Dr. Young,

I was recently prescribed usage of Rhinocort Aqua but i am concerned to use it due to the following: (a) it is an immunosuppresant, (b) in clinical studies it projected occurences of gliomas and tumors in liver cells of sprague dawley rats. I wonder since I most likely will have to take this steriod for a good five months to clear up my condition, don't I have a chance of getting gliomas etc. Also, i worry about running into someone with measles or chickenpox. And it states clearly individuals who use this product for long term must get evalutions for candida in the nose. How will i know if i develop this? PLease advise, I am at a loss. Is this product safe to use?

Meghan

The product should be safe to use-- it is a topical steroid used for allergic sinusitis and as such is a topical immunosuppressant. I don't know of the statement of the risk of tumors in rats, but these were probably seen in the early development and toxicity testing (usually very high doses).

Candida infections aren't that uncommon among persons who take topical steroids (because of topical immunosuppression) and aren't usually to significant.

While I wouldn't use this type (or any medication, for that matter) if there wasn't a real medical indication, it should be fine for limited and appropriate use. BY