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. 2008 Jun 16;29(6):403–413. doi: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2007.11.004

Table 5.

Summary of commonly reported local AEs in clinical trials of INS

Author/year N INS Treatment regimen Treatment duration Patient population Adverse events Active treatment group Placebo group
Acute rhinosinusitis Vaginitis 8% 5%
Meltzer et al[77] 407 MF 400 μg BID as adjunct to ACP 21 d Adolescents and adults (12–73 y) MF (n = 200) PBO (n = 207)
Headache 2% 3%
Epistaxis 3% 1%
Nasal burning 2% 1%
Nasal irritation 2% 2%
Pharyngitis 2% 3%
Dolor et al [25] 95 FP 400 μg QD as adjunct to cefuroxime axetil and xylometazoline hydrochloride 21 d Adults (30–55 y) FP (n=46) PBO (n=46)
Headache 6.5% 6.5%
Epistaxis 6.5% 2.1%
Vaginal itching/yeast infection 4.3% 2.1%
Diarrhea 2.1% 4.3%
Nausea/stomach irritation 4.3% 0%
Nayak et al [62] 967 MF 200, 400 μg BID as adjunct to ACP 21 d Children and adults (8–78 y) 200 μg (n = 318) 400 μg (n = 324) PBO (n = 325)
Epistaxis 5% 6% 6%
Nasal burning 1% 1% 2%
Nasal irritation <1% 2% 0%
Headache 2% 1% 2%
Meltzer et al [7] 981 MF 200, 400 μg QD 15 d Adolescents and adults (12–76 y) Headache Data not published
Epistaxis



Chronic rhinosinusitis
Lund et al [78] 244 BUD 128 μg BID 20 wk Adults (19–65 y) BUD (n = 81) PBO (n = 86)
Respiratory infection 13.6% 8.1%
Headache 6.2% 8.1%
Blood-tinged secretions 9.9% 3.5%
Viral infections 6.2% 4.7%
Pharyngitis 3.37% 4.7%
Sinusitis 1.2% 5.8%
Flu-like disorder 4.9% 2.3%
Pain 4.9% 2.3%
Rhinitis 4.9% 2.3%
External ear infection 2.5% 3.5%
Giger et al [61] 112 BDP 400 μg QD or BID (no placebo arm) 12 wk Adults (19–66 y) QD arm (n=55) BID arm (n=57)
Epistaxis 46.2% 43.8%
Dryness of nasal mucosa 15.4% 34.4%
Nasal burning 3.85% 9.38%
Nasal itching 3.85% 3.13%
Sinusitis 7.69% 0%
Pharyngitis 3.85% 0%
Otitis 3.85% 0%
Change of taste 3.85% 0%
Eczema 3.85% 0%
Nausea and diarrhea 7.69% 3.13%
Sinusitis
Meltzer et al [74] 180 Phase I: FLU 21 d Adults (mean 36.8 y) FLU (n = 89) PBO (n = 86)
300 μg TID as adjunct to ACP Headache 67% 58%
Digestive system 21% 22%
Diarrhea 16% 16%
Nausea 8% 8%
Abdominal pain 4% 1%
Taste perversion 10% 8%
Vaginitis 8% 5%
Phase II: FLU 28 d FLU (n = 65) PBO (n = 69)
300 μg TID Headache 15% 19%
Digestive system 3% 12%
Diarrhea 2% 3%
Nausea 3% 3%
Abdominal pain 2% 0%
Barlan et al [75] 89 BUD 100 μg BID as adjunct to ACP 21 d Children (1–15 y) No adverse drug reactions observed with BUD (n = 43)
Yilmaz et al [76] 52 BUD 200 μg BID or pseudoephedrine 10 d Children (6–16 y) No adverse drug reactions observed with BUD (n = 26)
60 μg BID as adjunct to cefaclor
Allergic rhinitis
Grossman et al [67] 250 FP 100 or 200 μg 14 d Children (4–11 y) 100 μg (n = 84) 200 μg (n = 81) PBO (n = 85)
QD Nasal burning 4% 1% 0%
Epistaxis 4% 2% 4%
Headache 0% 1% 2%
Brannan et al [65] 64 BDP 336 μg QD (n=16) 36 d Men (19–44 y) Headache 44%
or BID (n = 16) Pharyngitis 9%
Nasal irritation 2%
Munk et al [72] 140 TAA 220 μg QD 14 d Adults (20–65 y) TAA (n = 69) PBO (n = 70)
Headache 1.4% 29.%
Graft et al [73] 349 MF 200 μg QD or MF: Adolescents
BDP 168 μg BID 7 d (12–69 y) MF (n = 117) BDP (n = 116) PBO (n = 116)
BDP: Headache 36% 22% 23%
14 d Pharyngitis 6% 10% 5%
and adults URTI 6% 3% <1%
Dysmenorrhea 6% 0% 8%
Brannan et al [69] 96 MF 50, 100, or 7 or 14 d Children (3–12 y) 50 μg0 (n = 24) 100 μg (n = 24) 200 μg (n = 24) PBO (n = 24)
200 μg QD Headache 4% 8% 13% 13%
Schenkel et al [50] 98 MF 100 μg QD 1 y Children (3–9 y) MF (n = 49) PBO (n = 49)
Epistaxis 12% 8%
Nasal irritation 8% 6%
Headache 0% 2%
Pharyngitis 0% 2%
Rhinitis 0% 2%
Sneezing 0% 2%
Urticaria 0% 2%
Conjunctivitis 2% 0%
Skoner et al [51] 100 BDP 168 μg BID 1 y Children (6–9 y) BDP (n = 49) PBO (n = 51)
Epistaxis 20% 27%
Nasal burning 8% 14%
Nasal irritation 6% 8%
Rhinitis 2% 4%
Sneezing 0% 10%
Lacrimation 0% 4%
Increased appetite 0% 4%
Coughing 0% 4%
Allen et al [70] 150 FP 200 μg QD 1 y Children (3.5–9 y) FP (n = 74) PBO (n = 76)
Epistaxis 9% 8%
Nasal irritation 3% 0%
Headache 1% 1%
Gastric upset 0% 1%
Nasal burning 0% 1%
Nasal soreness 1% 0%
Vestibulitis of nose 0% 1%
Kim et al [26] 78 BUD 64 μg QD 6 wk Children (2–5 y) BUD (n = 39) PBO (n = 39)
Respiratory infection 5.1% 10.3%
Otitis media 7.7% 5.1%
Accident and/or injury 10.3% 0%
Fever 7.7% 2.6%
Gastroenteritis 5.1% 5.1%
Headache 2.6% 7.7%
Insect bite/scratch 2.6% 5.1%
Parasitosis 5.1% 2.6%
Rash 2.6% 5.1%
Coughing 5.1% 0%

URTI indicates upper respiratory tract infection.

The incidence of these AEs was similar in active treatment and placebo groups.