which I just associated with it-doesn't happen when I don't take it, so will discontinue."

• Pat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 1, 2021

For Allergic Rhinitis "I have had allergic and non-allergic rhinitis for most of my life. Azelastine users said it relieved congestion. I tried it so I could stop taking Sudafed. Last winter, the azelastine worked fine. I reduced the dosage to 1 spray, 2-3 times a day. I used it with one 12-hour Allegra and 4-6 hour Sudafed tablets as needed. In spring, I needed more Sudafed. By July, my head was swelling. My glasses hurt my head. This week, it got worse. I was fatigued, feeling anxious and depressed, and waking up early with back-of-the-head aches. Yesterday I looked up my drugs' side effects and decided to stop azelastine. I didn't use it all day, instead using 12-hour Allegra twice a day and 1 Sudafed twice a day. Last night's sleep was great. The alarm woke me up, feeling very calm with no aches, and I decided to stay in bed until I felt ready to get up. At 7:30, I was up, feeling calm and relaxed for the first time in months. If this doesn't continue, I will ask my doctor to refer me to an allergist."

• 5th...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 2, 2016

For Allergic Rhinitis "Mold, grass, oak, and ash cedar all give me fits (mold in particular). Two meds control it all effectively (Clarinex-brand name only-and Veramyst), but formularies from the government took them away. I'd hoped azelastine would work for me. If continued allergies, burning nasal passages, headaches, constant dripping nose, and runny eyes are the intended outcome, then... So, I'm headed back to my allergist (EENT) to try something else."

• Sis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 18, 2017

For Allergic Rhinitis "I've been on the drug a month, prescribed by my ENT for severe allergies and congestion. The taste is horrible. I see my doctor for a follow-up tomorrow. I get occasional sinus headaches that I'm not sure are attributed to the medication."

• SK3...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 30, 2023

Azelastine nasal for Allergic Rhinitis "Extreme burning, headache, slight dizziness, a horrible taste, I'm throwing it away."