Over-the-counter intranasal corticosteroids: Why the time is now

摘要

On July 31, 2013, with a 10 to 6 vote with 2 abstentions, the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee, which included 3 board-certified allergists from the Pulmonary/Allergy FDA Advisory Committee, supported Sanofi Pharmaceutical's new drug application for the switch of triamcinolone acetonide nasal spray (Nasacort AQ) to over-the-counter (OTC) status. The new application is for the same indication and ages as it currently is used as a prescription product. In fact, 2 of 3 of the board-certified allergists voted in favor of a switch to OTC use for triamcinolone acetonide nasal spray.