General Side Effects

• Local nasal side effects of Veramyst include burning, dryness, nasal irritation, nosebleeds and nasal candidiasis. Some general but rare side effects are body aches, cough, sore throat, back pain, fever, dizziness, sneezing, headache and decreased libido.
  
  Gastrointestinal effects include nausea and vomiting. Ocular conditions including change in vision, intraocular pressure, glaucoma and cataracts can result with use of Veramyst.
  
  

Serious Side Effects

• Patients showing hypersensitivity to Veramyst have experienced serious side effects including vasculitis (inflammation of blood cells), cardiac and pulmonary problems, anaphylaxis, neuropathy and angioedema. Nasal septal perforation is a rarely noted side effect to corticosteroids. Veramyst may worsen existing conditions including tuberculosis, ocular herpes simplex and infections. Patients are advised to avoid exposure to chicken pox and measles as Veramyst can worsen these diseases possibly to the point of fatality (rare).
  
  

Effects on Children

• It's not known if Veramyst passes into breast milk. However, other corticosteroids have been known to do this, so caution is advised before use. Lowered activity of the adrenal glands (hypoadrenalism) which are responsible for such things as proper growth and development is possible in infants whose mothers used Veramyst during pregnancy.
  
  Intranasal steroids in children may adversely affect their rate of growth, and its use is discouraged in children under the age of 4. It is not yet known if this is a long-term effect. Your doctor will closely monitor your child's growth and decrease the amount of the drug to the lowest possible dose if necessary.
  
  

Drug Interactions

• Veramyst should not be taken with protease inhibitors. Protease is an enzyme that HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) cells need to replicate themselves. Some drugs in this category include ritonavir, Lexiva and indinavir. Caution is also advised against using Veramyst along with antifungal drugs including ketoconazole, which belong to another type of enzyme inhibitors. Both of these types of drugs could increase exposure to the fluticasone component of Veramyst which can increase the amount and severity of side effects.
  
  

Warnings

• Corticosteroids can inhibit wound healing. Therefore, patients who have had recent nasal surgery, injury or ulcers should not use Veramyst. Patients with liver problems are cautioned to discuss their condition with their physician before using Veramyst as it can cause impaired liver function.
  
  Adrenal suppression may occur in patients taking high doses of the drug at which time doctors usually advise that they wean off of it slowly. Patients who have been switched to Veramyst from systemic corticosteroids should be monitored for adrenal insufficiency.