How do you manage your allergy symptoms? Sneezing, stuffiness and itchy red eyes are more than a bother. Unfortunately, many of the medicines you might take for relief can have unpleasant side effects. As just one example, you should use decongestant nasal sprays for no more than a few days. Otherwise, you could develop rebound congestion and find it difficult to stop using the spray. Several readers have found NasalCrom helpful. Should you take NasalCrom for your allergies? Read on to learn about others’ experiences.
NasalCrom Helps Persistent Allergies:
Q. I’ve had pollen and other allergies since I was 13 — a long time ago. I went to an allergist who had me bring him a full vacuum cleaner bag from my home. It contained dust, cat hairs and probably pollen too. He had a serum made from it and gave me shots. I’ve never had problems with cats or dust since then, but I still reacted drastically to ragweed.
To address that, he prescribed NasalCrom. Unfortunately, he neglected to tell me that it would be a week or two for it to take effect. After a few days I decided it didn’t work. Several decades later, I discovered that it worked spectacularly if I kept taking it regularly.
A. NasalCrom (cromolyn sodium) is often overlooked in treating allergies because it is not an antihistamine, a corticosteroid or a decongestant. Also, as you mentioned, it must be taken preventively.
NasalCrom is no longer a prescription product. This mast cell stabilizer can be purchased over the counter. Many pharmacies no longer carry it, but it is available online. As you discovered, this nasal spray takes a few days to work but can be highly effective. In general, allergists have not given it the attention it deserves (Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. In Practice, Sep. 2020).
NasalCrom Against Allergy-Related Sinusitis:
Q. My doctor recommended NasalCrom a few years ago. It works very well to lessen allergy-related sinusitis. The only downside is that my sense of smell is heightened when I use it frequently. Since I have a low tolerance for fragrances or other odors, this is a bit of a drawback.
A. NasalCrom (cromolyn) is a spray that stabilizes mast cells in the nasal passages. These cells release histamine and other inflammatory compounds when they are exposed to allergens. Stabilizing them prevents the symptoms that accompany histamine release. In theory, a person using NasalCrom would not need any antihistamines for allergy symptoms.
The Origins of NasalCrom:
Cromolyn was introduced as a prescription medicine in the early 1980s. Originally, scientists developed it based on their research on a natural compound found in bishop’s weed (Ammi visnaga). NasalCrom became available without a prescription in the 1990s.
What Are the Side Effects of Taking NasalCrom for Your Allergies?
Some people complain about sneezing or irritation initially. Others report a bad taste. You are the first to tell us that the sense of smell is heightened. We will be interested to learn if others have a similar experience with this under-appreciated allergy medicine.
Can You Benefit from NasalCrom for Your Allergies?
Q. I suffer from allergies. Steroid sprays ease my symptoms but cause nosebleeds and headaches. I am also concerned about the possibility of cataracts.
I switched to NasalCrom nasal spray. It is awesome. I use it twice a day and it works to control my symptoms without serious side effects.
A. Most people have never heard of NasalCrom for allergy relief. The manufacturer does not advertise it as aggressively as many makers of antihistamines or steroid nasal sprays do.
How Does NasalCrom Work?
The active ingredient, cromolyn, stabilizes the mast cells in the nose that react to pollen and other allergens. You will probably need to apply a spritz in each nostril three to four times a day to prevent allergy symptoms.
How Safe Is It to Use NasalCrom for Your Allergies Long Term?
Some readers, aware of the problems with decongestant nasal sprays, wonder whether long-term use of NasalCrom is safe. Here is one such question.
Q. I have been using NasalCrom for years, usually two times a day in allergy seasons and once per day as a preventative the rest of the time. Is there any harm in taking it every day over a long term?
A. Sadly, scientists rarely do methodical studies of medications to determine their long-term safety. However, cromolyn (the active ingredient in NasalCrom) is considered safe and effective as a long-term maintenance treatment for asthma (Sleep & Breathing, Dec. 2012).
We got a bit nervous when we spotted a study linking it to amyloid beta in the brain. However, the research shows that rather than increasing the likelihood of Alzheimer disease, it appears to reduce the risk in mice designed to develop this condition (Journal of Biological Chemistry, Jan. 23, 2015). A subsequent study in mice found that cromolyn increases the neuroprotective activity of specialized brain cells called microglia (Scientific Reports, Jan. 18, 2018). There’s a big leap from mice to humans, but the results suggest that NasalCrom might not pose a problem in the long term.
Linda found this was a motivation to switch to NasalCrom:
“I am very happy using Nasalcrom. I have completely stopped antihistamines as I realized I had trouble retrieving words after a week of starting them.”
RWW agrees that long-term use of Nasalcrom for your allergies appears safe:
“I have used Nasal Crom for 30 years and have had no side effects so far.”
