{"id":556952059977,"title":"Astepro Review: The Best Nasal Allergy Spray?","created_at":"2022-09-13T22:26:58-04:00","body_html":"\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\/\/ \u003c![CDATA[\n{\n \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n \"@type\": \"Article\",\n \"headline\": \"Astepro Review: The Best Nasal Allergy Spray?\",\n \"keywords\": \"astepro, astepro review, astepro reviews, astepro nasal spray, astepro otc, astepro otc where to buy, astepro over the counter\",\n \"description\": \"Our research team reviews medical studies on Astepro to determine if the drug is effective for treating nasal allergy symptoms like congestion and post-nasal drip. We examine whether nasal spray can be addictive, and share real user reviews of Astepro.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/astepro-review\",\n\"author\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Calloway Cook\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/calloway-cook\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/calloway-cook\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"President\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"entrepreneurship, dietary supplements, herbal supplements, eCommerce, medical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": \"S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University\"\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"creator\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Calloway Cook\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/calloway-cook\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/calloway-cook\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"President\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"entrepreneurship, dietary supplements, herbal supplements, eCommerce, medical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": \"S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University\"\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"editor\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Auren Weinberg\",\n \"honorificSuffix\": \"M.D.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/auren-weinberg\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/aurenweinberg\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"Medical Reviewer\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"pharmaceutical medication, medicine, OTC drugs, medical research, clinical trials, generic drugs, branded drugs, dietary supplements, chemistry, health, wellness, healthcare\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": [\n \"Haverford College\",\n \"University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry\",\n \"Fox School of Business at Temple University\"\n ]\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"image\": {\n\"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Astepro_Thumbnail_Optimized.png?v=1663123036\",\n\"width\": \"2500\",\n\"height\": \"2500\"\n},\n\"citation\": [\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/17723160\/\", \n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/12776442\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/17910331\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/28683210\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/32284053\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.fakespot.com\/product\/astepro-allergy-nasal-spray-24-hour-allergy-relief-steroid-free-antihistamine-60-metered-sprays\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3245438\/\"\n],\n\"mentions\": [{\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"OTC\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"congestion\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"FakeSpot\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"CBS New York\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"allergy shots\"\n }\n],\n\"datePublished\": \"2022-09-13\",\n\"copyrightHolder\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n},\n\"publisher\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/\",\n \"description\": \"Illuminate Labs is the most transparent supplement company in the U.S., and is a leading publisher of research-based health information.\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"supplements, science, nutrition, exercise, health, medication, pharmaceutical, wellness, diet, weight loss, medical research\",\n \"publishingPrinciples\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/editorial-guidelines\",\n \"memberOf\": [\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"U.S. Chamber of Commerce\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Certified B Corp\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.bcorporation.net\/en-us\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Natural Products Association\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.npanational.org\/\"\n }\n ], \n \"logo\": {\n \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Illuminate_Labs_Favicon_48x48_7595c3cc-e27b-47b8-a4fe-edcc7ed9b29a.png?v=1666502785\", \n \"width\": 48,\n \"height\": 48\n},\n \"foundingDate\": \"2019-01-30\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/illuminate-labs-supplements\",\n \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCpgSJAsIPb-fZ25djtTxBEA\"\n ]\n }\n}\n\/\/ ]]\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Astepro_Review_Article_Header_Image_Optimized.png?v=1663122490\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eDisclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice. All statements are merely the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to allergy medication.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"dc\"\u003eA\u003c\/span\u003estepro is a nasal allergy spray that was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2021. It’s available over-the-counter (OTC), and the brand proudly claims that their spray is “fast, powerful and steroid-free.” This drug is manufactured by Bayer which is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe generic version of Astepro is called azelastine hydrochloride and we’ll use these terms interchangeably throughout this article as they refer to the same active drug ingredient.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn this article we’ll review medical studies on Astepro to provide our determination on whether it’s likely to be effective for treating allergy symptoms. We’ll highlight a few ingredients we consider to be questionable, and share an exposé detailing whether some ingredients in nasal spray may be addictive.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDoes Astepro Work?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe active drug ingredient in Astepro has been around for decades, and has been studied in many clinical trials.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAn extremely thorough \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/17723160\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in 2007 examined the effectiveness of Astepro. The study authors reviewed data from many individual clinical trials, and found the drug to be effective for treating congestion and post-nasal drip. It was also documented that the drug has a “rapid onset of action” which means that it can provide quick relief.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/12776442\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emeta-study\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAllergy \u0026amp; Asthma Proceedings\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal found that Astepro was effective not only for allergic rhinitis (the medical term for nasal allergy symptoms), but also for non-allergic rhinitis. A medical condition called vasomotor rhinitis can cause symptoms mimicking allergy like congestion and excessive mucus production, but the condition is not allergenic in nature.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis suggests that Astepro may be effective not only for treatment of allergy symptoms but for any common nasal symptoms such as congestion, runny nose and overproduction of mucus.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/17910331\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e from 2007 was the most specific of any we reviewed: it analyzed whether Astepro was effective when administered at one spray per nostril, twice daily. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe drug was found to be effective. Nasal symptom scores dropped by around 50%.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe will conclude from the available research that Astepro is effective for reducing nasal symptoms of allergy. It doesn’t appear to treat the underlying cause of allergy, but can provide symptomatic relief.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCan Nasal Spray Be Addictive?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAn exposé published by CBS New York titled “Warning About Over-The-Counter Nasal Sprays” has achieved over 50,000 views at the time of writing this article, and shares information on why one type of OTC nasal spray may be addictive:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iSG32ort2PE\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eQuestionable Inactive Ingredients\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAstepro contains two ingredients we would consider questionable from a health perspective.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBenzalkonium chloride\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is a disinfectant compound. A \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/28683210\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e of this ingredient states the following: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e“The available toxicity data of benzalkonium chloride (BKC) clearly shows that it is toxic\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e; however, the weight of evidence favors the view that at doses encountered in nasally and orally inhaled pharmaceutical preparations it is well tolerated.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWith any toxin, the dose makes the poison, but we question whether directly spraying a compound “clearly proven” to be toxic into nasal airways is logical. It’s a question that patients may wish to discuss with their doctor.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAstepro also contains \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003esucralose\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e which is an artificial sweetener shown to cause insulin dysregulation in a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/32284053\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e in young, healthy adults. A very small amount of sucralose, if any, is likely to be absorbed when using a nasal spray, but again we question why this ingredient needs to be added to an allergy formulation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSuraclose is typically added to improve taste and overall experience, but since it has no medical function and questionable health effects, it may be logical to use nasal sprays without this ingredient.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAstepro Real User Reviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAstepro is available on Amazon, and has an average review rating of 4\/5 stars.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe top positive review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Christopher” who claims the drug relieved their symptoms:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“This is almost so far as good as Afrin it works almost instantly after A couple sneezes and a tickling feeling almost feels like a baby Alka-Seltzer going off in my nose. Then all good”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe top negative review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Bryan Alfaro” who claims Astepro worsened their nasal symptoms:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“I was really excited for this product and what it said it could do. I Followed all instructions as if it was my first time using a nose spray, waited for it to kick in, and boy did it. It felt as though my congestion got 10x worse and I couldn’t breathe through either nostril. I stood there with my head down for about 3 minutes waiting for it to get better… it did not. I stood up and my nose started running shortly after.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhere to Buy Astepro for the Best Price\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAstepro is available in-store and online at various major retailers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis product is sold in many different sizes, so we've standardized the below price comparison to the price-per-spray at the time of updating this article:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWalgreens: $0.22 (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.walgreens.com\/store\/c\/astepro-allergy-antihistamine-nasal-spray-allergy-medicine\/ID=300420972-product\"\u003elink\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eTarget: $0.20 (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.target.com\/p\/astepro-allergy-azelastine-hydrochloride-steroid-free-antihistamine-nasal-spray-120-metered-sprays\/-\/A-84855940\"\u003elink\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWalmart: $0.20 (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.walmart.com\/ip\/Astepro-Allergy-Medicine-Steroid-Free-Antihistamine-Nasal-Spray-120-Metered-Sprays\/900785735\"\u003elink\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAmazon: \u003cstrong\u003e$0.16 (free shipping\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3sXStcj\"\u003elink to official Amazon listing\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAstepro is currently around 20% cheaper on Amazon than at the second-cheapest retailer, and even moreso when factoring in shipping fees.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOur Recommendation for Nasal Allergy Sufferers\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003ePatients that suffer from consistent nasal allergy symptoms may benefit from speaking with their regular doctor or allergist about allergy immunotherapy, commonly referred to as allergy shots.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAllergy shots are an \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3245438\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eextensively researched\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e treatment modality that actually fixes the root problem rather than reduces symptoms. Environmental allergies are caused by an overreaction by the immune system to substances such as dust or pollen. Allergy shots introduce low levels of those allergenic substances to the body in the form of injections which causes a sensitization reaction.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOver time, the patient experiences less severe reactions to environmental allergens and their allergies can be effectively “cured.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn our opinion, this may be a more logical approach than nasal sprays that treat symptoms, and it also may have a more favorable side effect profile. Allergy shots can cause severe reactions in some cases, but patients are required to wait in the allergy office for 30 minutes after their shot to ensure safety. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThere is no evidence of long-term side effects from allergy shots in the above-linked medical review.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAllergy shots are often fully or partially subsidized by health insurance in the U.S. because they treat a documented health condition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eConclusion\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAstepro is effective for reducing symptoms of nasal allergy such as congestion and overproduction of mucus. It may be a safer alternative to steroid sprays.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe consider two of the additive ingredients in Astepro to be questionable.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAstepro has relatively positive reviews on Amazon, and is quite affordable for a pharmaceutical medication. Health insurance is not needed as the drug is available OTC.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIt may be worthwhile for patients with nasal allergy symptoms to speak with their doctor or allergist about allergy shots, which can reduce the immune system’s overreaction to airborne allergens and thus reduce the need for OTC nasal sprays which treat symptoms.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":49281925193,"author":"Calloway Cook","user_id":26601750601,"published_at":"2022-09-13T22:40:23-04:00","updated_at":"2023-09-15T19:28:33-04:00","summary_html":"We review medical studies on Astepro to determine if the drug is effective for treating nasal allergy symptoms like congestion and post-nasal drip. We examine whether nasal spray can be addictive, and share real user reviews of Astepro.","template_suffix":"","handle":"astepro-review","tags":"_related:allergy-relief"}

Astepro Review: The Best Nasal Allergy Spray?

Astepro Review: The Best Nasal Allergy Spray?


| |
| |


Read our Editorial Guidelines to learn more about what makes our site the premier resource for online health information.

Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice. All statements are merely the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to allergy medication.

Astepro is a nasal allergy spray that was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2021. It’s available over-the-counter (OTC), and the brand proudly claims that their spray is “fast, powerful and steroid-free.” This drug is manufactured by Bayer which is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world.

The generic version of Astepro is called azelastine hydrochloride and we’ll use these terms interchangeably throughout this article as they refer to the same active drug ingredient.

In this article we’ll review medical studies on Astepro to provide our determination on whether it’s likely to be effective for treating allergy symptoms. We’ll highlight a few ingredients we consider to be questionable, and share an exposé detailing whether some ingredients in nasal spray may be addictive.

Does Astepro Work?

The active drug ingredient in Astepro has been around for decades, and has been studied in many clinical trials.

An extremely thorough medical review published in 2007 examined the effectiveness of Astepro. The study authors reviewed data from many individual clinical trials, and found the drug to be effective for treating congestion and post-nasal drip. It was also documented that the drug has a “rapid onset of action” which means that it can provide quick relief.

A meta-study published in the Allergy & Asthma Proceedings journal found that Astepro was effective not only for allergic rhinitis (the medical term for nasal allergy symptoms), but also for non-allergic rhinitis. A medical condition called vasomotor rhinitis can cause symptoms mimicking allergy like congestion and excessive mucus production, but the condition is not allergenic in nature.

This suggests that Astepro may be effective not only for treatment of allergy symptoms but for any common nasal symptoms such as congestion, runny nose and overproduction of mucus.

A clinical trial from 2007 was the most specific of any we reviewed: it analyzed whether Astepro was effective when administered at one spray per nostril, twice daily. The drug was found to be effective. Nasal symptom scores dropped by around 50%.

We will conclude from the available research that Astepro is effective for reducing nasal symptoms of allergy. It doesn’t appear to treat the underlying cause of allergy, but can provide symptomatic relief.

Can Nasal Spray Be Addictive?

An exposé published by CBS New York titled “Warning About Over-The-Counter Nasal Sprays” has achieved over 50,000 views at the time of writing this article, and shares information on why one type of OTC nasal spray may be addictive:

Questionable Inactive Ingredients

Astepro contains two ingredients we would consider questionable from a health perspective.

Benzalkonium chloride is a disinfectant compound. A medical review of this ingredient states the following: “The available toxicity data of benzalkonium chloride (BKC) clearly shows that it is toxic; however, the weight of evidence favors the view that at doses encountered in nasally and orally inhaled pharmaceutical preparations it is well tolerated.”

With any toxin, the dose makes the poison, but we question whether directly spraying a compound “clearly proven” to be toxic into nasal airways is logical. It’s a question that patients may wish to discuss with their doctor.

Astepro also contains sucralose which is an artificial sweetener shown to cause insulin dysregulation in a clinical trial in young, healthy adults. A very small amount of sucralose, if any, is likely to be absorbed when using a nasal spray, but again we question why this ingredient needs to be added to an allergy formulation.

Suraclose is typically added to improve taste and overall experience, but since it has no medical function and questionable health effects, it may be logical to use nasal sprays without this ingredient.

Astepro Real User Reviews

Astepro is available on Amazon, and has an average review rating of 4/5 stars.

The top positive review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Christopher” who claims the drug relieved their symptoms:

“This is almost so far as good as Afrin it works almost instantly after A couple sneezes and a tickling feeling almost feels like a baby Alka-Seltzer going off in my nose. Then all good”

The top negative review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Bryan Alfaro” who claims Astepro worsened their nasal symptoms:

“I was really excited for this product and what it said it could do. I Followed all instructions as if it was my first time using a nose spray, waited for it to kick in, and boy did it. It felt as though my congestion got 10x worse and I couldn’t breathe through either nostril. I stood there with my head down for about 3 minutes waiting for it to get better… it did not. I stood up and my nose started running shortly after.”

Where to Buy Astepro for the Best Price

Astepro is available in-store and online at various major retailers.

This product is sold in many different sizes, so we've standardized the below price comparison to the price-per-spray at the time of updating this article:

Walgreens: $0.22 (link)

Target: $0.20 (link)

Walmart: $0.20 (link)

Amazon: $0.16 (free shipping, link to official Amazon listing)

Astepro is currently around 20% cheaper on Amazon than at the second-cheapest retailer, and even moreso when factoring in shipping fees.

Our Recommendation for Nasal Allergy Sufferers

Patients that suffer from consistent nasal allergy symptoms may benefit from speaking with their regular doctor or allergist about allergy immunotherapy, commonly referred to as allergy shots.

Allergy shots are an extensively researched treatment modality that actually fixes the root problem rather than reduces symptoms. Environmental allergies are caused by an overreaction by the immune system to substances such as dust or pollen. Allergy shots introduce low levels of those allergenic substances to the body in the form of injections which causes a sensitization reaction.

Over time, the patient experiences less severe reactions to environmental allergens and their allergies can be effectively “cured.”

In our opinion, this may be a more logical approach than nasal sprays that treat symptoms, and it also may have a more favorable side effect profile. Allergy shots can cause severe reactions in some cases, but patients are required to wait in the allergy office for 30 minutes after their shot to ensure safety. 

There is no evidence of long-term side effects from allergy shots in the above-linked medical review.

Allergy shots are often fully or partially subsidized by health insurance in the U.S. because they treat a documented health condition.

Get our most popular articles straight to your inbox
Stay up-to-date on our research reviews

Conclusion

Astepro is effective for reducing symptoms of nasal allergy such as congestion and overproduction of mucus. It may be a safer alternative to steroid sprays.

We consider two of the additive ingredients in Astepro to be questionable.

Astepro has relatively positive reviews on Amazon, and is quite affordable for a pharmaceutical medication. Health insurance is not needed as the drug is available OTC.

It may be worthwhile for patients with nasal allergy symptoms to speak with their doctor or allergist about allergy shots, which can reduce the immune system’s overreaction to airborne allergens and thus reduce the need for OTC nasal sprays which treat symptoms.




Illuminate Labs is a proud member of

Liquid error (layout/theme line 238): Could not find asset snippets/search-bar.liquid