Benacort Nasal Spray

Hay fever and allergic rhinitis can make daily life uncomfortable, affecting sleep, concentration, and quality of life. Benacort Nasal Spray contains budesonide 64 micrograms per actuation, an intranasal corticosteroid that reduces the allergic inflammation responsible for hay fever symptoms including a blocked or runny nose, sneezing, and nasal itching. Unlike nasal decongestant sprays that work within minutes, Benacort builds its effect over several days of regular use. When used consistently throughout the hay fever season, it provides sustained nasal allergy relief. Available from pharmacies without a prescription.

Benacort Nasal Spray is a Pharmacy Medicine containing budesonide 64 micrograms per actuation. Budesonide is an intranasal corticosteroid, a class of medicines that work locally within the nasal passages to reduce allergic inflammation. It is licensed for the prevention and treatment of allergic rhinitis, including seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and perennial allergic rhinitis (year round nasal allergy), in adults and young people aged 18 and over.

Each bottle delivers 120 metered doses. Benacort is manufactured by Crookes Healthcare (Thornton and Ross). It is one of several intranasal corticosteroid nasal sprays available without prescription in the UK for hay fever and allergic rhinitis management.

Important: Benacort works differently from nasal decongestant sprays. It is not a quick fix product for sudden nasal congestion. It works by reducing inflammation over several days of regular use. For full benefit, use it consistently every day throughout your hay fever season, even when your symptoms seem mild. Do not stop using it as soon as symptoms improve.

Intranasal Corticosteroid Action

Budesonide dipropionate acts on glucocorticoid receptors within the cells of the nasal mucosa, the lining of the nasal passages. When these receptors are activated, they reduce the production of inflammatory chemicals including histamine, prostaglandins, and leukotrienes. These chemicals are released in the nasal lining when the immune system reacts to allergens such as pollen, house dust mite, or pet dander, and they cause the swelling, increased mucus production, and irritation that produce hay fever symptoms.

Delayed Onset and Why Consistent Use Matters

Because budesonide works by reducing inflammation at a cellular level, it takes time to build up its effect. Most people notice an improvement in their symptoms within two to three days of starting treatment, but the full benefit develops over one to two weeks of consistent daily use. This is why Benacort works best when started two weeks before the hay fever season begins rather than waiting until symptoms are already severe. Using it regularly, even on days when symptoms seem manageable, maintains the anti-inflammatory effect and prevents the inflammation from building up again.

How It Compares to Antihistamines

Benacort and oral antihistamines are both used for hay fever but work through different mechanisms. Antihistamines block histamine receptors to reduce the immediate allergic response. Benacort reduces the underlying inflammation in the nasal lining. For many people with moderate to severe hay fever affecting the nose, intranasal corticosteroids such as budesonide are more effective than antihistamines alone for nasal symptoms. Benacort and antihistamines can be used together if needed, and this combination is often recommended for people with both nasal and eye symptoms.

Before First Use

• Shake the bottle gently before use.
• Before using for the first time, or if the spray has not been used for several days, prime the pump by pressing it two or three times until a fine mist appears.
• Blow your nose gently before using the spray.

Administration Technique

• Hold the bottle upright with your thumb under the base and two fingers on the top of the bottle.
• Tilt your head slightly forward.
• Insert the nozzle gently into one nostril, directing it slightly away from the central partition of your nose.
• Press the pump once while breathing in gently through your nose.
• Repeat in the other nostril.
• Try not to sniff hard immediately after spraying, as this moves the medicine away from where it needs to work.
• Replace the cap after each use.

Recommended Dose

• Adults aged 18 and over: two sprays into each nostril, twice daily (morning and evening). This gives a total of 200 micrograms of budesonide per day.
• Once symptoms are under control, your pharmacist may suggest reducing to two sprays into each nostril once daily as a maintenance dose.
• Do not exceed two sprays in each nostril twice daily.
• Continue using Benacort throughout the hay fever season, even if symptoms improve.

For best results during hay fever season, start using Benacort two weeks before you expect your symptoms to begin. Starting before pollen levels rise helps prevent the nasal inflammation from establishing itself.

Benacort Nasal Spray 64 micrograms/actuation

Each actuation (one spray) delivers 64 micrograms of budesonide. The bottle contains 120 metered doses. At the standard dose of two sprays per nostril twice daily (8 sprays per day, 512 micrograms per day), one bottle provides approximately 15 days of treatment. At a once daily maintenance dose of two sprays per nostril once daily (256 micrograms per day), one bottle provides approximately 30 days of treatment.

Benacort is for adults aged 18 and over. It is not licensed for use in those under 18 in this over-the-counter format. Young people with hay fever should be assessed by a GP who can prescribe an appropriate intranasal corticosteroid or other treatment.

Benacort Nasal Spray is well tolerated by most adults at the recommended dose. Because budesonide acts locally in the nose rather than being absorbed significantly into the bloodstream, systemic corticosteroid side effects are uncommon at the recommended dose.

Common Side Effects

• Nasal irritation, dryness, or discomfort in the nose or throat after using the spray.
• Sneezing immediately after use.
• An unpleasant taste or smell.
• Nosebleeds (epistaxis). These are usually mild and occur in some people who use nasal sprays regularly. Ensure correct technique and direct the spray away from the nasal septum.

Less Common Side Effects

• Nasal septal perforation (a hole in the partition between the nostrils) with prolonged high dose use. Use the correct technique and do not direct the spray at the central partition of the nose.
• Raised pressure in the eye (glaucoma) or clouding of the lens (cataract) with prolonged high dose use. These are rare at the recommended dose.
• Slowing of growth in children. This product is not licensed for use in those under 18.

Speak to a Pharmacist or GP Before Use If You

• Have an infection in the nose or sinuses. Treating a nasal infection with a corticosteroid spray alone is not appropriate.
• Have recently had nasal surgery or a nasal injury. Corticosteroid sprays can slow healing.
• Take other corticosteroid medicines (including inhalers, tablets, or skin creams) as the combined corticosteroid exposure may be relevant.
• Have glaucoma or a family history of glaucoma.

Suitable For

• Adults aged 18 and over with seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever) or perennial allergic rhinitis (year round nasal allergy)
• Adults who want a corticosteroid nasal spray for allergy relief without a prescription
• Adults who need consistent daily nasal allergy management throughout the hay fever season

Not Suitable For

• Anyone under 18 years of age in this over-the-counter format. Young people with hay fever should be assessed by a GP.
• People with a known allergy to budesonide or any other ingredient in the spray
• People with active nasal or sinus infections, unless the infection is being treated at the same time under medical supervision

Benacort (budesonide) and Otrivine (xylometazoline) work in completely different ways and serve different purposes. Benacort is a corticosteroid that reduces allergic inflammation over several days of regular use. It is for ongoing allergy management throughout the hay fever season. Otrivine is a nasal decongestant that relieves a blocked nose quickly by narrowing blood vessels. Otrivine works within minutes but must not be used for more than 7 days. Benacort has no such time limit. Both can be used together in the short term if a blocked nose and ongoing allergy management are both needed. Benacort and Beconase are both intranasal corticosteroids but contain different active ingredients: Benacort contains budesonide; Beconase contains beclometasone.

Benacort Nasal Spray is a Pharmacy Medicine and can be purchased from Pharmacy Planet without a prescription. It can be added to your basket and ordered directly through our website.

Pharmacy Planet is a GPhC registered online pharmacy. All products are genuine, stored correctly, and dispatched by qualified pharmacy professionals. Our pharmacists are available to advise on hay fever management, including whether Benacort is the most appropriate product for your symptoms.

If you are unsure whether Benacort or another hay fever treatment is right for you, our pharmacy team is happy to help before you order.

• Store below 30°C.
• Do not freeze.
• Store upright.
• Keep the cap on the nozzle when not in use.
• Shake before use.
• Do not use after the expiry date on the packaging.
• Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
• Do not share a nasal spray with other people.

Full instructions are provided in the patient information leaflet supplied with the product.

The table below compares the four nasal sprays in the Over the Counter category. These products work through entirely different mechanisms and are not interchangeable. Choosing the right one depends on whether you need quick decongestant relief, ongoing allergy management, or daily nasal hygiene.

Important: This comparison is for general information only and does not replace medical advice. A pharmacist or prescriber will advise which treatment is suitable for you following a consultation.

Pharmacy Planet is a GPhC registered online pharmacy stocking a range of hay fever and allergy treatments, including nasal sprays, antihistamines, and eye drops. We provide clear, accurate product information to help you manage your hay fever effectively throughout the season.

All products are genuine and sourced through regulated supply chains. Our pharmacists are available to answer questions about Benacort, hay fever management, or whether a different product may suit you better. We are committed to honest, patient centred care.

References

1. Electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC). Benacort Nasal Spray 64 micrograms — Summary of Product Characteristics. Crookes Healthcare. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc. Accessed May 2026.
2. NHS. Hay fever. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hay-fever. Accessed May 2026.
3. NHS. Allergic rhinitis. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/allergic-rhinitis. Accessed May 2026.
4. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Allergic rhinitis — CKS. https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/allergic-rhinitis. Accessed May 2026.